Common Whitetail (Libellula lydia)

Elk Grove, IL
2012-05-29

The Whitetail, a North American skimmer dragonfly, belongs to the Libellulidae family. The male Whitetail is characterized by its stout, powdery whitish-blue body and distinctive black spots on its wings. This species is known for its territorial behavior and is fairly abundant in its habitat.

Elk Grove, IL
2012-05-29

The female Whitetail dragonfly has a robust brown body adorned with three dark brown spots on each wing, totaling twelve spots. Additionally, there are conspicuous white markings on each side of the sternum, making it easily identifiable.

Elk Grove, IL
2012-07-23

The face and legs of the Whitetail dragonfly are dark brown, while its large compound eyes are an even darker shade of brown. The thorax is brown, gradually transitioning to white towards the abdomen, creating a striking contrast.

Elk Grove, IL
2014-07-16

The patterns of the patches on the wings vary among individuals. Some have smaller patches, while others have patches that cover almost half of the wings.