Argia fumipennis

(Burmeister, 1839)

Variable Dancer

Species Guides

Argia fumipennis atra(Black Dancer)
Argia fumipennis fumipennis(Smoky-winged Dancer)
Argia fumipennis violacea(Violet Dancer)

Argia fumipennis, commonly known as the Variable Dancer, is a in the Coenagrionidae native to North America. The exhibits notable geographic variation in coloration, with eastern typically displaying violet thoracic coloration while western populations tend toward blue. It is a widespread and frequently observed species, with nearly 30,000 documented observations on iNaturalist.

Argia fumipennis fumipennis by (c) Alex Stach, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alex Stach. Used under a CC-BY license.

Argia fumipennis fumipennis by (c) Melissa McMasters, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.

Argia fumipennis fumipennis by (c) northerly, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by northerly. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Argia fumipennis: /ˈɑːr.dʒi.ə fjuː.mɪˈpɛn.ɪs/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

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Distribution

Widespread throughout eastern North America and present in the interior western United States. Documented occurrences extend from Vermont southward through the eastern seaboard and westward into the interior. The has also been recorded in Middle America.

More Details

Geographic Color Variation

The 'Variable Dancer' refers to pronounced geographic variation in thoracic coloration. Eastern typically exhibit violet coloration, while western populations tend toward blue. This variation has led to past taxonomic confusion and recognition in some treatments.

Taxonomic History

Originally described as Agrion fumipenne by Burmeister in 1839, the was later transferred to the Argia. The basionym reflects its historical placement in the broader genus Agrion before the modern classification system.