Diet

• Perithemis intensa is a small predatory dragonfly. Adults capture small flying insects from low perches, while the aquatic larvae prey on small aquatic invertebrates and insect larvae.

Range

• The Mexican Amberwing is native to Mexico and ranges northward into the southwestern United States. Its Mexican distribution extends south to Guerrero.

• Perithemis intensa occurs in the Zihuatanejo area, including around the La Saladita coastal wetland.

Habitat

• It is associated with ponds, pools, ditches and other quiet freshwater habitats, including somewhat muddy water bodies.

• Around Zihuatanejo, suitable habitat includes seasonal ponds, quiet pools, lagoon margins and other wetlands associated with tropical dry forest and coastal vegetation.

Description

• The Mexican Amberwing is a small dragonfly, approximately 23–29 mm long with a wingspan of about 41–44 mm.

• The body is predominantly yellowish-brown to yellow-green and relatively unmarked. The wings are amber-coloured, with a distinctive dark marking near the triangle of each wing.

• The eyes are brownish with darker markings, while the thorax is yellow-green and the legs are yellowish. The amber wings and small dark basal markings are useful field characters.

• It is a relatively small Perithemis that can be distinguished from the Slough Amberwing (P. domitia) by its more uniformly yellowish-brown body and characteristic dark wing markings.