Aztec Dancer, Argia nahuana, in Pinal Co., Arizona: New late flying date for the state.
December 26, 2016
Species: Aztec Dancer
Location: Queen Valley
The Aztec Dancer in Arizona had until now not been observed later than 19 December (2016; pers. obs.). A single female of this species (photos below) was found along the Queen Valley stream on 26 December 2016, thereby extending its known flying period in the state of Arizona.
Note that female Aztec Dancers are very similar to female California Dancers, A. agrioides. The two species differ with respect to the shape of their mesostigmal plates (lower photo) which must, therefore, be examined for definite identification.
Aztec Dancer, Female, Queen Valley, Pinal, AZ, 26 December 2016
Aztec Dancer, female, Queen Valley, Pinal, AZ, 26 December 2016. The red rectangles indicate the mesostigmal plates, the shape of which is characteristic of each species and can, therefore, be used to identification purpose.
