General: Aztec Dancer Damselflies (Argia nahuana) are small, active daytime fliers often seen in the grasses and other vegetation around ponds and slow waters around Las Vegas. Adult males are recognized by their overall bright blue color with black rings around the abdomen. On closer inspection, the black shoulder stripe is wide and forked, and the black spot on the second abdominal segment (S2) is roundish (not hourglass shaped). Females can be similar to males or tan where males are blue.

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 Damselflies Around Las Vegas.

Taxonomy: Order Odonata, Suborder Zygoptera, Family Coenagrionidae.