common whitetail
(Plathemis lydia)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Biology • Distribution • Taxonomy
Conservation Status |
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| IUCN Red List | not listed |
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| NatureServe | N5 - Secure SNR - Unranked |
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| Minnesota | not listed |
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Description |
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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. |
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Size |
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Total Length: 1½″ to 1⅞″ |
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Similar Species |
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| Twelve-spotted skimmer (Libellula pulchella) lateral white line on the female abdomen is solid and straight. | ||
Habitat |
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Still or slow moving water with a muddy bottom; ponds, lakes, stream pools, marshes. |
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Biology |
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Season |
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Mid-May to late September |
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Behavior |
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Life Cycle |
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Naiad Food |
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Insects and tadpoles |
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Adult Food |
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Mosquitoes, flies, and other flying insects, including smaller dragonflies |
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Distribution |
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Sources |
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| 6/23/2022 | ||||
Occurrence |
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Common |
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Taxonomy |
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Order |
Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) | ||
Suborder |
Epiprocta | ||
| Infraorder | Anisoptera (dragonflies) | ||
Superfamily |
Libelluloidea | ||
Family |
Libellulidae (skimmers) | ||
Genus |
Plathemis (whitetails) | ||
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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Share your photo of this insect. |
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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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Juvenile Male |
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Adult Female |
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Slideshows |
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| Common Whitetail Dragonfly Andree Reno Sanborn |
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About
Libellula lydia, Plathemis lydia |
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| Platythemis lydia (Common Whitetail) Allen Chartier |
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| Common Whitetail Victor Fazio |
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Visitor Videos |
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Share your video of this insect. |
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Leah Starks |
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| Common Whitetail Published on Jul 5, 2019 |
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About
female in Burnsville, MN |
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Other Videos |
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| Common Whitetail Dragonfly (Libellulidae: Plathemis lydia) Male, Close-up Carl Barrentine |
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About
Published on Jun 19, 2012 Photographed at Grand Forks, North Dakota (19 June 2012). |
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| Common Whitetail Dragonfly (Libellulidae: Plathemis lydia) Female on Branch Carl Barrentine |
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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! |
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| Common Whitetail (Libellulidae: Plathemis lydia) Female Carl Barrentine |
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About
Uploaded on Jun 20, 2010 Photographed at Grand Forks, North Dakota (19 June 2010). |
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Visitor Sightings |
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Report a sighting of this insect. |
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| Ann 7/2/2022 |
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 8/5/2018 |
Location: Ney Nature Center pond, Henderson, MN |
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| 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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