Amphiagrion

Distinguished from other North American damselflies by the combination of small size, bright red male coloration with black markings, and association with specific habitat types. The two species within the genus are separated geographically: A. abbreviatum in western North America, A. saucium in eastern North America. Differentiated from co-occurring Argia vivida by perching behavior and habitat use patterns.

Small damselflies with slender bodies. Males bright red with black markings; females duller in coloration. Specific morphological details beyond color dimorphism are not documented in available sources.

Geothermal springs and associated aquatic environments. Open areas with trees present; absent from dense woodlands due to scarcity of suitable daytime perching sites. Specific microhabitat requirements include appropriate perching substrates for daytime activity.

North America. Western red damsel (A. abbreviatum): western Canada and United States. Eastern red damsel (A. saucium): eastern North America.

Diurnal perching on exposed substrates. Roosts at night at lower heights than sympatric Argia vivida, with body held at a smaller angle from the perch surface. Absence from heavily treed areas associated with scarcity of appropriate daytime perching sites. Experiences competitive pressure from Argia vivida for available perches at shared sites.

• Argia vividaFrequently co-occurs at geothermal springs in western North America; distinguished by higher nighttime roosting position, greater body angle from perch surface, and requirement for trees as night roosts

• damselfly
• Odonata
• North America
• geothermal springs
• perching behavior
• sexual dimorphism

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life
• ROOSTING, PERCHING, AND HABITAT SELECTION INARGIA VIVIDAHAGEN ANDAMPHIAGRION ABBREVIATUM(SELYS) (ODONATA: COENAGRIONIDAE), TWO DAMSELFLIES INHABITING GEOTHERMAL SPRINGS