United States and Canada
The face is pale and the thorax yellowish-green. The dark middorsal thoracic stripe is widest at its lower end, but not running on to the collar. The dark antehumeral stripe may be free at both ends or thinly confluent with the humeral stripe. The midlateral stripe is generally wider than the others and is usually confluent at least with the lower end of the humeral stripe. The third and fourth lateral stripes are broadly confluent at their lower ends. The wings are clear with a dark pterostigma. The abdomen is blackish, becoming darker in older individuals, with broad yellowish anterior rings. Segments 8-10 are expanded considerably laterally in both sexes. The caudal appendages are yellow.
Size: Total length: 60-65 mm; abdomen: 45-49 mm; hindwing: 37-41 mm.
Similar Species (south-central US): This species is similar to Four-striped Leaftail (P. phyllogomphoides), but it can be recognized by the presence of a fourth lateral stripe at the rear margin of the thorax.
Habitat: Streams and rivers with swift current and cobble or muddy bottoms, emarginated by vegetation.
Natural History: This species was described from the San Antonio River near Berg's Mill in Bexar County, Texas, from specimens collected by Paul Albright, who stated, "They were quite wary, and were captured only by creeping up on them very slowly, and without any quick motions. They are not ordinarily very fast in flight." It inhabits streams and rivers and is generally less abundant where it flys with Four-striped Leaftail. They can be common along streams where they perch on vegetation, fences or other structures a few feet above the ground.
Distribution: New Mexico, Texas and Northern Mexico.
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).
