General: Mexican Amberwing Dragonflies (Perithemis intensa) are small, active daytime fliers seen over ponds and slow moving waters around Las Vegas.

Males are recognized by their overall bright orange color. The head, thorax, stigma, and abdomen are orange. The eyes are reddish-brown. Females are similar, except that the wings are banded orange-and-clear with clear tips and darker spots on the leading edge of the wings, and lady stigmas are dark.

These active creatures are harmless to humans, but they are voracious predators of small flying insects such as flies and mosquitoes. There are some good places for Watching Dragonflies Around Las Vegas.

Taxonomy: Order Odonata, Suborder Anisoptera, Family Libellulidae.

Where to Find: Mexican Amberwings are uncommon around Las Vegas. They are known from the Moapa National Wildlife Refuge and the Mojave Desert portion of Grand Canyon - Parashant National Monument. They can be abundant along the Las Vegas Wash during late summer.