Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Dragonflies and Damselflies (Odonata) » Dragonflies (Anisoptera) » Skimmers (Libellulidae) » Amberwings (Perithemis) » Eastern Amberwing (Perithemis tenera)

Species Perithemis tenera - Eastern Amberwing

Eastern Amberwing - Perithemis tenera - male

Eastern Amberwing - Perithemis tenera - female

Small brown dragonfly - Perithemis tenera

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Odonata (Dragonflies and Damselflies)

Suborder Anisoptera (Dragonflies)

Family Libellulidae (Skimmers)

Genus Perithemis (Amberwings)

Species tenera (Eastern Amberwing)

Numbers

One of four Nearctic species in the genus.

Size

Typically 21-24 mm.

Identification

Except along the U.S.-Mexican border, this is the only tiny dragonfly with amber wings on the male.

Range

Eastern 2/3rds of the United States; range continues into Mexico.

Habitat

Ponds, lakes, occasionally the still areas of streams.

Season

Primarily a summer species; active all year in the far southern U.S.

Food

Tiny flying insects.

Print References

(1)

Internet References

New Mexico Dragonfly Notebook

Dragonflies and Damselflies of West Virginia website

Works Cited

1.	Dragonflies Through Binoculars: A Field Guide to Dragonflies of North America By Sidney W. Dunkle

Contributed by Stephen Cresswell on 18 October, 2004 - 7:08pm

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