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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Dragonflies and Damselflies (Odonata) » Damselflies (Zygoptera) » Narrow-winged Damselflies (Coenagrionidae) » Red Damsels (Amphiagrion) » Eastern Red Damsel (Amphiagrion saucium)

Species Amphiagrion saucium - Eastern Red Damsel

Classification · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Season · Food · Remarks · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited

Eastern Red Damsel - Amphiagrion saucium - male

Eastern Red Damsels mating wheel - Amphiagrion saucium - male - female

DamselFly - Amphiagrion saucium - female

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 Amphiagrion (Red Damsels)

Species saucium (Eastern Red Damsel)

Numbers

One of two Nearctic species of this genus

Size

23-29 mm

Identification

The abdomen is short and stocky.

Male: has a red abdomen, typically with black spots above segments 7, 8, and 9. The top of the head and thorax are usually dark blue in mature individuals, ranging from medium blue to black.

Female: Not as colorful as the male; usually shows some dull reddish coloration. Head and thorax are usually a dull brown. Like the male, the female typically has dark spots above segments 7, 8, and 9.

Range

Most common in the Eastern United States, occasionally as far west as Oklahoma and the Dakotas. In Canada, reported from Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Quebec.(1)

Habitat

Seeps, spring-fed bogs, ponds, occasionally along smaller rivers.

Season

Most common in May, June, and early July.

Food

Tiny flying insects.

Remarks

Despite their color, easily overlooked because of their tiny size and their tendency to hide in thick vegetation.

Print References

(2)

(1)

Internet References

Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan Information on larvae.

American Insects site Several enlarged photos to help ID.

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of New Jersey Good site even for those outside the Garden State.

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.

Contributed by Stephen_WV on 1 September, 2004 - 2:04pm
Additional contributions by Robin McLeod
Last updated 30 June, 2016 - 8:01am

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