General: American Rubyspots (Hetaerina americana) are large damselflies with red in the wings. Males have a dark red patch on the basil third of the wings, while females have more diffuse red that runs out the leading edge of the wing to the tip. The body is bronze or green.

These active creatures are harmless to humans, but they are voracious predators of small flying insects such as flies and mosquitoes.

Taxonomy: Order Odonata, Suborder Zygoptera, Family Calopterygidae.

Where to Find: Around Las Vegas, look for American Rubyspots along the Muddy River and along the Virgin River in Zion National Park.