The Vivid Dancer Damselfly is yet another beneficial insect we have on display here in the Truckee Meadows Pest Control office. It’s a beautiful insect that inspired us to do a little research that encouraged us to be here writing a well-deserved blog about it.
On May 4, 2009, Governor Jim Gibbons signed the legislation naming The Vivid Dancer Damselfly the official state insect of the State of Nevada effective October 1, 2009.
The story is quite interesting about how this insect was ultimately chosen, we just googled “Nevada State Insect” and there it was. Back in 2009 a fourth-grade class taught by Mr. David R. Slater at John R. Beatty Elementary School offered their essay in testimony before the State Committee on Government Affairs in Carson City. This class was one of the 74 that had participated in the contest to nominate an insect found in Nevada, to be our Nevada State Insect, this class won the contest:
“To participate in the contest, the classes were required to submit a one-page, research-based essay supporting the nomination of an insect found in Nevada, including the pupils’ rationale for why that insect would be a good symbol for the State of Nevada.”
What we learned was that these students at John R. Beatty Elementary School had selected the Argia Vivida, the Vivid Dancer Damselfly for reasons we found fascinating. In brief we will list them:
- Its colors. The adult male is rich blue with clear wings that appear silver when rapidly beating in the sunlight. Silver and Blue are our state colors.
- The Vivid Dancer Damselfly is abundant in all four regions of our state. Its habitat is the springs and ponds of Nevada. The students felt it was important that the state insect not have limited range or be endangered. That it should represent and prosper throughout the entire state.
- That it is helpful to humans. It preys upon mosquitos, flies, aphids and other pests. It serves Nevadans by contributing to our economy and quality of life.
- Of all the state insects, Nevada is the only state that would have the Damselfly. They felt the selection of the Vivid Dancer would reinforce Nevada’s status as being unique among the States.
We here at Truckee Meadows Pest Control admire the careful thought that was involved in their decision to nominate the Vivid Dancer Damselfly as we take that same careful thought in how we provide our services to our customers.
The Vivid Dancer Damselfly is abundant near springs and ponds throughout Nevada, with their populations peaking in lateAugust. This is the time to observe them in all their glory. Vivid Dancers as well as other species of damselflies are beautiful, beneficial predators as they help control populations of harmful insects. Adults will consume large quantities of other insects such as flies, mosquitos and moths and some eat beetles and caterpillars. The ecological importance of Damselflies, as well as Dragonflies, is that they can be key indicators of different biotypes and habitats. They have been used as tools to assess the biological health of aquatic habitats and to detect levels of heavy metals such as mercury. They are a very important group of insects in stream and pond ecosystems and are often used as an indicator whether water is clean or polluted. The quality of the environment can be monitored by damselflies as their presence is strongly affected by different factors such as water flow, pollution and vegetation. The destruction and alteration of freshwater habitats are the greatest threats to damselfly species. Without clean water damselflies are unable to breed. They are also considered model organisms to assess the effects of global climate change.
“One way to conserve them is by avoiding indiscriminate use of pesticides.”
Leave pest control to the professionals here at Truckee Meadows Pest Control, we have environmentally responsible solutions for your pest control needs. Truckee Meadows Pest Control 775-332-0604 Control is what it’s all about.