Eastern Amberwing (Perithemis tenera)
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At less than 1 inch in length, the Eastern Amberwing is the smallest dragonfly in the Hartman Prehistoric Garden. It is quite common and easy to spot, as the males are distinctively amber-colored. The females, seen much less often, have dark spots on their wings.
Amberwings have the most complex courtship of all North American dragonflies, with the male guarding a specific egg-laying site and leading the female to it for her approval.
Because of their tiny size, these insects are easier prey than most dragonflies, but they do have a trick or two. Amberwings are excellent wasp mimics, both in their appearance and behavior. They frequently fly close to the water, with the erratic flight of a wasp seeking prey, and also perch in a stance that is easily mistaken for a large wasp.
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class: Insecta / order: Odonata / family: Libellulidae / genus: Perithemis / species: tenera
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