A Cardinal Meadowhawk

Cardinal Meadowhawk

Sympetrum illotum

other names - dusty skimmer

Native 
Status: Common

Size: medium

Length - 31 - 40 mm

Wing span - 52 - 60 mm

Eye color - red 

Face color - male: red female: orange-red

Thorax color - male: red with two white spots at base, female: orange-red with two white spots at base

Abdomen color - male: red female: orange-red

Stigma color - red

Wing Color - 1/4 red toward center with otherwise clear wing, veins on leading edge red

Habitat - ponds, lakes

Behavior - perches with wings often held down and forward

Flight period - March - early December

Range - southern British Columbia down the west coast of the U.S. all the way to Chile and Argentina in South America

(source:google/http://kern.audubon.org)