Cross Timbers

Gateway from forest to prairie

5th poster of the
Biodiversity of Oklahoma series

Springwater Dancer

Argia plana

Family: Coenagrionidae (narrowwinged damselflies)
Suborder: Zygoptera (damselflies)
Order: Odonata (dragon and damselflies)

Male springwater dancers typically perch on vegetation at short or in water. They can be found along small to medium shallow streams, rocky and sandy, in or out of woodlands. They may use quite small springs or highside trickles, often at tiny seeps with no other species of dancers. This species is considered indicative of springs in some parts of its range. The males are not territorial, but may be spaced about 3 feet apart along streams because of aggressive behaviour toward intruders.

From Dragonflies and Damselflies of the West by Dennis Paulson.

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The Biodiversity of Oklahoma poster series is a project of the Oklahoma Biological Survey and the University of Oklahoma.
For more information contact the Priscilla Crawford, at prill@ou.edu or 405-325-7658.