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.
|
Rare. Associated with cool or hot springs. The larvae live in the pools and outflow streams that are smaller and more vegetated than those preferred by Emma's Dancer. The small populations of Vivid Dancers may be vulnerable to disturbance of their tiny scattered habitats. Spring-fed streamlets in dry forests and grasslands are often polluted and trampled by cattle. Most populations live in hot springs, which are almost always developed by people.
|
|
