''Progomphus borealis'' is a species of

dragonfly A dragonfly is a flying insect belonging to the infraorder Anisoptera below the order Odonata. About 3,000 extant species of true dragonfly are known. Most are tropical, with fewer species in temperate regions. Loss of wetland habitat threate ...

in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Gomphidae. This dragonfly species is commonly known as the gray sanddragon.

Identification

Adult

The gray sanddragon is a medium to large dragonfly with a maximum length of 2.25 to 2.44 inches (57 to 62 mm). Its face and thorax are grayish to yellowish brown, and its thorax may be marked with black. The abdomen of this dragonfly is black and marked with yellow on the top of every segment. Under the tip of the abdomen is marked with yellow as well, and the abdominal tip is swollen as in other members of this family.

Nymph

The nymph of the gray sanddragon is large in size with a length of 1 inch (25 mm). This dragonfly nymph is sandy brown in color and has short legs covered with stiff bristles. Its abdomen turns up at the tip, and there is a single, rear-facing spine on every side of abdominal segments three through nine.

Distribution

Gray sanddragons can be found in

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Idaho Idaho ( ) is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. To the north, it shares a small portion of the Canada–United States border with the province of British Columbia. It borders the states of Montana and Wyom ...

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New Mexico ) , population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano) , seat = Santa Fe , LargestCity = Albuquerque , LargestMetro = Tiguex , OfficialLang = None , Languages = English, Spanish ( New Mexican), Navajo, Ker ...

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, and

Washington Washington commonly refers to: * Washington (state), United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A metonym for the federal government of the United States ** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered on ...

. In Idaho these dragonflies can be found at desert streams in the southwest corner of the state.

Habitat

The gray sanddragon found along sandy streams, river, and lakes in desert areas. Nymphs often burrow under the sandy sediment and will swim upstream to escape drought.

Flight season

Gray sanddragons are commonly fly from early June to September. They will also fly from April to October.

Diet

Adult

This species of dragonfly will eat almost any soft-bodied flying insect such as mosquitoes, flies, butterflies, moths, mayflies, and flying ants or termites.

Nymph

The nymphs of gray sanddragon feed on a wide variety of aquatic insects, including mosquito larvae, other aquatic fly larvae, mayfly larvae, and freshwater shrimp. They will sometimes eat small fish and tadpoles.

Ecology

Nymphs can be very selective in choosing their habitat choices and will often occur only in certain stretches of a particular river or stream. The upturned tip of their abdomen is exposed when they burrow into the sand. This strategy allows them to breathe while buried by pumping water in and out of the tip of the abdomen. Unlike most other species, the gray sanddragon nymphs emerge as adults during the day. Although many records are sparse, the adults are believed to fly from early June to September. Gray sanddragons can't tolerate cooler temperatures and are rarely seen flying on cool or cloudy days.

Reproduction

After both male and female mate, the female flies singly, without the male attached to her, and then she lays her eggs by dipping the tip of her abdomen in the shallows of small streams while hovering above it.

Similar species

Many sanddragons are readily identifiable because of the bright yellow cerci. The gray sanddragon looks similar to the smaller common sanddragon which has two dark lateral thoracic stripes and more brown basally in the wings.

References

Ordonates Frame - Gray SanddragonProgomphus borealis (Gray Sanddragon)
* ttp://www.odonatacentral.org/index.php/FieldGuideAction.get/id/46650 OdonataCentral {{Taxonbar, from=Q5598236 Gomphidae Odonata of North America Insects described in 1873