Desert Firetail (Telebasis salva)
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Although it is one of our smallest damselflies, the brilliant Desert Firetail is easily spotted along the water's edge. Several males can sometimes be seen in the same area, often right alongside larger dragonflies, as they wait for females to approach. The females are brown. These are very territorial damselflies, with the males constantly squabbling amongst themselves. They frequently chase off larger damselflies that are less aggressive, such as the various species of Dancers.
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Damselflies mate while resting on vegetation. They can fly in this position but do so only when disturbed. The female then lays eggs on floating vegetation while the male continues to grasp her, thus keeping other males from mating with her before she has finished.
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class: Insecta / order: Odonata / family: Coenagrionidae / genus: Telebasis / species: salva
| site by larvalbug |
