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Amphiagrion abbreviatum
Western Red Damsel
Family: Coenagrionidae
Species account author: Robert Cannings.
Extracted from Introducing the Dragonflies of British Columbia and the Yukon (2002)
Introduction to the Odonata of BC
The Families of Odonata of BC

Photograph

© Robert A. Cannings     (Photo ID #978)

Map

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Distribution of Amphiagrion abbreviatum in British Columbia.
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Source: (for the static map) RBCM and BCCDC 2004 ©

Species Information


Description

Males are red, the thorax black on top. Females are all red or orange. Length: ♂ 26 mm, ♀ 27 mm.


Flight Period

B.C., early May to early October.

Genus Description


Restricted to North America; the only damselfly genus in B.C. whose adults are red in both sexes. Adults are robust, with stubby abdomens and short legs; they have a prominent tubercle on the underside of the thorax. In larvae, the hind corners of the head are pointed and turned outward. There are only two species, one eastern and one western.

Biology

Family Description

Small damselflies that normally perch with wings closed above the abdomen. Most males are blue marked with black, but the main colour may be green, yellow, orange, red or purple. Females often have two colour forms per species, one similar to the male (usually blue). Females lay eggs in the tissues of water plants, sometimes completely submerging themselves for a long time while laying. Larave are not as long as spreadwing larave and have short labia, unstalked at the base. There are six genera and 18 species of pond damsels in our region. The American Bluets (Enallagma) and forktails (Ischnura) are the most common groups.
Field Notes

Common in scattered localities at low and mid elevations, especially in southern valleys. Lives in marshy places with plenty of grasses and sedges: ponds, sloughs, spring-fed pools and slow streams. Adults fly close to the ground and perch frequently in low vegetation.

Distribution


Western. In B.C., from the Prince George area south.

Status Information

Origin StatusProvincial StatusBC List
(Red Blue List)		COSEWIC
NativeS4YellowNot Listed



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