Stats

Lifespan: A few weeks
Size: Tiny
Diet: Insectivore
Activity: Diurnal
Social: Solitary
Biome: Freshwater wetland
Range: North America
Movement: Flight
Breeding: Egg-laying
Defense: Warning Colors
Status: Common

About

One of North America's smallest dragonflies, the Eastern Amberwing male sports vivid amber wings and perches openly on aquatic vegetation. To deter predators, males rhythmically bob their abdomens to impersonate a stinging wasp — a remarkably convincing ruse for an insect with no sting at all.

Life cycle

1.
egg
A small egg is laid on or near the larval food source and hatches within days or weeks.
2.
juvenile
An immature insect feeds and molts, growing through successive instars.
3.
subadult
A near-adult insect has wing buds or near-mature form, one molt away from full size.
4.
adult
Fully grown, with full wings and adult coloration.

Learn more

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Family: Libellulidae
Genus: Perithemis
Species: Perithemis tenera