Eastern Amberwing
Perithemis tenera
What it is
The eastern amberwing (Perithemis tenera) is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. It is very small, reaching a total length of no more than 25 mm. The males have orange or amber wings. Both genders have a red pterostigma. The eastern amberwing dragonfly is one of the only types of dragonfly that actively mimics a wasp. The yellow and brown stripes on its abdomen encourage predators to stay away. When perched, they will wiggle their...
Where and when to find it
- Habitat
- You can find them near ponds, lakes, ditches, and slow-moving streams across the eastern and central United States.
- How to find it
- Look for them resting on plants near water edges or darting over the water. They are small and may be hard to spot at first!
- Best time of day
- Sunny days, especially from late spring through early fall.
How it lives
- What it eats
- Mosquitoes and other tiny flying insects
- What eats it
- Birds, frogs, larger dragonflies, fish
Worth knowing
- Only the males are bright orange; females are usually yellow or brownish.
- They are one of the smallest dragonflies in North America.
- Eastern Amberwings often mimic bees to scare away predators.
- These dragonflies can hover perfectly still in the air.
- They have excellent eyesight to spot their insect meals.
- The young dragonflies, called nymphs, live underwater.
Why it matters
They are active predators, helping to control mosquito populations. Their presence indicates healthy freshwater environments.