Erythemis Simplicicollis, North America
and Mexico
The Eastern Pondhawk dragonfly Juveniles and females are pea green with
broad black stripes. These medium-sized skimmers hunt from low perches near
the ground. They are ferocious, and will attack insects up to their own
size. As males mature, the green and black are gradually covered up by a
blue pruinescence, first the abdomen, then the thorax. Only their faces
remain green.
Male Eastern Pondhawks can sometimes be identified from far away by the
territorial behavior that is unique to the species like when one male follows
another, then circles under it to take the lead. The new follower repeats
the same maneuver, and so on, in a leapfrogging chase.
|
