Range & Habitat:

Found throughout most of the state, it should be searched for in the missing counties.

A little later than Blue Corporal, it seems to prefer slow streams and muddy lakes and ponds more than that species.

Click on the thumbnails to enlarge additional photos. 

male lateral

female dorsal

Description:

Small, most commonly perches on the ground.  Adult males have a white abdomen.

Females and tenerals have a dark basal streak in each wing, a narrow dark stripe down the abdomen, and narrow white stripes on the front of the thorax.

Common Whitetail is much larger and has large dark spots in the midwing. Also see Blue Corporal and Chalk-fronted Corporal.

While some consider the corporals to fall in the genus Libellula, we follow Needham, Westfall & May and place them in the separate genus Ladona.

Conservation Status:

Global: G4 - Apparently secure globally

Flight season:

Early Date: 4/20
Late Date: 8/3

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