Committee sends damselfly to full Senate for state bug consideration

CARSON CITY " Three fourth-graders representing a class that won a contest to pick Nevada's official state bug took a plane flight from Las Vegas on Wednesday to tell lawmakers about their choice " the Vivid Dancer Damselfly.

John R. Beatty Elementary fourth-graders Lexie Arancibia, Meagan Anders and Ryan Underwood presented facts about the 1 1/2-inch-long winged insect to the Senate Government Affairs Committee. SB166, making the damselfly the state insect, won quick approval and was routed to full Senate.

Underwood said the damselfly lives in springs and ponds throughout the state, eating mosquitoes, flies and aphids, and "should represent and prosper throughout the entire state."

"It isn't just pretty, Underwood said. "It serves Nevadans by contributing to our economy and quality of life."

Arancibia, who first had the idea of selecting the damselfly, said her class voted for it because the insect is blue and silver, which are Nevada's state colors. She also added that the damselfly was officially classified in 1865, the year after Nevada became a state.

Anders said of all the other bugs picked by other states as their official insects, there is not one damselfly, adding, "The selection of the vivid dancer would reinforce Nevada as unique among the states."

Comments from senators included a question from Sen. William Raggio, R-Reno, whether the insect bit. The answer was no. Sen. Mike McGinness, R-Fallon, said he noticed mosquitoes wherever he went, and thought the mosquito should have been the state insect.

Teacher David Slater said the contest taught students about teamwork, scientific thinking, deadlines, witting skills, Internet research methods, Nevada history and the legislative process.

Assemblyman Lynn Stewart, R-Henderson, co-authored the bill with Sen. Joyce Woodhouse, D-Henderson. He said one of the most important lessons the students learned was that they had an impact on making laws.

"Kids know they can make a difference, that their voices can be heard," Stewart said.