Libellula lydia
Photo by Dennis Paulson
The Common Whitetail is
one of our most frequently seen dragonflies. It grows to
about 1 3/4 inches long and has a stocky body. Males have a
chalky white abdomen
which makes them easy to identify. Males also have a broad,
dark brown band in the center of each wing. Female whitetails have a
brown abdomen with yellowish dash-like markings on the
sides. They have brown blotches in the center of each wing
and at the tips. Both sexes have brown
faces and brown legs. Copyright, Rich
Stallcup Giff Beaton Common Whitetails live
just about anywhere there is water, including lakes, ponds,
marshes,
rivers, and streams. They occur in very large numbers at
beaver ponds. Common Whitetails are
perchers, meaning they often rest on logs, rocks, low plant
stems, or even on the ground. Males are very
territorial,
guarding an edge of water 50 to 100 feet long. They are
constantly active, perching only a short time before
continuing to patrol their turf.
m1.jpg)
Mark Moran
When one male sees
another, it shows off by raising its white abdomen above its
body while flying in the air. They will also bang into each
other while attempting to steal females. Mating only takes about
three seconds. After mating, a female will dip her abdomen
into the water's surface and lay up to 1000 eggs. Huntley Meadows
Park
m1.jpg)
1m1.jpg)