United States and Canada
This species is an uncommon stray into the south-central United States from Mexico and Central America. It is a large, dark species with variable wings that are generally extensively marked with brown or black. Mature males and andromorphic females have the black in their wings extending basally out beyond the nodus halfway to the pterostigma and beyond. Young individuals and gynomorphic females are most similar to Band-winged Dragonlet (E. umbrata), with either a basal spot or a wide isolated dark band in the middle of the wing. The wingtips are usually marked with brown or black. The face is black. The thorax is brownish in young individuals, but well-marked with black stripes that become diffuse with age, so that the entire thorax becomes black in males. The thorax of the mature female is generally violet. The abdomen is brown with pale lateral rectangular spots on segments 5-7.
Size: Total length: 38-42 mm; abdomen: 20-33 mm; hindwing: 25-34 mm.
Similar Species (south-central US): Band-winged Dragonlets are similar and young males and females may be difficult to differentiate. Generally, the wing markings are not as extensive basally and Band-winged Dragonlet is far more common in the region. Female Band-winged Dragonlets generally have an olivaceous thorax and abdomen. The dark markings in male Filigree Skimmers (Pseudoleon suprerbus) extend to the pterostigma and the wings of females are much more spotted. Male Marl Pennants (Macrodiplax balteata) are similar to females with reduced markings, but their abdomen distinctly tapers towards its tip. Female Marl Pennants have shorter abdomens with distinct yellow spots. The base of the abdomen in Pin-tailed Pondhawk (Erythemis plebeja) is distinctly swollen.
Habitat: Open temporary pools and ponds
Natural History: This tropical species' range just barely reaches northward into our area. It is primarily found along the Pacific coast, while its similar eastern counterpart, Band-winged Dragonlet, is found along the Atlantic seaboard. It is a stray into south Texas. Other records outside the region are from Mesa, Arizona, and Allende, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. This species aestivates, as adults, in forests before rains, where it then turns black within 3 days moving to open ponds and pools. Males and pairs in copula perch on vegetation around these ponds, while females lay eggs, occasionally dipping their abdomens among the emergent vegetation (pers. comm. Sid Dunkle).
Distribution: Arizona, Texas and California; through Central America south to Colombia and Ecuador.
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).
