Common Whitetail - Plathemis lydia (Drury, 1770)



Range & Habitat:

Found throughout the state.



They inhabit almost any shallow or quiet pond or stream.



Flight Season:
Early Date: 29 April
Late Date: 1 November

Flight season charts created from records in the official database maintained by Allen Barlow.

Male Dorsal - Photo by Jim Bangma
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Description:

Adult males are unmistakable, with large black wing spots and pruinose white abdomens. Females resemble female Twelve-spotted Skimmers but can be recognized by their heavier abdomen with a lateral row of triangle shaped spots. They are also given away by their ground-perching habit, seldom shown by Twelve-spotted Skimmer.


 

Conservation Status:
State: S5 Demonstrably secure in the state
Global: G5 Secure globally, but possibly rare in parts of its range