photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
Ryan Brady | profile | all galleries >> Dragonflies 2008 >> Emeralds (Family Corduliidae) >> Common Baskettail (Tetragoneuria cynosura) tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Common Baskettail (Tetragoneuria cynosura)

In this baskettail, the male's upper claspers have a unique "step" and the female's appendages are short and spread apart, forming a square-like arrangement. Most, but not all, individuals also show a dark patch of varying size on the base of the hindwings, which the other baskettails lack. As the name suggests, Common Baskettails can be readily found throughout Wisconsin at a variety of wetland habitats, mostly in early-mid summer (June). Perhaps the greatest irony in my 2008 dragonflying season was that this species was the one I saw most, with literally hundreds at my house daily in June, yet I only snapped one diagnostic photo! I'll do better next year...
Common Baskettail (T. cynosura) - male
Common Baskettail (T. cynosura) - male
POSSIBLE Common Baskettail (T. cynosura) - female
POSSIBLE Common Baskettail (T. cynosura) - female