Error message
Unable to fetch location details at this time.
Common Whitetail Dragonfly
Plathemis lydia
33.6249, -81.9648
Field Notes
Description:
The male's (like this spotting) chunky white body (about 5 cm long), combined with the brownish-black bands on its otherwise translucent wings, give it a checkered look. Females have a brown body and a different pattern of wing spots, closely resembling that of female Libellula pulchella, the Twelve-spotted Skimmer. Whitetail females can be distinguished by their smaller size, shorter bodies, and white zigzag abdominal stripes; the abdominal stripes of L. puchella are straight and yellow.
Habitat:
The Common Whitetail can be seen hawking for mosquitoes and other small flying insects over ponds, marshes, and slow-moving rivers in most regions except the higher mountain regions. Periods of activity vary between regions; for example in California, the adults are active from April to September. This one was photographed in Edgefield County, SC.
Comments (0)
Be the first to comment
Sign in to comment