Variable Dancer (Argia fumipennis)

Variable Dancer
Argia fumipennis

The Variable Dancer (Argia fumipennis) is a fairly common widespread damselfly which occurs over the eastern 3/4 of the United States. The first photo here was a digital capture with a Canon EOS 10D and EF 180 mm Macro lens with a 1.4X extender and a ring flash on the Balcones Canyonlands NWR, Travis Co., Texas in June 2003.
The subspecies of Variable Dancer found in Texas and many other areas (A. f. violacea) is now called Violet Dancer. At right is a shot from May, 2005, in Travis Co., Texas.
Here is another shot of a Variable Dancer of the violacea subspecies, taken at Little Lakes, Beachburg Rd., Renfrew Co., Ontario, Canada, in July, 2005.
My first observation of the "smoky-winged" Variable Dancer (A. f. fumipennis) was quite a surprise since I just was not prepared for how dark the wings actually are. This male was photographed at Twin Lakes, Twin Lakes Road, Taylor Co., Georgia, in July, 2005.
The male shown here was in Bastrop State Park, Bastrop Co., Texas, in May, 2008. This image was taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender with flash.
The male shown here was in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in June, 2009. The same gear as previously described was used to take this shot.
The pair of Variable Dancers in tandem shown here was along the Fourche Renault Creek, Washington Co., Missouri, in June, 2009. The same gear as previously described was used to take this image.
The next 2 shots showing a pair of Variable Dancers in copula and a single male, were taken near Freyburg, Oxford Co., Maine, in June, 2010, with a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and an EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender and 580 flash.

This shot of the dark-winged form of Variable Dancer (A. f. fumipennis) was at Kolomoki Mounds State Park, Early Co., Georgia, in May, 2011.
The next eight shots show more of the dark winged "Smoky-winged" Dancers (A. f. fumipennis). These shots were taken at Campbell Lake in the Sandhills State Forest, Chesterfield Co., South Carolina, in May, 2012, with a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and a Sigma 50-500mm lens and Canon 580 flash.







The male Variable Dancer on the right was along Onion Creek near Dripping Springs, Hays Co., Texas, in July, 2012. This shot was taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and an EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 1.4X extender.
Variable Dancer Argia fumipennis male Gus Engling W.M.A., Anderson Co., Texas 9 June 2013
Variable Dancer Argia fumipennis male Blanco River, Blanco Co., Texas 13 August 2013
Variable Dancer Argia fumipennis male Onion Creek, near Dripping Springs, Hays Co., Texas 13 August 2013
Variable Dancer Argia fumipennis male Cienega Creek, Big Bend Ranch State Park, Presidio Co., Texas 22 August 2013