Kingdom Animalia Class Insecta Suborder Zygoptera Scientific name Argia plana | Phylum Arthropoda Order Odonata Family Coenagrionidae Rank Species | |
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Similar Aztec dancer, Arroyo bluet, Argia, Powdered dancer, Variable dancer | ||
The springwater dancer (Argia plana) is a damselfly of the family Coenagrionidae.
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Description
The springwater dancer has a black stripe along the side of its thorax. The male is typically blue, but some can be violet. The female is pale brown.
Similar species
Its central range helps to distinguish it from the other blue damselflies with which it is easily confused, especially the similar looking vivid dancer. The Apache dancer is larger, but with an overall length of 34-40mm the springwater tends to be larger than the other similar blue dancers including the lavender dancer. The stripe on the side of the thorax is forked in the Aztec dancer and variable dancer.
Etymology
The springwater dancer's preferred habitat of shallow springs is reflected in its common name. The scientific name, plana, means flat or wandering, but the significance is unknown.