United States and Canada
This is another medium-sized brown species, but its wings are the least marked of the species in our region. The thorax is darker in front and divided by a pale middorsal carina. The sides of the thorax are paler with a diffuse yellow-spot surrounding the spiracle. There are dark spots on the antenodal crossveins before the triangles only. The legs are pale and the fore-tibiae in the males only have a vestigial keel. There is no truncate process on the inner side of the middle trochanter. The abdomen is brown and each segment has a dark transverse carina. The caudal appendages are yellowish-brown. The female appendages are approximately 2 mm long.
Size: Total length: 42-48mm; abdomen: 32-35 mm; hindwing: 29-32 mm.
Similar Species (south-central US): Most other shadowdragons in the south-central United States have more coloration in the wings. Smoky Shadowdragon (N. molesta) has smoky wings and olive green eyes. Similar appearing baskettails (Epitheca) have a yellow lateral stripe on their abdomen.
Habitat: Medium-sized rivers with riffles.
Natural History: This species may fly well after sunset or through forest understories during the day. Two stages of flight have been recognized in this species. The first involves an erratic flight 1-2 m above the water. The second stage involves males frequently skirmishing, followed by a lower flight 15 cm above the water.
Distribution: Southeastern U.S.
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).
