Mexican Amberwing
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Perithemis intensa
Kirby, 1889
Order Odonata
Suborder Anisoptera
Superfamily Libelluloidea
Family Libellulidae
Genus Perithemis
Species intensa Kirby, 1889 [Perithemis]
Syn Perithemis intensa var. californica
Identification
This Mexican species is found only in far western New Mexico within the region. It has a pale yellow face and the thorax is light brown, generally lacking stripes, but occasionally with darker midfrontal and humeral stripes. The abdomen is light brown with a faint, narrow and waved dorsolateral brown stripe which is often lacking completely in males. The wings in males are orange with yellow veins, darker brown spot half way between the base and nodus, and a dark red pterostigma. The female's wings are clear with amber bands between the base and nodus and the nodus and pterostigma. Tho
ugh variable, generally there are also dark brown spots in the basal fourth of the wing and at the nodus. The wing patterning is variable in both sexes.
Size
Total length: 24-26 mm; abdomen: 15-16 mm; hindwing: 20-22 mm.
Similar Species
This species is distinctive with a general lack of thoracic and abdominal stripes. Slough Amberwing (P. domitia
) has dark brown stripes dorsally on the abdomen and Eastern Amberwing (P. tenera
) has a row of chevrons dorsally on the abdomen. Other skimmers with amber in the wings are significantly larger.
Habitat
Open sloughs, ponds, pools, roadside ditches and other still waters.
Discussion
Little has been reported about the behavior of this little Mexican species. From what is known, it appears to behave similarly to Eastern Amberwing.
Distribution
Southwestern U.S. and Mexico.
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