Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada

Species Telebasis byersi - Duckweed Firetail

Duckweed Firetail - Telebasis byersi - female Duckweed firetail - Telebasis byersi - female Duckweed firetail - Telebasis byersi - male - female Red Damsel - Telebasis byersi Duckweed Firetails - Telebasis byersi - male - female damselfly - Telebasis byersi - male Red damselfly - Telebasis byersi Damselfly / Duckweed Firetail - Telebasis byersi
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Odonata (Dragonflies and Damselflies)
Suborder Zygoptera (Damselflies)
Family Coenagrionidae (Narrow-winged Damselflies)
Genus Telebasis (Firetails)
Species byersi (Duckweed Firetail)
Pronunciation
BYERS-eye
Size
About 28 mm.
Identification
Males have a bright red abdomen that is essentially unmarked with black. On the dorsal surface of the thorax are two black marks shaped like the numeral "1."

Females are dull red to brownish yellow but otherwise like the males.
Range
Not found in Canada. In the United States, this species is most common along the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains. Its known localities stretch from Texas to Illinois, and from Delaware to Florida. Westfall and May indicate no records from Mexico or the Greater Antilles.
Habitat
This species prefers to perch on Duckweed, and may also be found on other floating plants in ponds, lakes, and sluggish streams.
Season
In Florida, found from March to November.(1)
Food
Tiny insects.
Remarks
Very similar to T. salvum (which is also listed as T. salva). The easiest way to separate these two species is by range, since T. salvum is southwestern and T. byersi southeastern.
Print References
(2)
(1)
Internet References
Works Cited
1.Damselflies of North America
Minter J., Jr Westfall, Michael L. May. 1996. Scientific Pub.
2.Damselflies of the Northeast
Ed Lam. 2004. Biodiversity Books.