Aurora damsel

Aurora damsel (Chromagrion conditum) [female] [male]
Photos © Paul Dacko

FEATURES
The aurora damsel is recognizable by its partially open wings and the lack of yellow on the sides. Males have blue eyes, sometimes surrounded by one to two thin black stripes, no spots behind the eyes, and a black head with a blue face. The middle thorax has a black portion with a wavy edge. The sides of the thorax are blue with a low yellow spot. Black abdomen with bright blue spots along the sides up to section seven. Sections eight and nine are entirely bright blue. Females have multiple appearances, similarly, marked to males, but can have yellow thorax sides. Female eyes are grey below and can be blue or brown above with two black stripes.

BEHAVIOR
They perch with wings half-open on vegetation. The males usually slowly fly over open water, likely seeking perched females and most commonly at midday. Mating lasts up to an hour, followed by paired searching for egg-laying sites. Females lay eggs while supporting the male at the water’s surface. They like beaver ponds, sphagnum bogs, slow streams, wooded swamps, or vegetation at the edge of clear ponds. They are found at the northern shared border of Illinois, into Wisconsin. Aurora damsel is confined to northeastern North America.

​Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Family: Coenagrionidae