common whitetail
(Plathemis lydia)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Biology • Distribution • Taxonomy
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Description |
On the mature male the entire abdomen is covered with a white powdery bloom (pruinose). On the female, the lateral white line on the abdomen is broken and zig-zagged. |
Size |
Total length: 1½″ to 1⅞″ |
Similar Species |
Twelve-spotted skimmer (Libellula pulchella) lateral white line on the female abdomen is solid and straight. |
Habitat |
Still or slow moving water with a muddy bottom; ponds, lakes, stream pools, marshes. |
Biology |
Season |
Mid-May to late September |
Behavior |
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Life Cycle |
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Naiad Food |
Insects and tadpoles |
Adult Food |
Mosquitoes, flies, and other flying insects, including smaller dragonflies |
Distribution |
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Sources |
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| 7/2/2024 | ||
Occurrence |
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Common |
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Taxonomy |
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Order |
Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) |
Suborder |
Epiprocta |
Infraorder |
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Superfamily |
Libelluloidea |
Family |
Libellulidae (skimmers) |
Genus |
Plathemis (whitetails) |
Subordinate Taxa |
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Synonyms |
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Libellula lydia |
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Common Names |
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common whitetail |
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Glossary
Pruinescence
A waxy or powdery bloom that covers the underlying coloration and gives a dusty or frosty appearance.
Visitor Photos |
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Kate Youngblood |
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| I knew I had to find out. What was this insect! |
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Denise Aguirre-Sarver |
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Dallas |
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Alfredo Colon |
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Kirk Nelson |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Adult Male |
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Adult Male |
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Adult Male |
Juvenile Male | |
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Adult Female |
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Slideshows |
Common Whitetail Dragonfly |
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About
Libellula lydia, Plathemis lydia |
Platythemis lydia (Common Whitetail) |
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Common Whitetail |
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Visitor Videos |
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Leah Starks |
Common Whitetail |
About
female in Burnsville, MN |
Other Videos |
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Common Whitetail Dragonfly (Libellulidae: Plathemis lydia) Male, Close-up |
About
Published on Jun 19, 2012 Photographed at Grand Forks, North Dakota (19 June 2012). |
Common Whitetail Dragonfly (Libellulidae: Plathemis lydia) Female on Branch |
About
Uploaded on Jul 9, 2011 Photographed at the Turtle River State Park, North Dakota (08 July 2011). Thank you to 'DeeDee' (@Bugguide.net) for confirming the identity of this specimen! |
Common Whitetail (Libellulidae: Plathemis lydia) Female |
About
Uploaded on Jun 20, 2010 Photographed at Grand Forks, North Dakota (19 June 2010). |
Visitor Sightings |
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Report a sighting of this insect. |
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Kate Youngblood |
Location: Southlake, Texas I knew I had to find out. What was this insect! |
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Denise Aguirre-Sarver |
Location: Blue Mountains of Eastern Oregon / Eastern Washington |
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Ann |
Location: Buhl, Mn |
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| KJW 6/22/2022 |
Location: My backyard, Otsego, MN Couldn't get my phone out fast enough to get a picture! |
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| Dallas 6/24/2021 |
Location: Owatonna, Mn. |
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| Alfredo Colon 10/16/2019 |
Location: Woodbury, MN |
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Robyn |
Location: Ney Nature Center pond, Henderson, MN |
| Kirk Nelson 5/22/2016 |
Location: Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, Long Meadow Lake Unit Common Whitetail, seen near the stream that flows by the Bass Ponds Interpretive Trail |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
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