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Leonora's Dancer
Argia leonorae

The Leonora's Dancer (Argia leonorae) is a little-known damselfly of Texas and northern Mexico. It has been found across a wide area of Texas but it is quite local and not found regularly. In June, 2003, Chuck Sexton (at that time the wildlife biologist at Balcones Canyonlands NWR north of Austin) and I were making a survey of Odonates on different tracts of the refuge in parts of three counties, Travis, Burnet and Williamson. At one of the Burnet County sites we were investigating a seepage area where overflow from a small spring-fed pond created a wet meadow. While examining various dragonflies and damselflies here we found an unfamiliar damselfly that later proved to be Leonora's Dancer. These damsels were examined in detail and photographed extensively. This location added Burnet County to the known range of this species and adds Balcones Canyonlands as the only national wildlife refuge to host this species of special concern. The 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. The next photo shows a female taken at the same time and location.

 
This shot was taken along a sedge-lined creek in Bandera Co., Texas in May, 2005, with the same equipment as above. The next shot at right, of another male, was taken at this same location.
During field work in 2003 and 2004 it has been learned that this species is more widespread than previously thought. As of June, 2005, a number of new counties have been added to the known range of this species including Bandera, Jim Hogg, Kerr, Uvalde, Crockett, and others. Next are shots of males taken in some of these locations. Note the darker overall coloration of some of these individuals. The shot here was taken in Kerr Co., Texas, at a small marsh along the Guadalupe River in October, 2004, with a Canon EOS 1D Mark II and EF 180 mm F/3.5 Macro and 1.4X extender and 550 flash.
The next 3 shots show 2 male and one female Leonora's Dancers near the Rio Grande at Big Bend National Park, Brewster Co., Texas, in May, 2010. These shots were taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and an EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender and 580 flash.
Leonora's Dancer
Argia leonorae
male
along Live Oak Creek @ Co. Rd. 304,
Crockett Co., Texas
26 May 2015
Leonora's Dancer
Argia leonorae
male
along Live Oak Creek @ Co. Rd. 304,
Crockett Co., Texas
26 May 2015
Leonora's Dancer
Argia leonorae
male
along Live Oak Creek @ Co. Rd. 304,
Crockett Co., Texas
26 May 2015
Leonora's Dancer
Argia leonorae
male
along Live Oak Creek @ Co. Rd. 304,
Crockett Co., Texas
26 May 2015
Leonora's Dancer
Argia leonorae
male
along Live Oak Creek @ Co. Rd. 304,
Crockett Co., Texas
26 May 2015
Leonora's Dancer
Argia leonorae
male
along Live Oak Creek @ Co. Rd. 304,
Crockett Co., Texas
26 May 2015
Leonora's Dancer
Argia leonorae
male
along Live Oak Creek @ Co. Rd. 304,
Crockett Co., Texas
26 May 2015
Leonora's Dancer
Argia leonorae
male
along Live Oak Creek @ Co. Rd. 304,
Crockett Co., Texas
26 May 2015
Leonora's Dancer
Argia leonorae
male
San Felipe Creek,
Del Rio,
Val Verde Co., Texas
1 October 2015
Leonora's Dancer
Argia leonorae
male
along Live Oak Creek @ Co. Rd. 304,
Crockett Co., Texas
26 May 2015
Leonora's Dancer
Argia leonorae
male
along Live Oak Creek @ Co. Rd. 304,
Crockett Co., Texas
26 May 2015
Leonora's Dancer
Argia leonorae
male
along Live Oak Creek @ Co. Rd. 304,
Crockett Co., Texas
26 May 2015
Leonora's Dancer
Argia leonorae
male
along Live Oak Creek @ Co. Rd. 304,
Crockett Co., Texas
26 May 2015
Leonora's Dancer
Argia leonorae
male
along Live Oak Creek @ Co. Rd. 304,
Crockett Co., Texas
26 May 2015
Leonora's Dancer
Argia leonorae
male
along Live Oak Creek @ Co. Rd. 304,
Crockett Co., Texas
26 May 2015
Leonora's Dancer
Argia leonorae
male
along Live Oak Creek @ Co. Rd. 304,
Crockett Co., Texas
26 May 2015
Leonora's Dancer
Argia leonorae
male
San Felipe Creek,
Del Rio,
Val Verde Co., Texas
1 October 2015
Leonora's Dancer
Argia leonorae
male
along Live Oak Creek,
Crockett Co. Rd. 304
Crockett Co., Texas
25 May 2018
Leonora's Dancer
Argia leonorae
male
along Live Oak Creek,
Crockett Co. Rd. 304
Crockett Co., Texas
25 May 2018