Blue Dasher
Pachydiplax longipennis
Summary 6
The Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) is a dragonfly of the skimmer family. It is common and widely distributed in the United States.
National distribution 7
Canada
Origin: NativeRegularity: Regularly occurring
Currently: Present
Confidence: Confident
Type of Residency: Year-round
United States
Origin: NativeRegularity: Regularly occurring
Currently: Present
Confidence: Confident
Type of Residency: Year-round
Diet 8
They will eat just about anything, but their favorite meals are mosquito larvae. The meals change when they hatch into adults, but the insatiable appetite does not.
Ecology 8
"The naiads live in submerged vegetation. They do not actively pursue prey but wait for it to pass by, a strategy which affords them protection from other predators. The naiads of this species can tolerate water with low oxygen content. This is used by biologists in Florida who interpret their presence as a possible indicator of low water quality. Naiads emerge as adults at night. Adults generally fly from late June to October. Hunting occurs from perches on twigs and rocks. This is the only member of this genus." http://imnh.isu.edu/DIGITALATLAS/bio/insects/drgnfly/libefam/palo/palo.htm
Food 8
These dragonflies primarily eat tiny flying insects.
Habitat 8
They are found by ponds, lakes, marshes, and bogs. They can also be found in almost aywhere when there is still water. Larvae are very tolerant of wetlands with poor water quality and low dissolved-oxygen levels.
Life cycle 8
As the blue dasher ages, the wings will wear and tear. Females will lay eggs in the aquatic vegetation. Their life span is usually a summer and three seasons. From late June to October.
Population size 8
Males and females of the blue dasher dragonfly's are very different. Males are more conspicuous where the females are more elusive so really the population size really depends.
Range 8
They range mostly in the United States, but have been seen in Canada. They are absent from the Dakotas, and the Rocky Mountain region. Range will continues through Mexico.
Reproduction 8
After a males and a female mate, the female flies singly, without the male attached, to lay her eggs by dipping the tip of her abdomen in the water while hovering above its surface.
Sources and Credits
- (c) Dave Spier, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), uploaded by Dave Spier
- (c) Matt Reinbold, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1156/1356562793_99337bc8c1.jpg
- (c) Mary Keim, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6066/6145142377_36b4233097.jpg
- (c) Mary Keim, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6144/5959624516_e3c7161493.jpg
- (c) Jeri Tooley, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Jeri Tooley
- Adapted by Allie Hay from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pachydiplax_longipennis
- Adapted by Allie Hay from a work by (c) NatureServe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/28955928
- (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_dasher
