# Blue-tipped Dancer (*Argia tibialis*) The Blue-tipped Dancer is a beautiful dragonfly with bright blue tips on its wings. It flits around ponds and streams, dancing in the air as it hunts for tiny insects to eat. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 16 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Blue-tipped Dancer](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Argia_tibialis.jpg&width=800) Photo: Mike Ostrowski from North Bethesda, Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Argia_tibialis.jpg) ## Appearance The Blue-tipped Dancer has a slender, dark body, often appearing black or dark brown. Males are distinct with a bright sky-blue tip on their abdomen, while females are duller. Its four clear, delicate wings are held together above its back when at rest. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Odonata - **Family:** Coenagrionidae - **Genus:** Argia ## Interesting facts - Before they fly, Blue-tipped Dancers live underwater as nymphs for months or even years! - If a predator tries to grab them, they might shed a leg to escape, which is pretty wild! - Male Blue-tipped Dancers flash their bright blue tails to attract mates, like a tiny signal light! - They can perch very still, but are always ready to zoom after a tasty mosquito! ## Special abilities - **Super Sight:** Blue-tipped Dancer has huge compound eyes that help them see almost all around, spotting tiny flying snacks or sneaky predators. - **Acrobatic Flight:** Blue-tipped Dancer can dart, hover, and even fly backwards using its strong wings, helping them catch food and escape danger. - **Sticky Legs:** Blue-tipped Dancer has tiny spines on its legs that help them create a 'basket' to scoop up small insects mid-air, making hunting super effective. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 30-40 mm - **Size:** 25-35 mm - **Lifespan:** 365-730 days - **Flight Speed:** 15 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding These tiny hunters eat small flying insects, keeping pesky bugs away from watery places. - **Age differences:** Nymphs eat aquatic invertebrates; adults eat flying insects. - **Primary Foods:** mosquitoes, gnats, midges, small flies - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [American Bullfrog](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-bullfrog) (*Lithobates catesbeianus*) — Adults can be eaten by hungry frogs near water's edge. - **Eats:** [Eastern Kingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-kingbird) (*Tyrannus tyrannus*) — Birds snatch them from the air as a quick, protein-rich snack. - **Hunts:** Common House Mosquito (*Culex pipiens*) — They help control mosquito populations by catching them in flight. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low It's safe to watch dragonflies, but don't try to catch them. They are delicate creatures. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Blue-tipped Dancer? Compare wing shape and resting posture, where the eyes sit, body markings and the tail segments. Males and females can look very different in color. Dragonfly Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Blue-tipped Dancer's wingspan? 30-40 mm ### How big is Blue-tipped Dancer? 25-35 mm ### How long does Blue-tipped Dancer live? 365-730 days ### How fast can Blue-tipped Dancer fly? 15 km/h ### What does Blue-tipped Dancer eat? These tiny hunters eat small flying insects, keeping pesky bugs away from watery places. ### Where is Blue-tipped Dancer usually found? Wetlands ### How does Blue-tipped Dancer hunt? Pursuit ## Where to spot - [Brookfield Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brookfield-park) — Virginia, US · Park - [Burke Lake Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/burke-lake-park) — Virginia, US · Park - [Chantilly Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chantilly-park) — Virginia, US · Park - [Concord](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/concord) — Tennessee, US · Neighborhood - [Lake Fairfax Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lake-fairfax-park) — Virginia, US · Park - [Locust Grove State Historic Site](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/locust-grove-state-historic-site) — Louisiana, US · Nature Reserve [View all places to see Blue-tipped Dancer](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/blue-tipped-dancer) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Blue-tipped Dancer: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-tipped-dancer)