Common Whitetail

The common whitetail or long-tailed skimmer is a common dragonfly across much of North America, with a striking and unusual appearance. The male's chunky white body, 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 by their smaller size, shorter bodies, and white zigzag abdominal stripes; the abdominal stripes of L. puchella are straight and yellow. Scientific Name: Plathemis lydia Range: Across North America Size: Body 4.2–4.8 cm Status: Common ID Notes: Males have a chalky-white abdomen and dark band across each wing. Females are brown with white zigzag pattern. Behavior / Notes: Very common pond dragonfly. Males defend territories aggressively.