BRN 9-2 (uncompressed) - Flipbook - Page 22
California Spreadwing
Fewer than Þve California Spreadwings, Archilestes
californicus (McLachlan, 1895), all female, were
observed along the Rio Grande in the autumn, midNovember, of 2024; they perched and hunted for
small ßying insects in/near a dense stand of 4-5m
Coyote Willow tall shrubs. During this time period, air
temperature dropped below freezing at night and
there was one full day of clouds and cold, light rain. It
should be noted that similar low numbers were
recorded in 2023 along this river reach.
AA. This female perched on a Spiny Chloracantha
stem throughout the mid-day of a cold,
intermittently rainy day, then moved by midafternoon; her color appeared darkened to
grayish-lavender under these conditions.
11/17/24
BB. Image enlargement of the female California
Spreadwing's head and thorax illustrates her
brown eyes (dark above and light below), wide
blue dorsal thoracic stripes (divided by a brown
medial line), the blue, ovoid lateral patch, and the
tannish-brown thorax color. 11/15/24
CC. The Þrst observation of California Spreadwings
was this female perched on and hunting from a
Sand Dropseed tallgrass stem ~5m from a dense
Coyote Willow tall shrub community on the Rio
Grande bank. 11/15/24
DD. A single Honey Mesquite tall shrub, growing
among Coyote Willow, provided a hunting perch
during a sunny midday for this female California
Spreading. 11/16/24
BB
Familiar Bluet
Familiar Bluets, Enallagma civile (Hagen, 1861), were
abundant locally throughout the late spring to autumn
seasons of 2024 and as observed in prior years,
2019-2023.
CC
EE. Next Page. Dorso-lateral image, a male
Familiar Bluet perches while hunting for small
ßying insects along the Rio Grande. 08/29/24
DD
AA
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