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Eastern Pondhawk Dragonflies

Erythemis simplicicollis

Description:

Females and young males are green with square blackish spots on the abdomen. Males become pruinose blue with white claspers and a green face.

Habitat:

After passing through the main entrance to Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge there was a pullout and area to park. Here we could see canals, ponds and walk paths. These were two of the many dragonflies around the walk ways and viewing platform.

Notes:

The meandering bayous of Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge cut through ancient flood plains, creating vast expanses of coastal marsh and prairie bordering Galveston Bay in southeast Texas. The marshes and prairies are host or home to an abundance of wildlife, from migratory birds, to alligators, to bobcats, and more. Established in 1963, the 34,000-acre refuge is part of the National Wildlife Refuge System, a national network of lands and waters set aside for the benefit of wildlife and you. The management focus of the refuge (and its companion refuges, McFaddin and Texas Point) is to protect and manage the coastal marsh for migrating, wintering and breeding waterfowl, shorebirds and waterbirds, and provide strategic and crucial nesting areas for the neotropical migratory songbirds migrating across the Gulf of Mexico.

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2 Comments

gatorfellows
gatorfellows 11 years ago

Yes; this is my favorite dragonfly to begin teaching how to ID. It makes people remember that male, female, and juvenile can all look very different in the insect world. With these two there are markers on the thorax, tail and even claspers. Good samples to use because they are so common. Good markers to tell you if the pond life is active.

Hema  Shah
Hema Shah 11 years ago

Here again ,the male and female are distinctly different in colors. The green color is pleasant!

gatorfellows
Spotted by
gatorfellows

Texas, USA

Spotted on Sep 25, 2012
Submitted on Oct 3, 2012

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Eastern Pondhawk (female) Eastern Pondhawk Eastern Pondhawk Dragonfly Eastern Pondhawk (Male)

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