Thornbush Dasher

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The Thornbush Dasher (Micrathyria hagenii) is a tropical dragonfly found primarily along the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Its range occasionally expands north to central Texas.

While the dasher name is shared with the more common Blue Dasher, the Thornbush Dasher belongs to a separate genus. It is the most common the of three Micrathyria species found in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. The other two species are three-spot dasher and spot-tailed dasher.

The male in the top picture shows the species' blue/green eyes, with a thin abdomen that flairs at the bottom.

The bottom picture shows the female with brown eyes and a brown abdomen. Both genders share similar abdominal markings.

© 2008. Patricia A. Michaels