Nebraska Dragonflies and Damselflies

Blue-fronted Dancer

Argia apicalis

Say, 1839

Blue-fronted Dancer males have an entirely blue thorax and an abdomen which is black, except for the three pale blue end segments. When cold or paired, the bright blue of the male's thorax will look black, making one think of A. tibialis (Blue-tipped Dancer). Brown form females are golden brown all over. Blue form females have an all-blue thorax like the males.

This is our most common Dancer. It is an eastern species with Nebraskaon the western and northern edge of the range, so it is often abundant in eastern counties but harder to find as one goes west. It is abundant on a variety of streams and rivers in most of the state. In the eastern 1/4 to 1/2 of Nebraska the species is also found on ponds and lakes, mixing with the abundant Enallagma civile (Familiar Bluet).

Green indicates accepted county record (specimen or photograph).
Yellow indicates sight record only.