Argia nahuana

Calvert, 1902

Aztec Dancer

Argia nahuana, commonly known as the Aztec Dancer, is a in the Coenagrionidae. It is a member of the diverse Argia, which contains approximately 114 species in the Western Hemisphere. The species exhibits distinctive morphological features including a forked dark stripe on the side of the and blue postocular spots.

Argia nahuana by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Argia nahuana P1100202a by
xpda. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Argia nahuana P1100206a by
xpda. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Argia nahuana: //ˈɑːrdʒiə nəˈwɑːnə//

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

Identification

The Aztec Dancer can be distinguished by several key field marks: a dark black stripe on the side of the that is forked from front to back; blue postocular spots; pale blue legs with a black stripe; and a blue ring on the seventh abdominal segment. These features separate it from similar Argia and other pond damselflies.

Images

Distribution

Middle America and North America.

Behavior

Like other members of the Argia, A. nahuana exhibits the jerky, distinctive pattern characteristic of "dancer" . This contrasts with the direct flight of bluets, forktails, and other pond damselflies. Dancers typically forage in open areas, capturing flying insects on the wing rather than hunting among vegetation. They frequently perch flat on the ground, logs, or rocks with wings slightly raised above the when at rest.

Similar Taxa

Argia vividaSimilar and , but A. vivida males are bright blue and lacks the forked thoracic stripe of A. nahuana
Argia moestaAnother dancer with mature males; A. nahuana distinguished by blue postocular spots and abdominal segment markings