Amphiagrion Selys, 1876
Amphiagrion saucium (Burmeister, 1839) - Red Damsel


Notes - References
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Page last updated: 17 August 1998 (EB)

Notes on Amphiagrion saucium in Michigan

One species of this Nearctic genus - Amphiagrion saucium - is found in Michigan (Map 1), although Westfall and May (1996) indicate that some adult individuals from Michigan (records in the UP) are not clearly assignable to this species.


Map 1: County distribution of Amphiagrion saucium in Michigan
Click on map for a larger image

Walker (1953) lovingly described these larvae as "a small dumpy short-legged nymph of nearly uniform olivaceous colour and with angular postocular lobes" (p. 163). Specimens are found in small pockets of water in spring bogs and small running streams, a habitat that Walker earlier recognized as being deleteriously impacted by human activities that lower water tables. Populations tend to be localized due to narrow habitat preferences, but is widely distributed in North America. Adults emerge in early June and adults can be caught through July.

Other links with information on the biology or ecology of larval Amphiagrion:
Brief habitat notes from Ottawa (Ontario, Canada) >> http://www.cyberus.ca/~jdsankey/odon2.html


References

Burmeister, H. 1839. Handbuch der Entomologie. Vol 2. Enslin: Berlin, pp 397-1050.

Selys-Longchamps, E. de. 1876. Synopsis des agrionines, cinquième légion: Arion (suite). Le genre Agrion. Bulletin de l'Académie royale des Sciences de Belgique (2) 41:247-322, 496-539, 1233-1309 (reprint 1-199).

Walker, E. M. 1953. The Odonata of Canada and Alaska, Vol. 1. University of Toronto Press: Toronto, Ontario. 292 pp.

Westfall, M. J., Jr. and M. L. May. 1996. Damselflies of North America. Scientific Publishers: Gainesville, Florida. x + 650 pp.