Eastern Amberwings

Here's a pair of Eastern Amberwing butterflies, 1 male and (maybe) 1 female. The male is an easy identification; size, shape, and those translucent amber wings are present in no other local dragonfly.

The 2nd picture is a bit harder to ID, looking only vaguely like the females in this picture or this picture. This could be because this is a relatively rare andromorph female; unfortunately andromorph females probably look quite a bit like juvenile males:

  • I think a juvenile male would look like a paler, drabber version of a male, without any spots other than red stigmas on their wings.
  • I think I see faint hints of the dark patches that most females have.
  • Based on the picture alone, I'd lean towards this being an andromorph female.
  • But Eastern Amberwing andromorph females are supposed to be very rare, while pretty much every vibrant male was once a drab juvenile male, so I suspect that a juvenile male is the stronger ID.

June 20, 2023 at Washington Valley Reservoir
Photo 301113157, (c) jpviolette, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

June 20, 2023 at Washington Valley Reservoir
Photo 301112673, (c) jpviolette, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)


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