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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Dragonflies and Damselflies (Odonata) » Damselflies (Zygoptera) » Narrow-winged Damselflies (Coenagrionidae) » Dancers (Argia) » Vivid Dancer (Argia vivida)
Photo#1185749
Damselfly/Forest - Argia vivida
Copyright © 2016 Joy Markgraf

Damselfly/Forest - Argia vivida
Husum, Klickitat County, Washington, USA
July 1, 2015
This damselfly was found on the forested edge of a wetland/prairie. Thanks for your ID!
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Contributed by Joy Markgraf on 24 January, 2016 - 9:32am
Last updated 23 December, 2016 - 4:19pm

Moved
Moved from ID Request.
… Jim Johnson, 6 February, 2016 - 8:59pm login or register to post comments

With...
the wings folded over the abdomen, it's identifiable as a damselfly, not a dragonfly, which hold their wings out perpendicular to the body and parallel to the ground. The thorax pattern indicates one of the dancers (Argia).
… Tony Leukering, 24 January, 2016 - 7:38pm login or register to post comments

 
telling damselflies from dragonflies
Wing position is not a definitive field mark. Here's a dragonfly with folded wings. http://bugguide.net/node/view/190113 and members of the family Lestidae (damselflies) usually land with their wings spread (hence the name spreadwing damselflies). Learning the basic body shape of the two groups is easy and foolproof.
… Larry de March, 24 January, 2016 - 7:48pm login or register to post comments

 
Thanks!
Your comments are very helpful and I will work on learning the differences. Joy
… Joy Markgraf, 25 January, 2016 - 9:20am login or register to post comments

 
Damselflies Vs Dragonflies
Damselflies are members of the sub-order Zygoptera which translates to like-sized or like-shaped wings. The four wings of damselflies have the same size and shape and in most families these are held over the back at rest (as in this picture). When in that position, you can see that all 4 wings line up almost perfectly. Dragonflies have a pair of thinner wings in the front, and a pair of wider wings in the back.
… Dan Jackson, 26 January, 2016 - 2:29pm login or register to post comments

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