Argia Damselfly Nymph Pictures

Mayflies

Caddisflies

Stoneflies

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

» Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

» Class Insecta (Insects)

» Order Odonata-Zygoptera (Damselflies)

» Family Coenagrionidae

» Genus Argia

My friend Willy captured this early instar (Instar: Many invertebrates molt through dozens of progressively larger and better-developed stages as they grow. Each of these stages is known as an instar. Hard-bodied nymphs typically molt through more instars than soft-bodied larvae.) damselfly nymph and brought it to me for identification. It is more robust and stocky at this early stage than the spindly appearance of the later instars (Instar: Many invertebrates molt through dozens of progressively larger and better-developed stages as they grow. Each of these stages is known as an instar. Hard-bodied nymphs typically molt through more instars than soft-bodied larvae.), and its appearance is less familiar.

This damselfly was collected from the northeastern United States on August 28th, 2005 and added to Troutnut.com on April 14th, 2006.

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CameraCanon EOS 20D

View Full Size (2.7X larger)

CameraCanon EOS 20D

View Full Size (2.7X larger)

CameraCanon EOS 20D

Recent Discussions of this Nymph

irradecant blue damselfly

Posted by Mwmeci on Jul 3, 2008

The trout in Wisconsin on July 3, 2008 were eating the fly's as they emerged. Gosh they make a ruckus as they took to the air. They only emerged under a very low bridge, not upstream or downstream from the bridge. I've never witnessed this before.

Reply Argia characters

Posted by DMM on Nov 27, 2006

One reason I think it's Argia, is that this genus is characteristically "stubby" and "robust" through the last instar. Without verification, I think it is the stubbiest of the Zygoptera.

Reply Genus ID

Posted by DMM on Nov 19, 2006

May be Argia, detailed pictures of the prementum are always good for the ID of Odonata. Odonata can be tricky in general though, so the more details the better.

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Jargon Defined:

Instar: Many invertebrates molt through dozens of progressively larger and better-developed stages as they grow. Each of these stages is known as an instar. Hard-bodied nymphs typically molt through more instars than soft-bodied larvae.

Nymph: The juvenile, underwater stages of mayflies, stoneflies, dragonflies, and damselflies and other aquatic insects whose juvenile stages are covered by hard exoskeletons. The word can also refer to the fishing flies which imitate these creatures, in which case it is used as a blanket term for flies imitating any underwater stage of an invertebrate (except for crayfish and leeches).

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