If you’ve been outdoors near water lately, you’ve seen this pretty dragonfly.
His name is the common whitetail (Plathemis lydia) and he’s very territorial. This pose is one way he threatens his competition.
Learn about his threat display and see a photo of his lady — she looks very different! — at this Throw Back Thursday article: Threat Display.
(photo from Wikimedia Commons; click on the image to see the original)
Kate,
The female picture of the common whitetail by Chuck is actually an immature male. The coloration of the female’s wing is quite different. She has black wing tips . Pruinosity occurs as the ‘fly ages.
Bob Machesney
Thanks for the heads up, Bob! I corrected the blog with a photo of a female whitetail from Wikimedia Commons.