Species Spotlight: Fiery-eyed Dancer

Here's a species of damselfly I don't see very often; the Fiery-eyed Dancer. I've seen it at Lake Patagonia in southern Arizona, near the Mexican border, and at the Hassayampa River, near Wickenburg, Arizona.

For a long time those were the only places I encountered this species—and then, unexpectedly, I found one in late May at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum. It may be more common there later in the year, but we're back in the Pacific Northwest then.

In any case, here it is:



Here's a bit closer look:



The bright red on the eyes makes the origin of the name quite obvious, and the identification very easy. In addition, it's clear this is a dancer by the way it holds its wings well above the abdomen.

I hope I get more opportunities to see this striking damselfly.