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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

Classification · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Season · Food · See Also · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited
Small Dragonfly - Perithemis tenera Oblisking Amberwing - Perithemis tenera - female Amberwing in wheel position - Perithemis tenera - male - female Perithemis tenera? - Perithemis tenera - male Unknown Dragonfly - Perithemis tenera Dragonfly - Perithemis tenera - female Common Dragonfly - Perithemis tenera - female Eastern Amberwing_Perithemis tenera - Perithemis tenera - male
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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