Autumn Meadowhawk (Sympetrum vicinum) is a member of the Skimmer Family of dragonflies that is commonly spotted during the fall months at many water bodies in the mid-Atlantic United States.
Male dragonflies have three terminal appendages, collectively called “claspers,” that are used to grab and hold female dragonflies during mating: an upper pair of cerci (“superior appendages”) and a lower unpaired epiproct (“inferior appendage”).
30 SEP2014 | Huntley Meadows Park | Autumn Meadowhawk (male)
Female dragonflies have a pair of cerci (superior appendages) that have little or no function.
11 NOV 2014 | Huntley Meadows Park | Autumn Meadowhawk (female)
Related Resources: Odonate Terminal Appendages.
Copyright © 2015 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.
Tags: Autumn Meadowhawk dragonfly, cerci, claspers, epiproct, female, Huntley Meadows Park, male, Skimmer Family, Sympetrum vicinum, terminal appendages, wildlife photography
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[…] 27 DEC 2015 | Huntley Meadows Park | Autumn Meadowhawk (male) […]
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[…] This individual is a female, as indicated by her coloration, shape of the abdomen, and terminal appendages. […]
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[…] following individual is a male Autumn Meadowhawk dragonfly (Sympetrum vicinum), perching on the leg of my Columbia convertible […]
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[…] Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Prince William County, Virginia USA. This individual is a teneral female, as indicated by its terminal […]
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[…] 18 NOV 2016 | Huntley Meadows Park | Autumn Meadowhawk (male) […]
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[…] 25 OCT 2016 | OBNWR | Autumn Meadowhawk (mature female) […]