White-faced meadowhawk

White-faced meadowhawk
Immature female, central Connecticut
Mature male, Temagami, Ontario
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Odonata
Infraorder:	Anisoptera
Family:	Libellulidae
Genus:	Sympetrum
Species:	S. obtrusum
Binomial name
Sympetrum obtrusum (Hagen, 1867)

The white-faced meadowhawk (Sympetrum obtrusum) is a dragonfly of the genus Sympetrum . It is found in the northern United States and southern Canada. Adult males are identifiable by a distinctive pure white face and red bodies. ^[2] However, females are usually yellowish or brown. ^[3]

Female white-faced meadowhawk (Sympetrum obtrusum)

Similar species

Juvenile white-faced meadowhawks are almost indistinguishable from the ruby and cherry-faced meadowhawks. The three species habitats also overlap extensively. White-faces can be identified by having white faces, as the name implies, at maturity. ^[2]

• Sympetrum internum – cherry-faced meadowhawk
• Sympetrum rubicundulum – ruby meadowhawk

References

1. Paulson, D.R. (2017). "Sympetrum obtrusum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2017 e.T51291811A65836604. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T51291811A65836604.en . Retrieved 27 May 2024.
2. Dunkle, S.W., Dragonflies through Binoculars: A Field Guide to Dragonflies of North America. New York:Oxford University Press, 2000:201.
3. Marshall, Stephen A. (2006). Insects: their natural history and diversity; with a photographic guide to insects of eastern North America. A Firefly book (2. printing ed.). Buffalo, NY: Firefly Books. ISBN   978-1-55297-900-6.

External links

• Species Sympetrum obtrusum - White-Faced Meadowhawk, BugGuide.Net