Sympetrum (Meadowhawks)

Small to medium-sized dragonflies that are mostly yellow when young and mostly red when mature; one common species is black. Females are usually yellow or tan, but can be red like males. You can watch most species easily at close range, because the adults are not powerful flyers and perch often. They are frequently abundant around ponds and lakes and adjacent meadows, especially in the late summer and fall. Many species will perch on the ground; Sympetrum means "with (or on) the rocks". Species can be difficult to distinguish. Look for the colour of the face, legs and wing veins; the patterns on the sides of the thorax and abdomen; and the details of the genitalia (the male's hamules and the female's vulvar lamina).

Figure 19. Sympetrum, male hamules, side view: a, illotum; b, corruptum; c, madidum; d, vicinum; e, costiferum; f, occidentale; g, danae; h, internum; i, obtrusum; j, pallipes. A2 = abdominal segment 2; H = hamule.

Figure 20. Sympetrum, female vulvar laminae: a, vicinum; b, pallipes; c, obtrusum; d, internum. A8 = abdominal segment 8; VL = vulvar lamina.

Sympetrum corruptum (Veriegated Meadowhawk)

Sympetrum costiferum (Saffron-winged Meadowhawk)

Sympetrum danae (Black Meadowhawk)

Sympetrum internum (Cherry-faced Meadowhawk)

Sympetrum madidum (Red-veined Meadowhawk)

Sympetrum obtrusum (White-faced Meadowhawk)

Sympetrum pallipes (Striped Meadowhawk)

Sympetrum semicinctumn (Band-winged Meadowhawk)