Blue dasher

Blue dasher
Male with raised abdomen that may be a threat display or a response to heat (the obelisk posture)
Female
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Clade:Euarthropoda
Class:Insecta
Order:Odonata
Infraorder:Anisoptera
Family:Libellulidae
Genus:Pachydiplax
Species: P. longipennis
Binomial name
Pachydiplax longipennis
(Burmeister, 1839)

The blue dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) is a dragonfly of the skimmer family. It is very common and widely distributed through North America and into the Bahamas.[1]

Although the species name longipennis means "long wings", their wings are not substantially longer than those of related species. Females do, however, have a short abdomen that makes the wings appear longer in comparison.[1] The blue dasher grows up to 25–43 mm long (1-1.5 in).

The males are easy to recognize with their vibrant blue color, yellow-striped thorax, and metallic green eyes. Females are somewhat less colorful than the male, an example of sexual dimorphism. While they have a matching yellow-striped thorax, their abdomen has a distinct brown and yellow striping that sets them apart from the male, along with contrasting red eyes. Both sexes develop a frosted color with age.[2]

Male on a lotus leaf

Habitat

Blue dashers live near still, calm bodies of water, such as ponds, marshes, slow-moving waterways, and ditches, in warm areas typically at low elevations. The adults roost in trees at night.[2]

Diet

These dragonflies, like others of their infraorder, are carnivorous, and are capable of eating hundreds of insects every day, including mosquito and mayfly larvae. The adult dragonfly will eat nearly any flying insect, such as a moth or fly. Nymphs have a diet that includes other aquatic larvae, small fish, and tadpoles.[3] These dragonflies are known to be voracious predators, consuming up to 10% of their body weight each day in food.[2]

The blue dasher hunts by keeping still and waiting for suitable prey to come within range. When it does, they dart from their position to catch it.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 Needham, James G.; Minter J. Westfall, Jr.; Michael L. May (2000). Dragonflies of North America (rev. ed.). Gainesville, FL: Scientific Publishers. pp. 762–763. ISBN 0-945417-94-2.
  2. 1 2 3 "OdonataCentral". www.odonatacentral.org. Retrieved 2017-01-31.
  3. ↑ "Blue Dasher". imnh.isu.edu. Retrieved 2017-01-31.
  4. ↑ http://ibis.geog.ubc.ca/biodiversity/factsheets/pdf/Pachydiplax_longipennis.pdf
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