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Photo#1122595
Mydas from the lower Colorado River - Mydas ventralis

Mydas from the lower Colorado River - Mydas ventralis
Across from Needles, and a few miles south, Mohave County, Arizona, USA
August 3, 2015
I believe this is the same individual...it flew when I attempted to approach more closely, and landed on the shore of the river about 40 feet away.

Note the black alula (=lobe at base of wing, on posterior edge)...given as a diagnostic character for M. terminalis in Torsten's online key.

The mostly red abdomen; otherwise black body; and smokey wings seem to give (at least preliminary) gestalt for this species (after one is already tipped-off to genus by the long, clubbed antennae; frontally-flattened head and blocky proboscis; unusual forwardly-curved wing venation...and the large size!).

Images of this individual: tag all
Mydas from the lower Colorado River - Mydas ventralis Mydas from the lower Colorado River - Mydas ventralis