United States and Canada
This is the only black pondhawk in the south-central United States. Its face and thorax are brownish in young males and females and black in older males. The hindwing of both sexes have a small black spot basally. Abdominal segments 1-3 are greatly swollen. The remaining segments are thin. Abdominal segments 1-3 are light brown and segments 4-7 have light brown rings. The entire abdomen except for the brown cerci becomes black in older males. The female has a ventrally projecting spout-like ovipositor on segment 9.
Size: Total length: 41-49 mm; abdomen: 30-39 mm; hindwing: 30-37 mm
Similar Species (south-central US): This species can easily be distinguished from other pondhawks by the combination of its dark color, a small basal black spot in the hindwing and an extremely thin abdomen. Marl Pennant (Macrodiplax balteata) is larger with more black basally in the hindwing, and the abdomen is not noticeably narrowed. The young male and female Band-winged (Erythrodiplax umbrata) and Black-winged (E. funerea) Dragonlets lack the prominent swollen basal abdominal segments. Other skimmers like Black Setwing (Dythemis nigrescens) and Gray-waisted Skimmer (Cannaphila insularis) have much smaller dark spots in the hindwing, that may be entirely absent.
Habitat: Ponds, lakes, ditches and slow reaches of rivers and streams
Natural History: This species is an extremely active, aggressive flier. Males perch on vegetation low over the water. It only occurs as far north as southern Texas and northeastern Mexico. Mating takes a reported average of 40 seconds. Other aspects of its reproduction are presumed similar to that of the better known Eastern Pondhawk. It probably flies year round in extreme southern Texas.
Distribution: Southern Florida and Texas south through Central America to Argentina.
Source: Abbott, J.C. 2006-2010. OdonataCentral: An online resource for the distribution and identification of Odonata. Available at OdonataCentral.
Edited by Drew Weber (9/24/2015).
