AY Honors/Insect/Libellula lydia

Libellula lydia

Common Whitetail (Libellula lydia)

Where found: The Common Whitetail or Long-tailed Skimmer is a common dragonfly across much of North America.

Description: The male's chunky white body (about 5 cm long), combined with the brownish-black bands on its otherwise translucent wings, give it a checkered look. Females have a brown body, and are less noticeable, though they have a similar wing pattern. The Common Whitetail can be seen hawking for mosquitoes and other small flying insects over ponds, marshes, and slow-moving rivers in most regions except the higher mountain regions.