Aquatic Insects of Michigan by Ethan Bright, Museum of Zoology Insect Division and School of Natural Resources and Environment |
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Perithemis Hagen, 1861 (Libellulidae) (Amberwings) of Michigan - IdentificationMostly a neotropical genus, one widely ranging species - Perithemis tenera (Say, 1839) - is found here in Michigan. Most records are from the southern LP, but one record is from Chippewa Co., UP. Adults are small and brownish, with amber-tinged and brown-spotted rather stout wings witha reddish pterostigma. The face is yellowish, and legs are yellowish with black spines. Abdomen is short, stout and somewhat dorsoventrally compressed at the base. Nymphs are small and stocky with slender banded legs, and are active climbers among vegetation in ponds and slow-moving or quiet sections of streams (Needham and Westfall 2010, Walker and Corbet 1975). Morphologically, they appear almost as corduliids, with a prominent, broad abdomen with middorsal spines on Ab9 and the distal margin of the palpal crenate. Lifecycle in our area is probably univoltine (although Morin (1984) and Wissinger (1988) also lists it as bivoltine as a consequenceof artificial fish exclusion), and emergence in Michigan probably occurs during June and early July. Little is known about this species' nymphal ecology or biology. Taxonomic references: Needham et al. 2010, Paulson 2011, Walker and Corbet 1975 References
Page created: July 17, 1998 - Last updated: February 19, 2017 (EB) |