Damselflies of Texas

Description

On any warm summer day, you can easily observe damselflies around a vegetated pond or the rocks along the banks of a stream. Like the more familiar dragonfly, damselflies are among the most remarkably distinctive insects in their appearance and biology, and they have become one of the most popular creatures sought by avocational naturalists.

Damselflies of Texas is the first field guide dedicated specifically to the species found in Texas. It covers 77 of the 138 species of damselflies known in North America, making it a very useful guide for the entire United States. Each species account includes:

illustrations of as many forms (male, female, juvenile, mature, and color morphs) as possible

common and scientific names, with pronunciation

distribution map

key features

identifying characteristics

discussion of similar species

status in Texas

habitat, seasonality, and general comments

In addition to photographing damselflies in the wild, the author and illustrator have developed a new process for illustrating each species by scanning preserved specimens and digitally painting them. The resulting illustrations show detail that is not visible in photographs. The book also contains chapters on damselfly anatomy, life history, conservation, names, and photography, as well as a list of species that may eventually be discovered in Texas, state and global conservation rankings, seasonality of all species in chronological order, and additional resources and publications on the identification of damselflies.

John C. Abbott is Curator of Entomology for the Texas Natural Science Center at the University of Texas at Austin. He has published many papers on aquatic insects, including dragonflies and damselflies, and is the author of the more specialized volume Dragonflies and Damselflies of Texas and the South-Central United States.

Preface

Acknowledgments

Introduction

What Is a Damselfly?

Damselfly Anatomy

Head

Thorax

Wings

Abdomen

Sexes

Coloration

Life History of Damselflies

Egg

Nymph

Adult

Reproduction

Flight

Vision

Creating the Illustrations in the Book

Texas Biotic Provinces

Damselfly Habitats

Conservation

Odonate Names

Photographing Damselflies

The Value of Odonate Collections

How to Identify Damselflies

How to Use the Species Accounts

Species Accounts

Family Calopterygidae

Broad-winged Damselflies

Sparkling Jewelwing

Ebony Jewelwing

American Rubyspot

Canyon Rubyspot

Smoky Rubyspot

Family Lestidae

Spreadwings

Great Spreadwing

Plateau Spreadwing

Southern Spreadwing

Rainpool Spreadwing

Blue-striped Spreadwing

Elegant Spreadwing

Slender Spreadwing

Chalky Spreadwing

Lyre-tipped Spreadwing

Swamp Spreadwing

Family Protoneuridae

Threadtails

Coral-fronted Threadtail

Amelia's Threadtail

Orange-striped Threadtail

Family Coenagrionidae

Pond Damsels

Paiute Dancer

Blue-ringed Dancer

Blue-fronted Dancer

Powdered Dancer

Sooty Dancer

Golden-winged Dancer

Blue-tipped Dancer

Tezpi Dancer

Dusky Dancer

Comanche Dancer

Apache Dancer

Springwater Dancer

Seepage Dancer

Leonora's Dancer

Aztec Dancer

Variable Dancer

Lavender Dancer

Kiowa Dancer

Amethyst Dancer

Coppery Dancer

Fiery-eyed Dancer

Burgundy Bluet

Orange Bluet

Vesper Bluet

Alkali Bluet

Arroyo Bluet

Double-striped Bluet

Familiar Bluet

Atlantic Bluet

Big Bluet

Tule Bluet

Rainbow Bluet

Azure Bluet

Attenuated Bluet

Turquoise Bluet

Stream Bluet

Skimming Bluet

Slender Bluet

Neotropical Bluet

Caribbean Yellowface

Mexican Wedgetail

Painted Damsel

Rambur's Forktail

Desert Forktail

Eastern Forktail

Mexican Forktail

Plains Forktail

Black-fronted Forktail

Citrine Forktail

Lilypad Forktail

Fragile Forktail

Furtive Forktail

Cream-tipped Swampdamsel

Red-tipped Swampdamsel

Sphagnum Sprite

Southern Sprite

Everglades Sprite

Duckweed Firetail

Desert Firetail

Appendix A. Species That May Eventually Occur in Texas

Appendix B. Conservation Status Ranks for Texas Damselflies

Appendix C. Seasonality of Texas Damselflies

Appendix D. Damselfly Publications and Resources

Glossary

References

Indexes

Additional information

Dimensions	1 × 5 × 7 in