Variegated Meadowhawk

Description:

Largely tan or gray with a pale face that is tan in young males and females but becomes red in mature males. The thorax has two oblique lateral white stripes, each with a distinct round yellow spot at their lower end. The yellow always remains visible, but the white becomes obscured in mature males. The wings are clear with yellow veins in the costal and subcostal areas. The pterostigma is tan bordered by yellow and red. The legs are dark brown except on their outer surfaces. The abdomen is grayish with a yellowish-orange middorsal stripe and orange rings apically on segments 3-7. A row of white spots are present laterally on segments 2-8 and segment 8-9 each have a large black spot dorsally. The orange color of the abdomen turns red in older males.

Habitat:

Xeric portion of wildlife habitat yard.