variegated meadowhawk

variegated meadowhawk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More photos…

Sympetrum corruptum


Taxonomy

Order:

Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies)

 

Suborder:

Epiprocta

 

infraorder:

Anisoptera (dragonflies)

 

Superfamily:

Cavilabiata

 

Family:

Libellulidae (skimmers)


Status

Uncommon

Flight/Season

Mid-May to mid-September

Habitat

Still water and slow streams, but not bogs or acid fens

Size

About 1½ long


Identification

This is a medium-sized, distinctively marked, migratory dragonfly.

The thorax is gray with two lateral stripes that are white at the top fading to yellow at the bottom. On males the stripes fades as the male matures eventually leaving only two yellow spots.

The abdomen has two silver stripes on top and a white stripe on each side. On females and juvenile males the abdomen is bordered with orange on top and at the end of each segment. Abdominal segments 2, 8, and 9 have a black border on top. The face is tan. On mature males the colored border, the face, and the border of top of segment 2 are red.

The legs are black with yellow vertical stripes.

The wings are clear. Some of the veins along the leading edge of the forewing are orange. The stigmas are yellow at the end.

 
Similar
Species

 


Larval Food

Any living thing up to and including small fish.

 
Adult Food

Flying insects

 
Life Cycle

Eggs are laid in open shallow water or in algae.

 
Behavior

 


Range Range Map   Sources: 7, 16, 18.
 
Sightings

Agassiz Dunes SNA

 


Comments

 


Images  
Female variegated meadowhawk   variegated meadowhawk   variegated meadowhawk   variegated meadowhawk

Synonyms

Tarnetrum corruptum

 
Common
Names

variegated meadowhawk


 

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