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Erythemis simplicicollis
The mature eastern pondhawk male (see photo) is a beautiful powder blue. Females and immature males are a bright green with black markings on the tail.
I find these dragonflies near still waters and perched either on low bushes or on bare patches of ground, such as paths.
Spotted on Jun 26, 2012
Submitted on Jul 1, 2012
3 Comments
Another obvious distinction between male Blue Dashers (BDs) and Eastern Pondhawks (EPs): BDs have a white face; EPs have a green face.
Hi Emma, I suppose they could be confused. There were also blue dashers darting about at this location, but they tend to be much more delicate looking and not nearly as robust. In addition, the male blue dasher never loses the black thoracic stripes to pruinosity (the waxy, whitish buildup that occurs to the body of some older males) as do the blue dashers. This one has lost its stripes so must be a Eastern Pondhawk.
Couldn't this be easily confused with a blue dasher?