Variegated Meadowhawk
Encyclopedia
The Variegated Meadowhawk (Sympetrum corruptum) is a dragonfly
of the family Libellulidae
, native to North America
.
The females are similar in color but not as brightly colored, with gray and yellow replacing the red of the male. Young Variegated Meadowhawks are much paler and mottled with pale green, pale yellow, golden brown, and orange.
This species is found from British Columbia
and Ontario
areas south through much of the United States
to southern California
and Florida
. It migrates as far south as Honduras
, and as far west as eastern Asia.
Variegated Meadowhawks live near ponds, lakes, and swamps.
Dragonfly
A dragonfly is a winged insect belonging to the order Odonata, the suborder Epiprocta or, in the strict sense, the infraorder Anisoptera . It is characterized by large multifaceted eyes, two pairs of strong transparent wings, and an elongated body...
of the family Libellulidae
Libellulidae
The skimmers or perchers and their relatives form the Libellulidae, the largest dragonfly family in the world. It is sometimes considered to contain the Corduliidae as the subfamily Corduliinae and the Macromiidae as the subfamily Macromiinae. Even if these are excluded , there still remains a...
, native to North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
.
Description
The Variegated Meadowhawk is a small to medium-sized dragonfly with a slender abdomen, often reaching a length of 1 5/8 to 1 11/12 inches. The male is commonly dark brownish black with an abdomen of bright red, pink, and golden brown. The thorax may be marked with a pair of yellow dots on each side. The leading edges of the wings are marked with pinkish.The females are similar in color but not as brightly colored, with gray and yellow replacing the red of the male. Young Variegated Meadowhawks are much paler and mottled with pale green, pale yellow, golden brown, and orange.
Range and migration
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
and Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
areas south through much of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to southern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. It migrates as far south as Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
, and as far west as eastern Asia.
Variegated Meadowhawks live near ponds, lakes, and swamps.
External links
- Variegated Meadowhawk at AzOdes
- Variegated Meadowhawk photo and profile