White-Faced Meadowhawk – Sympetrum obtrusum

The Meadowhawks are usually the last dragonflies active in late fall. Here in northern Illinois, the white-faced and ruby meadowhawks were both still active the last week in October this year (2002) These dragonflies, sometimes called “red skimmers” are relatively small with wing spans of about two inches and usually unpatterned wings (although there may be some yellow at the base).They are fairly weak flyers, and I find them to be the most cooperative of photographic subjects – they sometimes just don’t seem to care what you do, as long as you don’t make sudden movements. I’ve even been able to move them around a bit with a nudge or two at times, and they are the only odonates that actually perch on me with any regularity. It seems to me a fair number of them are just aching to have their pictures taken!

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Tree Encyclopedia / North American Insects & SpidersOnline since 2002