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405 Featured Specimen
Blue dasher

Details

Blue dasher

Pachydiplax longipennis

Size
2.5–4.5 cm · 0.1–0.4 g
Diet
Carnivore
Activity
Diurnal
Sociality
Solitary
Lifespan
less than 1 year

The blue dasher is a small dragonfly whose males show a powdery blue body. By day it launches from waterside perches to catch small flying insects.

Range

Habitat range map
Native range Occasional / Transient
NearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNeotropicalNeotropicalNeotropicalNeotropicalNeotropicalNeotropicalNeotropicalNeotropical

Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)

Details

Habitat

It lives around ponds, marshes, wetlands, and slow freshwater in the Nearctic, the Neotropics. Open water with emergent plants is favored.

Appearance

Length 2.5-4.5 cm; weight 0.1 g-0.4 g. Males have a blue-pruinose abdomen and green eyes, while females are yellowish brown with stripes. Clear wings may show color near the base.

Behavior

Diurnal and solitary, males defend small territories along water. They dart from perches after prey and rivals.

Feeding

A carnivore, adults catch small flying insects in the air. Aquatic larvae ambush mosquito larvae and other small animals.

Reproduction

After mating, females drop eggs near the water surface or plants. Larvae grow underwater and climb stems or banks to emerge.

Notes

It is listed as Least Concern, though local populations can still be affected by habitat change, collection, or pollution.