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Straw-colored Sylph

This species is the largest of the three sylphs occurring in our region. The pale thoracic stripes are not as prominent in this species as in the other two. The face is hairy and olivaceous becoming metallic blue along the top of the head in mature males. The eyes are dark brown becoming aqua in males. The thorax is brown with pale cream stripes on the front of the thorax, on either side of the middorsal carina, so that they appear as inverted L's. The lateral sutures are thinly outlined in black. The pale anterior thoracic stripe is interrupted and is followed posteriorly by three pale spots. The wings are clear but often develop a wash of amber, and each has a basal brown spot that may extend out as far as the triangle in the hindwing. The legs are brown. The abdomen is brown, long and slender with black carinae.

Total length: 39-42 mm; abdomen: 25-29 mm; hindwing: 27-31 mm

This is the only sylph in our region without a complete lateral thoracic stripe. No other species in our area are brown with blue eyes.

Clear rocky streams and rivers.

This species perches vertically on tree branches from 1.5 to several meters high. Males will feed in sustained flights. Within our region, this species is primarily found in the lower Rio Grande Valley.

Southern Arizona and Texas; Mexico through Central America south to Brazil and Venezuela.

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