United States and Canada
This species is distinctive among the slender-bodied Meadowhawks in the region because of the pale lateral thoracic stripes. Its face and thorax are brown. There are two pale cream-colored lateral stripes on the thorax. The legs are light brown in young individuals and turn black with age. The wings are clear with a small touch of amber basally. The abdomen is initially yellow-brown but becomes pale red in older individuals. There are little to no dark markings on abdomen.
Size: Total length: 34-38 mm; abdomen: 22-26 mm; hindwing: 26-28 mm.
Similar Species (south-central US): Cardinal Meadowhawk (S. illotum) has extensive amber in the basal areas of the wings and is generally more robust. Variegated Meadowhawk (S. corruptum) has two yellow spots laterally on the thorax.
Habitat: Permanent marshy ponds, pools and streams with thick riparian vegetation.
Natural History: Nothing has been reported on the biology of this western species, but females lay eggs in tandem.
Distribution: Western U.S. and Canada
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).
