The powdered dancer (Argia moesta) name refers directly to the male's frosted appearance, appearing to be covered with a powdery blue or greyish substance. Older males may even be more ash white than blue. The scientific name moesta, means sorrowful, and may refer to customs (such as those on Ash Wednesday) of dusting oneself with ashes to express sorrow or mourning. Males have a blue tip at the end of the abdomen. Females come in blue and brown forms based on the color of the thorax, which has hair thin dark shoulder stripes.
