Tarascan Dancer

Order: Odonata
- Suborder: Zygoptera (Damselfly)
- - Family: Pond Damsels: Dancers
- - - Genus: Argia
- - - - Species: tarascana

The Tarascan Dancer in Arizona is known from two locations: Muleshoe Ranch (Cochise Co.) and Blue River (Gila Co.). In the field, males of this species are usually identified by their black forked humeral stripe, with forks even or outer fork thicker, and by their mostly black abdominal segment 7 (Paulson 2009). However, these characters present substantial individual variation (see news items below). Care must, therefore, be exercised to differentiate these males from those of similar-looking species, including in particular Pima, Sabino, Cerulean, and California Dancers.

Identification Tips

Tarascan Dancer, Male, Muleshoe Ranch, Cochise, AZ, 19 October 2013
Tarascan Dancer, Male, Muleshoe Ranch, Cochise, AZ, 19 October 2013

Species to compare (enter common name)

  • Tarascan Dancer
    Tarascan Dancer, Male, Muleshoe Ranch (Bass Canyon), Cochise, AZ, 3 September 2023
  • Tarascan Dancer
    Tarascan Dancer, Male, Sonora, Mexico, 12 August 2022
  • Tarascan Dancer
    Tarascan Dancer, Male, Rio Magdalena, N. Sonora, Mexico, 7 August 2019
  • Tarascan Dancer
    Tarascan Dancer, Male, Yecora, Mexico, 6 August 2018
  • Tarascan Dancer
    Tarascan Dancer, Male appendages (lateral view), Muleshoe Ranch, Cochise, AZ, 20 May 2017
  • Tarascan Dancer
    Tarascan Dancer, Female, Blue River, Gila, AZ, 19 August 2009
  • Tarascan Dancer
    Tarascan Dancer, Female, Blue River, Gila, AZ, 11 May 2013
  • Tarascan Dancer
    Tarascan Dancer, Female, Blue River, Gila, AZ, 19 August 2009
  • Tarascan Dancer
    Tarascan Dancer, Female, Hot Springs Canyon (Muleshoe Ranch), Cochise, AZ, 7 September 2013
  • Tarascan Dancer
    Tarascan Dancer, Pair in tandem, Muleshoe Ranch (Bass Canyon), Cochise, AZ, 3 September 2023
  • Tarascan Dancer
    Tarascan Dancer, Pair in tandem, Hot Springs Canyon (Muleshoe Ranch), Cochise, AZ, 14 October 2012
  • Tarascan Dancer
    Tarascan Dancer, Pair in wheel, Muleshoe Ranch, Cochise, AZ, 28 August 2022