Pygmy wisp facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pygmy wisp
Male
Female
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Synonyms
Agriocnemis australis Selys, 1877 Agriocnemis hyacinthus Tillyard, 1913 Agriocnemis velaris Hagen, 1882 Agrion pygmaeum Rambur, 1842 Agrion kagiensis Matsumura, 1911

The Agriocnemis pygmaea, also known as the pygmy wisp, is a tiny damselfly. You might also hear it called the wandering midget or pygmy dartlet. These small insects are found across Asia and in parts of Australia.

What They Look Like and Where They Live

The pygmy wisp is a very small damselfly. Its eyes are green with black caps. Its body (thorax) is black with bright apple-green stripes on the sides. The first seven parts of its tail (abdomen) are black on top and pale green underneath. The rest of its tail is orange-red.

Older male pygmy wisps can sometimes get a white, powdery coating on their head and body. This coating can hide their usual colors.

Female pygmy wisps are a bit stronger than males and can come in different colors. Some females are red, while others (called androchrome forms) look just like the green males. A female's color can also change as she grows up and develops.

These damselflies like to live and lay their eggs in wet places like marshes and ponds.

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  Female (androchrome)

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  Male

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  Female with water mites attached to her thorax

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  Female wings

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  Male wings