top of page

Dragonflies of Zihuatanejo

SUBORDER ANISOPTERA

-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda)

-Hexapods (Subphylum Hexapoda)

-Insects (Class Insecta)

-Winged and Once-winged Insects (Subclass Pterygota)

-Dragonflies and Damselflies (Order Odonata)

-Dragonflies (Anisoptera)​

-Superfamily Libelluloidea

-Skimmers (Family Libellulidae)

-Speckled Dashers (Genus Micrathyria)

-Three-striped Dasher (Micrathyria didyma)


The Three-striped Dasher (Micrathyria didyma) is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae, known for its distinctive appearance, which features prominent stripes along the thorax. This dragonfly is often found in tropical and subtropical regions near slow-moving or still freshwater habitats. The thorax has three distinct dark stripes running along its length, which gives the species its common name.

Three-striped Dasher

Micrathyria didyma

Diet

  • Micrathyria didyma is a predatory dragonfly. Adults capture small flying insects, while the aquatic larvae prey on small aquatic invertebrates and insect larvae.

Range

  • The Three-striped Dasher has a broad tropical distribution, extending from southern Texas and southern Florida through Mexico and Central America to northern South America and the West Indies.

  • It is particularly relevant to the Zihuatanejo region because M. didyma is documented from Guerrero and has also been recorded in the tropical dry-forest region of western Mexico, including San Buenaventura, Jalisco.

Habitat

  • Micrathyria didyma is associated with ponds, marshes and other quiet freshwater habitats, particularly where there is vegetation around the margins.

  • Around Zihuatanejo, suitable habitat includes seasonal ponds, marshes, small lagoons and quiet pools within or adjacent to tropical dry forest.

Description

  • The Three-striped Dasher is a relatively small, slender Micrathyria. The male has a dark abdomen with contrasting pale markings and a distinctive thoracic pattern.

  • Its common name refers to the three prominent dark lateral stripes on the thorax, which provide an important field character.

bottom of page