Range & Habitat:

Found throughout the state, they inhabit almost any shallow or quiet pond or stream.

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juvenile male

Description:

Adult males are unmistakable, with  large black wing spots and pruinose white abdomens.

Females resemble female Twelve-spotted Skimmers but can be recognized by their heavier abdomen with a lateral row of triangle shaped spots.  They are also given away by their ground-perching habit, seldom shown by Twelve-spotted Skimmer.

While Dunkle (2000) places Common Whitetail in the genus Libellula, we follow Needham, Westfall & May placing it in Plathemis.

Conservation Status:

Global: G5 - Secure globally, but possibly rare in parts of its range

Flight season:

Early Date: 4/29
Late Date: 11/1

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