Argia Damselfly Nymph Pictures

Mayflies

Caddisflies

Stoneflies

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

» Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

» Class Insecta (Insects)

» Order Odonata-Zygoptera (Damselflies)

» Family Coenagrionidae

» Genus Argia

My friend Willy captured this early instar (Instar: Many invertebrates molt through dozens of progressively larger and better-developed stages as they grow. Each of these stages is known as an instar. Hard-bodied nymphs typically molt through more instars than soft-bodied larvae.) damselfly nymph and brought it to me for identification. It is more robust and stocky at this early stage than the spindly appearance of the later instars (Instar: Many invertebrates molt through dozens of progressively larger and better-developed stages as they grow. Each of these stages is known as an instar. Hard-bodied nymphs typically molt through more instars than soft-bodied larvae.), and its appearance is less familiar.

This damselfly was collected from Fall Creek on August 28th, 2005 and added to Troutnut.com on April 14th, 2006.

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Argia Damselfly Nymph from Fall Creek in New York

AuthorTroutnut

CameraCanon EOS 20D

View Full Size and Comment (2X larger)

AuthorTroutnut

CameraCanon EOS 20D

View Full Size and Comment (2X larger)

AuthorTroutnut

CameraCanon EOS 20D

Recent Discussions of this Nymph

What size are damselflies? 1 Reply »

Posted by Adirman on Jun 28, 2012

Last reply on Jun 28, 2012 by Entoman

Whenever I go up to the Adirondacks in midsummer to fish, I always observe alot of damselflies aroundand know the trout take them, at least occasionally, because I've watched them do it. I was wondering what size the nymphs were and if a black stone fly pattern of correct size might imitate the nymph well enough.

Thanks!!

Adirman

Reply irradecant blue damselfly

Posted by Mwmeci on Jul 3, 2008

The trout in Wisconsin on July 3, 2008 were eating the fly's as they emerged. Gosh they make a ruckus as they took to the air. They only emerged under a very low bridge, not upstream or downstream from the bridge. I've never witnessed this before.

Reply Argia characters

Posted by DMM on Nov 26, 2006

One reason I think it's Argia, is that this genus is characteristically "stubby" and "robust" through the last instar. Without verification, I think it is the stubbiest of the Zygoptera.

Reply Genus ID

Posted by DMM on Nov 19, 2006

May be Argia, detailed pictures of the prementum are always good for the ID of Odonata. Odonata can be tricky in general though, so the more details the better.

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Jargon Defined:

Instar: Many invertebrates molt through dozens of progressively larger and better-developed stages as they grow. Each of these stages is known as an instar. Hard-bodied nymphs typically molt through more instars than soft-bodied larvae.

Nymph: The juvenile, underwater stages of mayflies, stoneflies, dragonflies, and damselflies and other aquatic insects whose juvenile stages are covered by hard exoskeletons. The word can also refer to the fishing flies which imitate these creatures, in which case it is used as a blanket term for flies imitating any underwater stage of an invertebrate (except for crayfish and leeches).