order
Coleoptera
“Adult Beetles”
Coleoptera
“Larval Beetles”
Diptera
“True Flies”
Ephemeroptera
“Mayflies”
Hemiptera
“True Bugs”
Lepidoptera
“Aquatic Caterpillars, Snout Moths”
Megaloptera
“Alderflies, Dobsonflies, and Fishflies”
Odonata
“Dragonflies and Damselflies”
Plecoptera
“Stoneflies”
Trichoptera
“Caddisflies”
family
Coenagrionidae
“Dancers”
Genus Overview
About 31 North American species are known in Argia. Larvae are relatively short and stocky and somewhat flattened (depressed) dorsoventrally. Head relatively longer than in other genera of Coenagrionidae.
Characteristics
POLLUTION TOLERANCE
Midwest: up to 5.1
Mid-Atlantic: up to 6
FEEDING HABITS
Engulfer / Predator
MOVEMENT
Climber
Clinger
Sprawler
Clinger
Sprawler
DISTRIBUTION
Widespread (east of the Rocky Mtns.)
HABITAT
Lotic-depositional
Lotic-erosional
Lotic-erosional
Diagnostic Characters
order
Abdomen with 5 Sharp Stiff Points or 3 Gills
Labial Mask
Two Pairs of Wing Pads
family
3 Tracheal Gills
Antennal Segment 1 Short
Mask without Cleft
+ Expanded Character List
Order:
Nymph with mask-like labium below chewing mouthparts. Wings developing in wing pads. Segmented legs present, each with two claws.
Family:
Zygoptera (slender body shape with head wider than thorax and abdomen, and with 3 long feather-like gills at posterior end). Antennal segment 1 much shorter than rest of its antenna. Pair of lobes at distal end of labral mask each with 0–6 setae, but attached moveable hook without setae. Ligula (distal part of palm of mask) usually without median cleft, mask roughly triangular or square (not stalked as in Lestidae). Each side of median line with either 0, 1, or 3–5, dorsal premental setae (hairs inside the palm of the mask). Mature larvae 13–25 mm long.
Genus:
Setae absent from dorsal palm of labium. Lobes at end of labium each with 2 distal hooks, both pointed. Caudal gills at least 2/3 as broad as long, sometimes thick and triangular in cross-section near base.
Dorsal
Ventral