Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Dragonflies and Damselflies (Odonata) » Dragonflies (Anisoptera) » Skimmers (Libellulidae) » Amberwings (Perithemis)

Genus Perithemis - Amberwings

Slough Amberwing - Perithemis domitia - female

Eastern Amberwing - Perithemis tenera - female

Odonata - Eastern Amberwing - Perithemis tenera

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Odonata (Dragonflies and Damselflies)

Suborder Anisoptera (Dragonflies)

Family Libellulidae (Skimmers)

Genus Perithemis (Amberwings)

Explanation of Names

Perithemis Hagen, 1861

Numbers

4 Nearctic species in the genus.

Identification

Very small in size. Males have amber wings. Stocky build. Often mistaken for wasps.

Range

Eastern Amberwing found in the Eastern 2/3rds of the United States; the other three species are found along the U.S.-Mexican border.

Life Cycle

Tiny flying insects.

Remarks

Amberwings have the most complex courtship rituals among all U.S. dragonflies.(1)

Print References

(1)

Works Cited

1.	Dragonflies Through Binoculars: A Field Guide to Dragonflies of North America Sidney W. Dunkle. 2000. Oxford Press.

Contributed by Stephen_WV on 16 February, 2004 - 12:32pm
Additional contributions by john and jane balaban
Last updated 19 February, 2024 - 12:49pm

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