Uranotaenia sapphirina

Appearance

Adult: tiny size; abdomen blunt; proboscis widens distally; scutum and scutellum with median stripe of iridescent blue scales; similar lines of iridescent bluish scales on lateral margin of scutum, anterior pronotal lobe, and mid-part of sternopleuron; wings with long line of iridescent blue scales on basal two-thirds of 5th vein, cell r2 shorter than vein R2+3

Larva: head longer than wide, with 4 stout spines on top; abdominal segment VIII bears large lateral comb plate; seta 5,6 C single, stout, spiniform; seta 3-P less than half length of 1-P, with 8-10 branches; seta 6-I, II triple

Naming

SAPPHIRINA: refers to the blue precious stone, sapphire - adults have iridescent blue scales on the wings and in several places on the body.

Distribution

North America: North Dakota to southwestern Quebec, south to Florida, west to Texas and Mexico; also parts of New Mexico and Colorado.

Habitat

Larvae develop in permanent pools with emergent and floating aquatic vegetation. Adults rest on nearby vegetation, and are attracted to light.

Reproduction

Multivoltine; adult females overwinter in sheltered habitats; eggs are laid in rafts on water surface like those of Culex species.

Food

Females are not known to bite humans, and may be autogenous in the wild, although some are believed to feed on reptiles and frogs.