Description: Males Eyes dark brown above, dull yellowish below. Prothorax blue; thorax blue with black stripes, a wide median stripe, narrower humeral stripe and lower side stripe. Abdomen brown eith terminal ring on S2-7, white topale blue basal ring on S3-7 amd S8-9 blue, S10 black.
Females Colored as male, but blue on thorax duller and slightly less extensive; only S9 blue, abdomen tip abruptly enlarged (Paulson, 2009).
Size: Total length: 35-44mm; hindwing: 19-24 mm.
Similar Species (US and Mexico): Palaemnema paulitoyaca and Palaemnema paulicoba (Nuevo León, México) have dark wings tips. With respect to the Pond damsels, the abdomen is longer than the similary colored pond damsel with narrow pale ring at base of each abdominal segment. Pond damsels with similar coloration all have some blue at abdomen base. Females distinguished by bulbous abdomen tip and large spot of blue at tip.
Habitat: Rocky streams bordered by dense riparian vegetation.
Natural History: The adults are perched, usually with the abdomen hanging. They seem to aggregate into groups of both sexes. Roosting individuals open the wings slowly, then clap closed; Meaning of this beaivor very disctintivo unknown. Active in the stream when it is cloudy and cooler, even raining.
Distribution: Southern Texas, USA, West Mexico (Sonora) to Nicaragua.
Sources:
Paulson, D. R. 2009. Dragonflies and Damselflies of the West. Princeton University Press.535 pp.
Paulson D. R. and E. Gonzalez-Soriano. 1994. Mexican Odonata. An online resource available at: https://www.pugetsound.edu/academics/academic-resources/slater-museum/biodiversity-resources/dragonflies/mexican-odonata/
Edited by Juan Cruzado (12/08/2016)
