photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
Type your message and click Add Comment
It is best to login or register first but you may post as a guest.
Enter an optional name and contact email address. Name
Name Email
help private comment
Ryan Brady | profile | all galleries >> Dragonflies 2008 >> Skimmers (Family Libellulidae) >> Common Whitetail (Libellula lydia) tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Common Whitetail (Libellula lydia)

One of the five common "King Skimmers" in Wisconsin. Males show broad black patches across the mid-section of all wings and a bright whitish abdomen. Females have 3 smaller black patches on each wing and brown abdomen with yellow side-spots, much like in Twelve-spotted Skimmer. The yellow side-spots in C. Whitetail are slanted and form a jagged, sawtooth pattern, compared to the smooth pattern of spots in Twelve-spotted Skimmer. Behavior also tends to be different, as Common Whitetails often perch on the ground, while Twelve-spotteds typically prefer a prominent branch. This species is a common dragonfly at standing waters throughout Wisconsin.
Common Whitetail (L. lydia) - male
Common Whitetail (L. lydia) - male
Common Whitetail (L. lydia) - male
Common Whitetail (L. lydia) - male
Common Whitetail (L. lydia) - male
Common Whitetail (L. lydia) - male
Common Whitetail (L. lydia) - female
Common Whitetail (L. lydia) - female
Common Whitetail (L. lydia) - juv male
Common Whitetail (L. lydia) - juv male