United States and Canada
This species is distinct in the region, with its entirely dark vertex, short tibial keels and vestigial pale antehumeral stripe. It has a yellowish-brown face that becomes black dorsally on the frons which has two small yellow spots. The wings are clear with a dark costa and pterostigma. The keel on the middle tibia is 1/7-1/5 as long as the tibia itself. A yellow ring on abdominal segment 2 is interrupted middorsally. Segments 3-6 each have a pair of spots dorsally. Segments 7-8 have pale basal middorsal spot, which may be absent in female s. Yellow on segment 7 encircles the abdomen, so that segments 7-9 each have the inferior basal margin of the segment yellow.
Size: Total length: 65-72 mm; abdomen: 51-56 mm; hindwing: 45-50 mm.
Similar Species (south-central US): Illinois River Cruiser (M. illinoiensis) is similar but with partial frontal thoracic stripes and a complete band around segment 2. Royal River Cruiser (M. taeniolata) is noticeably larger and generally bears a pair of yellow spots on segment 7.
Habitat: Cool, upland streams
Natural History: This species has been reported from southwestern Arkansas. Nothing has been published about the behavior of this species, but it is presumably similar to Illinois River Cruiser. In the original description Williamson wrote, "...I recall nothing striking in its habits of life."
Distribution: Eastern 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).
