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

Species Perithemis tenera - Eastern Amberwing

Representative Images

Dragonfly - Perithemis tenera Eastern Amberwing - Perithemis tenera - male Eastern amberwing dragonfly - Perithemis tenera - male Small Dragonfly - Perithemis tenera - female Amber Dragonfly - Perithemis tenera eastern amberwing - Perithemis tenera - male Small Dragonfly - Perithemis tenera Eastern Amberwing - Female? - Perithemis tenera - female

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)
Species tenera (Eastern Amberwing)

Explanation of Names

Perithemis tenera Say, 1839

Numbers

One of four Nearctic species in the genus.

Size

Typically 21-24 mm.

Identification

Except along the U.S.-Mexican border, this is the only tiny dragonfly with amber wings on the male.

Male


Female

Range

Eastern 2/3rds of the United States; range continues into Mexico.

Habitat

Ponds, lakes, occasionally the still areas of streams.

Season

Primarily a summer species; active all year in the far southern U.S.

Food

Tiny flying insects.

See Also

Slough amberwing in south Texas. Can be differentiated by dorsal abdominal pattern. Eastern amberwing has triangles, slough amberwing has parallel lines (see photo).


Leg color can also be used. Eastern amberwing has uniformly pale legs, while slough amberwing has mostly dark legs.

Print References

(1)

Internet References

iNaturalist
Maryland Biodiversity Project

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 18 October, 2004 - 7:08pm
Additional contributions by john and jane balaban, marcie oconnor, Tyler Hedlund
Last updated 8 April, 2024 - 3:34pm

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