# Variable Dancer (*Argia fumipennis*) The Variable Dancer is a beautiful dragonfly with colorful wings that can change shades. They love to flutter around near water and are fun to watch as they dance in the air. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 20 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Variable Dancer](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Variable_Dancer_-_Argia_fumipennis%252C_Jones_Preserve%252C_Washington%252C_Virginia_-_28244817940.jpg&width=800) Photo: Judy Gallagher, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Variable_Dancer_-_Argia_fumipennis%252C_Jones_Preserve%252C_Washington%252C_Virginia_-_28244817940.jpg) ## Appearance The Variable Dancer is a slender damselfly, often displaying a striking blue or violet body with dark, intricate markings along its segments. Some individuals may appear brownish or reddish, giving them their 'variable' name. Its two pairs of clear, delicate wings are held together over its back when at rest. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Odonata - **Family:** Coenagrionidae - **Genus:** Argia ## Interesting facts - A Variable Dancer's eyes have thousands of tiny lenses, giving them amazing high-resolution vision! - Baby Variable Dancers, called nymphs, live underwater for months before becoming adults! - Some Variable Dancers have colors that shift from blue to purple depending on the temperature! - They are like tiny aerial acrobats, able to fly forwards, backwards, and even hover perfectly still! ## Special abilities - **Nimble Navigator:** Variable Dancer can dart and hover with incredible precision because of its agile flight, which helps them catch tiny flying insects mid-air. - **Underwater Hunter:** Variable Dancer larvae have a special gill system that helps them breathe underwater, allowing them to hunt aquatic prey effectively. - **Color Communication:** Variable Dancer males have vibrant, changing body colors that help them attract mates and warn off rivals, communicating visually. - **Eyesight Mastery:** Variable Dancer has large, compound eyes that give it a nearly 360-degree view, helping them spot prey and predators easily. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 30-50 mm - **Size:** 25-40 mm - **Lifespan:** 15-60 days - **Flight Speed:** 8 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding These swift hunters munch on tiny flying insects, keeping smaller bug populations in check! - **Age differences:** Nymphs eat tiny aquatic invertebrates, while adults hunt flying insects in the air. - **Primary Foods:** mosquitoes, gnats, small flies, midges, aphids - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Common House Mosquito (*Culex pipiens*) — hunts this common biting insect - **Eaten by:** [Green Frog](https://www.snappit.app/explore/green-frog) (*Lithobates clamitans*) — often eaten by this common pond frog - **Eaten by:** Studfish (*Fundulus notatus*) — larvae are a food source for this small fish - **Eaten by:** Black and Yellow Garden Spider (*Argiope aurantia*) — sometimes caught in the webs of this large spider ## 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. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Variable 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 Variable Dancer's wingspan? 30-50 mm ### How big is Variable Dancer? 25-40 mm ### How long does Variable Dancer live? 15-60 days ### How fast can Variable Dancer fly? 8 km/h ### What does Variable Dancer eat? These swift hunters munch on tiny flying insects, keeping smaller bug populations in check! ### Where is Variable Dancer usually found? Wetlands ### How does Variable Dancer hunt? Pursuit ## Where to spot - [Brookfield Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brookfield-park) — Virginia, US · Park - [Brookside Reservation](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brookside-reservation) — Ohio, US · Park - [Burke Lake Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/burke-lake-park) — Virginia, US · Park - [Childs-Irving Hydroelectric Facilities](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/childs-irving-hydroelectric-facilities) — Arizona, US · Historic District - [Jefferson District Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/jefferson-district-park) — Virginia, US · Park - [Kent Gardens Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kent-gardens-park) — Virginia, US · Park [View all places to see Variable Dancer](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/variable-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: [Variable Dancer: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/variable-dancer)