Common Whitetail
Plathemis lydia
What it is
The common whitetail or long-tailed skimmer (Plathemis lydia) is a common dragonfly across much of North America, with a striking and unusual appearance. The male's chunky white body (about 5 cm or 2 inches long), combined with the brownish-black bands on its otherwise translucent wings, give it a checkered look. Females have a brown body and a different pattern of wing spots, closely resembling that of female Libellula pulchella, the twelve-spotted skimmer. Whitetail females can be distinguished...
Where and when to find it
- Habitat
- Found near ponds, lakes, and slow streams across most of the US.
- How to find it
- Look for them perched on plants near water or flying over open water. Males have a bright white body.
- Best time of day
- Warm sunny days, especially from late spring through early fall.
How it lives
- What it eats
- Mosquitoes, flies, gnats, and other small flying insects
- What eats it
- Birds, frogs, lizards, larger dragonflies
Worth knowing
- Males have a distinctive white body and dark wing patches that make them easy to spot.
- Female Common Whitetails have a brown body and brown spots on their wings.
- Dragonflies can fly forwards, backward, and hover in the air.
- They are one of the most common dragonflies in North America.
- Dragonfly nymphs (baby dragonflies) live underwater for many months.
- They can eat hundreds of mosquitoes in a single day!
Why it matters
Common Whitetails help control mosquito populations by eating them. They are also a food source for birds and frogs.