About Common Whitetail

Common Whitetail

Libellula lydia

Native 

Status: Uncommon

Size: medium

Length - 40 - 48 mm

Wing span - 65 - 75 mm

Eye color - reddish black

Face color - male: peachy tan female: tannish coffee

Thorax color - male: mature male is brown with pruinose white on rear top; female: brown with 2 white stripes with yellow spot at base; immature like female

Abdomen color - male: pruinose white; female: brown on top with yellow-white and black dashes on sides

Wing color - male: 1/3 dark band bounded by clear areas; dark strip on front of wings extend from center; hindwing with small white patch behind strip; female: 3 dark wing spots; Immature male like female except tip of wings clear not brown

Habitat - marshes and streams

Behavior - perches vegetation or rocks hanging over the edge of waterways

Flight period - March - October

Range -  most of the U. S. except for the Southwest desert

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