EASTERN PONDHAWK

EASTERN PONDHAWK

Erythemis simplicicollis
SKIMMER FAMILY (Libellulidae)

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These colorful medium-sized dragonflies are approximately 1 1/2 inches or 37 mm in length. The thorax and abdomen of the mature male is a pruinose pale blue. His face is green, the eyes are dark blue and he has white claspers at the end of the abdomen. The females and immature males have green eyes, bright green thorax and abdomen with black dorsal bands. The wings of both sexes are clear with brown stigmas.

 

Eastern Pondhawks are common from early summer to early September around the stream and the Great Marsh at Fontenelle Forest usually where there is algae, duckweed and flat floating vegetation.

 

Eastern Pondhawks (also called Common Pondhawks) are voracious hunters of insects and take prey as large as themselves. They perch on the ground or low vegetation with their wings positioned straight out or drooped forwards. Females can lay over 2000 eggs per day. Males hover guard ovipositing females to drive off other males.

 

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