Pondhawks

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The Western Pondhawk belongs to Genus Erythemis, one of many genera in family Libellullidae, a family that includes skimmers, meadowhawks, saddlebags and others. Mainly eastern, there are eight species of Erythemis in North America, but only one, E. collocata, is found in California.

Pondhawks are medium-small skimmers, about one and a half inches long, with wingspans of about 2.5 inches. Young females are yellow, turning green as they mature. Young males are green, turning blue as they mature. Males can be confused with Blue Dashers: males of both species perch around pond margins watching for females, but note face green rather than white, and slightly larger size of the Pondhawk. Males sometimes perch on algae mats.

This species is not seen in the "mating wheel" configuration as often as some other species. Females avoid the ponds until they are ready to mate, but they can usually be found close by, unlike the meadowhawks where non-breeding females stay well away from the ponds.

Both genders prey on damsels. Females are particularly voracious -- see photographic evidence of a female consuming a male, #538 and #540, below.

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