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Photo#565965
Orthemis discolor or ferruginea - Orthemis ferruginea - male

Orthemis discolor or ferruginea - Orthemis ferruginea - Male
Austin, Travis County, Texas, USA
April 9, 2006
I have this in my records as ferruginea, but I'm not sure how I distinguished it from discolor.

Moved
Moved from ID Request.

discolor has red eyes
... and a red face while the eye color on ferruginea is darker, more purple.

 
Same with the legs I guess. I
Same with the legs I guess. Interesting that "Dragonflies and Damselflies of Texas and South-Central United States" by John C. Abbott doesn't mention that difference. What it does say is:

The only species likely to be confused with this one (discolor) is the similar and more widespread Roseate Skimmer (O. ferruginea), which is more magenta or purple. The ventral side of its thorax is grayish yellow and often has distinct dark markings on the ventrolateral portion of the metepisternum that are generally not present on the Orange-bellied Skimmer. The sides of the thorax in the Roseate Skimmer have a distinct pale-yellow stripe along the ventral suture. The wing veins are more orange, and the lateral flange of abdominal segment 8 in females is pale. The vulvar laminae in the Roseate Skimmer are parallel, forming a short-armed "U."

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