dot-tailed whiteface

not listed

N5 - Secure

SNR - Unranked

not listed

Dot-tailed whiteface is a small skimmer, 15 ⁄16″ to 17 ⁄16″ long.

The male has a white face, black thorax, black abdomen, and clear wings. There is a single, squarish, yellow spot on the top (dorsal surface) of segment 7 of the abdomen. The thorax is black. The face is white. The wings are clear except for a small dark patch at the base of the hindwings and the stigma at the leading edge of each wing.

The female and the juvenile are more colorful. There is a single dorsal yellow spot on segments 2 through 6. The spot extends nearly the length of the segment. There is also a squarish, yellow, dorsal spot on segment 7, and yellow stripes on the side (lateral surface) of segments 4 and 5. As the female matures the dorsal spots on segments 2 through 6 fade. The lateral stripes often fade as well, though they last longer than the dorsal spots. The dorsal spot on segment 7 does not fade. With the faded spots an older female looks much like a male, but it rarely becomes as dark as the male. About 18% of the females have a conspicuous amber patch on the basal 20% of the wing (where the wing attaches to the thorax).

Total length: 15 ⁄16″ to 17 ⁄16″

Marshy ponds, lakes, slow streams, and bogs.

Mid-May to late September

Adults perch horizontally on the ground and on floating vegetation, especially water lilies. They hunt from shoreline vegetation.

The female hovers just above the surface of shallow water near aquatic plants that touch the water surface. She dips the tip of her abdomen into the water to deposit the eggs. The male guards the female as she deposits her eggs.

The naiads live in submerged vegetation. They emerge as adults at night.

Mayfly naiads, mosquito larvae, other aquatic fly larvae, freshwater shrimp, small fish, and tadpoles.

Mosquitoes, flies, butterflies, moths, mayflies, and flying ants or termites, and other soft-bodied flying insects.

Sources

7, 18, 24.

Common

Male

Female

Mating Pair

Darkened Female

Juvenile

Location: Savage Fen SNA