Common Whitetail dragonflies (Plathemis lydia) are like the type of party guests who are always among the first to arrive and last to leave. They are one of the first dragonfly species to appear in spring, and one of the last to disappear in fall.
24 APR 2015 | Huntley Meadows Park | Common Whitetail (female)
This post features photos of the first and last Common Whitetail dragonflies spotted during photowalks in two remote locations at Huntley Meadows Park. Both individuals are female, as indicated by their coloration, pattern of wing spots, and terminal appendages.
15 OCT 2015 | Huntley Meadows Park | Common Whitetail (female)
As its common name suggests Common Whitetail dragonflies are seen commonly, seemingly everywhere, including places far from water. Some dragonflies are habitat specialists; Common Whitetails are habitat generalists. It’s easy to look at something so common and overlook their subtle beauty, that is, until they disappear at the end of dragonfly season.
Don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone. Source Credit: Big Yellow Taxi, by Joni Mitchell.
Editor’s Notes: For the record, the first dragonfly of 2015 was spotted on 18 April, when Mike Powell and I co-discovered the first Springtime Darner (Basiaeschna janata) ever seen/photographed at Huntley Meadows Park! Autumn Meadowhawk dragonfly (Sympetrum vicinum) is the last dragonfly species spotted in 2015: 11 November is my personal late-date for this species in 2015; several other odonate enthusiasts have seen Autumn Meadowhawks at Huntley Meadows long afterward.
Copyright © 2015 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.
Tags: Autumn Meadowhawk dragonfly, Basiaeschna janata, Common Whitetail dragonfly, Darner Family, female, habitat generalist, Huntley Meadows Park, odonate habitat, Plathemis lydia, Skimmer Family, Springtime Darner dragonfly, Sympetrum vicinum, terminal appendages, vernal pool, wetlands, wildlife photography
December 1, 2015 at 4:43 am |
Thanks for the mention and for stirring up the happy memories of our discovery in April of the Springtime Darner. I can confirm the presence of Autumn Meadowhawks at the park on 27 November and hope to see them for a couple of weeks more.
December 1, 2015 at 10:18 pm |
For what it’s worth, the “official” late date for Autumn Meadowhawk in Virginia is 01 January. I’ve seen them at HMP in December (in the past); never in January.
December 2, 2015 at 4:58 am |
Yikes! I may have to do a thorough search in early January if the weather is not too terrible then.