Numbers
1 species in North America listed at
nearctica.comSize
adult body length 34-45 mm
Identification
Adult: eyes pale with dark longitudinal stripes; thorax initially tan with numerous darker brown stripes, becoming diffusely black with age; wings variably patterned with black, but always with wide dark band at nodus; males usually have more black in wings, often with hindwing becoming entirely black except for clear apical tip, and forewing black except for basal half; legs brown but darken with age; abdomen brown, marked with series of "V" marks outlined internally by thinner pale line on segments 3-7; young individuals have pale face that quickly becomes black with age
[adapted from description at Odonata Central]
Range
southwestern United States and Mexico, south to Costa Rica
Habitat
desert ponds and slow streams
Season
adults fly from March to November
See Also
Black-winged Dragonlet (Erythrodiplax funerea) is more slender with black in wings extending to half-way between nodus and pterostigma.
Band-winged Dragonlet (
E. umbrata) has clear basal areas in both wings.
Internet References
live adult image by Greg Lasley, plus overview of
P. superbus (Odonata Central, U. of Texas)
