r Sugar R e iv p e p r A Citizen Science Field Guide to U •

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n a o t i e t rs ia h c ed Asso

of the Upper Sugar River Watershed and Surrounding Areas r Sugar R e iv p e p r U •

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n a o t i e t r a sh ci ed Asso

Created by Dr. Robert Bohanan, Wade Moder, Emma Brockley, Carly Amstedt, Andrew Cassini, Katie Mizrahi and Heather Hasenstein With generous support from USRWA, WI Survey, Citizen Monitoring Partnership Program, North Temperate Lakes Long Term Ecological Research and Wisconsin Institute for Science Education and Community Engagement. Table of Contents

Dragonflies and Damselflies ...... 6-7 multicolor Blue-eyed Darner ...... 18 Darner Family ...... 8 Spatterdock Darner ...... 19 canadensis Canada Darner ...... 9 Emerald Family ...... 20 Lake Darner ...... 10 Cordulia shurtleffii American Emerald ...... 21 Aeshna umbrosa ...... 11 Dorocordulia libera Racket-tailed Emerald ...... 22 junius Common Green Darner ...... 12 canis Beaverpond Baskettail ...... 23 Anax longipes Comet Darner ...... 13 Epitheca cynosura ...... 24 Green-striped Darner ...... 14 Prince Baskettail ...... 25 Basiaeschna janata Springtime Darner ...... 15 molesta Smoky Shadowdragon ...... 26 vinosa Fawn Darner ...... 16 williamsoni Williamson’s Emerald ...... 27 Nasiaeschna pentacantha Cyrano Darner ...... 17 Pantala flavescens Skimmer Family ...... 28 Wandering Glider ...... 40 Perithemis tenera Celithemis elisa Eastern Amberwing ...... 41 Calico Pennant ...... 29 Plathemis lydia Celithemis eponina Common Whitetail ...... 42 Halloween Pennant ...... 30 corruptum simplicicollis Variegated Meadowhawk ...... 43 Eastern Pondhawk ...... 31 Ladona julia Saffron-winged Meadowhawk...... 44 Chalk-fronted Corporal ...... 32 Sympetrum danae frigida Black Meadowhawk ...... 45 Frosted Whiteface ...... 33 Leucorrhinia intacta Cherry-faced Meadowhawk ...... 46 Dot-tailed Whiteface ...... 34 Sympetrum obtrusum White-faced Meadowhawk ...... 47 Belted Whiteface ...... 35 Libellula luctuosa Ruby Meadowhawk ...... 48 Widow Skimmer ...... 36 Sympetrum semicinctum Libellula pulchella Band-winged Meadowhawk ...... 49 Twelve-spotted Skimmer ...... 37 Libellula vibrans Autumn Meadowhawk ...... 50 Great Blue Skimmer ...... 38 carolina Pachydiplax longipennis Carolina Saddlebags ...... 51 Blue Dasher ...... 39 Tramea lacerata Black Saddlebags ...... 52 Tramea onusta Red Saddlebags ...... 53 Clubtail Family ...... 54

Arigomphus furcifer Lilypad Clubtail ...... 55 Gomphurus fraternus Midland Clubtail ...... 56

Flight Season Chart Note: Shading illustrates monthly percentages of the total flight season records for the . Each flight season record is a unique date/location/ observer combination where one or more adult or an exuvia was recorded (excludes nymphs). The actual number of flight season records for each month is show in parentheses. Flight seasons begin earlier in the southern part of the state, often by a week or more. Also, flight charts may not be accurate for rare species because of few data available. Dragonflies and Damselflies

Odonata includes dragonflies and damselflies. They share a few similarities, especially in mouthparts, feeding, reproduction and mating. Dragonflies and damselflies, classified as suborders, Anisoptera and Zygoptera, respectively, share common ancestry dating back in excess of 300 million years ago. Dragonflies and damselflies differ in the characteristics of terrestrial adults and naiads or the aquatic immature stage. Notably, dragonflies tend to be larger, hold wings parallel to the ground and to the sides of the thorax, have more robust abdomens, and larger eyes that tend to touch at some point on the head in comparison to damselflies. The Spreadwinged Damselflies, may be confusing (Twelve Spotted Skimmer) because they hold their wings in a spread manner, not over the abdomen as typical of other damselflies and not parallel to the ground as in dragonflies. Damselfly (Familiar Bluet) Spreadwing Damselfly (Great Spreadwing) Aeshnidae Darner Family pg. 9 Identification: Canada Darner • one of the mosaic darners with notched, mostly blue anterior thoracic stripe • no eyestripe • length 2.5 - 3.0”

Habitat/Range: This species is common throughout Wisconsin. Typical habitat includes bog-bordered lakes, boggy ponds, fens, and slow streams. Canada darners may be observed in feeding swarms with other mosaic darners in upland clearings, especially at dusk. It is probably the most common mosaic darner in the northern half of Wisconsin. Similar Species: Springtime Lake Darner Darner

Flight Season:

One of the mosaic darners, One of the mosaic deeply notched, mostly green darners, yellow, anterior thoracic stripe, black unnotched thoracic eyestripe, length 2.5 - 3.0” stripe, length 2.3 - 2.8” pg. 10 Lake Darner Identification:Aeshna eremita • one of the mosaic darners • deeply notched, mostly green anterior thoracic stripe • black eyestripe • length 2.5 - 3.0”

Habitat/Range: Common throughout Canada and northern United States, this species is fairly common in northern Wisconsin. Preferred habitat is lakes, larger ponds, and sometimes slow streams, usually in forested landscapes.

Similar Species: Springtime Canada Darner Darner Flight Season:

One of the mosaic darners One of the mosaic with notched, mostly blue darners, yellow, anterior thoracic stripe, no unnotched thoracic eyestripe, length 2.5 - 3.0” stripe, length 2.3 - 2.8” pg. 11 Identification:Aeshna umbrosa Shadow Darner • large, dark-appearing darner • relatively straight anterior thoracic side stripes (ATSS) that are narrowly outlined in black • pale spots on top of the abdomen that are smaller than usual for mosaic darners • length 2.7 - 3.1” Habitat/Range: It is common throughout Wisconsin. Preferred habitats are usually at least partially shaded, and include forested rivers and streams of all sizes, ponds, lakes, ditches, and marshes. It is the most common mosaic darner in flowing waters in Wisconsin. One of the Similar Species: later season darners in Springtime Darner Wisconsin flying in late summer to early fall. Flight Season:

One of the mosaic darners, yellow, unnotched thoracic stripe, length 2.3 - 2.8” pg. 12 Common Green Identification:Anax junius • green thorax with mostly blue abdomen • length 2.5 – 3.3” Darner • an especially strong flier

Habitat/Range: This species is found at a variety of still and slow-flowing waters, including marshes, small ponds (may be semi-permanent), lakes, sheltered bays, and slow streams. Preferred habitats often lack centrarchid fishes (primarily sunfishes [ Lepomis] and black basses [genus Micropterus]).

Similar Species: Comet Darner Flight Season:

Green thorax with red abdomen, length 3.0 – 3.3” pg. 13 Identification:Anax longipes Comet Darner • green thorax with red abdomen •length 3.0 - 3.3” Habitat/Range: Found in the eastern and southern United States, this species favors grassy ponds and borrow pits having few or no centrarchid fishes (primarily sunfishes [genus Lepomis] and black basses [genus Micropterus]). It has been observed only a few times at a few sites in Wisconsin where it is probably an accidental species that does not occur every year. Wisconsin is beyond the northwestern tip of its established range.

Similar Species: Common Green Darner Flight Season:

An especially strong flier with green thorax and mostly blue abdomen, length 2.5 - 3.3” pg. 14 Green-striped Identification:Aeshna verticalis • deeply notched anterior thoracic side stripes • green anterior thoracic stripe Darner • lack a black eye stripe • length 2.7 - 3.0” Habitat/Range: Spring-fed ponds, marshy meadows, marshy lakes, ponds, and slow streams bordered by sedges. It is widely distributed throughout Wisconsin, although uncommon. Preferred habitats here are fens, wet sedge meadows, and ponds, usually with some contribution of spring flow; also some marshy lake shores and well-vegetated slow streams. Similar Species: Canada Darner Lake Darner

Flight Season:

One of the mosaic darners One of the mosaic darners, with notched, mostly blue deeply notched, mostly green anterior thoracic stripe, no anterior thoracic stripe, black eyestripe, length 2.5 - 3.0” eyestripe, length 2.5 - 3.0” pg. 15 Identification:Basiaeschna janata Springtime • one of the mosaic darners • yellow, unnotched thoracic stripe • length 2.3 - 2.8” Darner

Habitat/Range: Common throughout Canada and northern United States, this species is fairly com- mon in northern Wisconsin. Preferred habitat is lakes, larger ponds, and sometimes slow streams, usually in forested landscapes.

Similar Species: Canada Darner Lake Darner

Flight Season:

One of the mosaic darners One of the mosaic darners, with notched, mostly blue deeply notched, mostly green anterior thoracic stripe, no anterior thoracic stripe, black eyestripe, length 2.5 - 3.0” eyestripe, length 2.5 - 3.0” pg. 16 Fawn Darner Identification:Boyeria vinosa • tawny brown • brown spots at the base of the wings • conspicuous yellow dots on sides of the thorax • small yellow spots on the abdomen • wings are clear with small brown spots at their bases • length 2.7 - 3.0” Habitat/Range: Usually found along shady forested streams and rivers, and sometimes large, clear, rocky lakes. It is one of the most common larger odonates on streams and riv- ers throughout Wisconsin.

Similar Species: Ocellated Darner Flight Season:

Lacks the brown spots at the base of the wings and is relatively uncommon in WI. pg. 17 Identification:Nasiaeschna pentacantha Cyrano Darner • blue eyed • forehead projects forward unmistakably in profile • thorax is brown with green thoracic side stripes • first (anterior) thoracic side stripe is jaggedly notched • combination of blue eyes and brown and green body coloration distinguishes it from all mosaic darners • length 2.4 - 2.9”

Habitat/Range: Typically found at forested slow streams, lake coves, and ponds, often with woody substrates.

Similar Species: Swamp Darner Flight Season:

Swamp Darner lacks prominent projecting forehead pg. 18 Blue-eyed Darner Identification:Rhionaeschna multicolor • bright blue eyes • thoracic stripes are narrow and whitish to light blue • length 2.5 - 2.8” Habitat/Range: Typically found at or near shallow, cattail-rimmed ponds and small lakes in a growing handful of western counties (may be expanding its range in Wisconsin). Elsewhere in its range it is known to frequent a wide variety of ponds, lakes and slow streams with emergent and floating plants.

Similar Species: Spatterdock Darner Flight Season:

Spatterdock earlier in the summer than Blue-eyed and has a slightly longer abdomen than Blue-eyed. Spatterdock may be associated with riparian areas of slow-moving streams. Very difficult to distinguish. pg. 19 Identification:Rhionaeschna mutata Spatterdock • light blue anterior thoracic stripe • blue eyes and face • length 2.5 - 2.8” Darner

Habitat/Range: Spatterdock darner, an eastern species, is usually found at shallow, fishless ponds, typically with abundant water lilies (including spatterdock). In Wisconsin this species is known from only a handful of sites in a few central and southeastern counties.

Similar Species: Blue Eyed Darner

Flight Season:

Virtually indistinguishable from Spatterdock Darner without catching and examining in hand. A somewhat later flying species than Spatterdock. Corduliidae Emerald Family pg. 21 Identification:Cordulia shurtleffii American Emerald • abdomen is greenish black • metallic green eyes • clear wings • much like Rack-tailed Emerald in general appearance • length 1.7 - 2.0”

Habitat/Range: Often found at or near sphagnum bog ponds, small lakes, marshes, bogs, and fens, especially in northern WI.

Similar Species: Williamson’s Racket-tailed Emerald Emerald

Flight Season:

Greenish-brown rather Lacks the ‘spatula-like’ tip than greenish-black with on the abdomen of the a relatively thin abdomen, Racket-tailed Emerald, length 2.0 – 2.3” length 1.1” pg. 22 Racket-Tailed Identification:Dorocordulia libera • green eyes • thin black abdomen, spatula-shaped tip Emerald • length 1.1”

Habitat/Range: It is commonly found through- out northeastern United States and southeastern Canada. It prefers ponds, lake coves, bogs, and bog-edged slow streams. In Wisconsin, it is fairly common throughout most of the states.

Similar Species: Common Basketail

Flight Season:

Dark brown body, small dark triangular shaped basal patch on hind wings, length 1.5 – 1.7” pg. 23 Identification: Beaverpond • dark brown-black abdomen often has yellow markings • green eyes Baskettail • clear to sometimes slightly amber tinted wings • length 1.7 - 1.9”

Habitat/Range: Though possible throughout Wisconsin, sightings thus far have been relatively uncommon. Likely associated with bogs, vegetated ponds, slow streams, and marshy lakes.

Similar Species: Common Baskettail Prince Baskettail

Flight Season:

Has distinctive brown- Larger and has distinctive black triangular patches at brown-black spots at the the base of the hind wings, base, mid-point and tips of length 1.5 - 1.7” the forewings and hind- wings, length 2.3 - 3.1”. pg. 24 Common Identification:Epitheca cynosura • dark brown body • small dark triangular shaped basal patch on Baskettail hind wings • length 1.5 – 1.7”

Habitat/Range: Common throughout eastern United States, it is found at ponds, lakes, marshes, slow streams, and rivers. This species is common throughout Wisconsin.

Similar Species: Smoky Wandering Shadowdragon Glider Flight Season:

Brown, smoky grey wings, Yellow/orange/brown, small black basal dots, red eyes, length 1.9 – 2.0” length 1.8 – 2.1” pg. 25 Identification:Epitheca princeps Prince • a large Emerald with brownish abdomen • distinctive brown-black on forewings and hindwings at base, middle and tip Baskettail • length 2.3 - 3.1”

Habitat/Range: Common throughout Wisconsin at ponds, lakes, streams and rivers.

Similar Species: Twelve-Spotted Common Baskettail Skimmer Flight Season:

Noticeably smaller and Grey/white abdomen, 12 lacks wing markings on black spots and 8 white forewings., length 1.5” - spots, 3 black and 2 white 1.7” per wing, length 2.0 – 2.2” pg. 26 Smoky Identification:Neurocordulia molesta • brown, smoky grey wings • small black basal dots Shadowdragon • length 1.8 – 2.1”

Habitat/Range: Ranging in eastern and southern United States, from Louisiana to Ohio, this species can be found at clean large rivers and sometimes large streams. In Wisconsin, it is known from southwestern and west-central counties. Tends to at dusk.

Similar Species: Common Wandering Baskettail Glider

Flight Season:

Dark brown body, small Yellow/orange/brown, dark triangular shaped red eyes, length 1.9 – 2.0” basal patch on hind wings, length 1.5 – 1.7” pg. 27 Identification:Somatochlora williamsoni Williamson’s • greenish-brown rather than greenish-black with a relatively thin abdomen • bright green eyes Emerald • length 2.0 – 2.3”

Habitat/Range: Typically associated with shaded slow-moving streams, lakes often with vegetation, and bogs. Though rarely abundant, it is found throughout Wisconsin.

Similar Species: American Racket-tailed Emerald Emerald

Flight Season:

American Emerald has Racket-tail has a a more robust abdomen, distinctive ‘spatula-like length 1.7 - 2.0” or knob-like’ tip on a thin abdomen, lenth 1.1” Libellulidae Skimmer Family pg. 29 Identification:Celithemis elisa Calico Penant • base of hindwing red/brown saddles • reddish/brown spots on wings • length 1.5 - 1.9”

Habitat/Range: It is usually found at vegetated ponds, lakes, temporary construction pits, and stream pools with emergent plants or marshy borders. Sometimes they can be found at slow parts of streams or brackish marshes. It is widely, though locally, distributed throughout Wisconsin.

Similar Species: Carolina Red Saddlebags Saddlebags

Flight Season:

Base of hindwing red Base of hindwings red saddles 1/4 of wing, violet saddles 1/5 of wing, forehead, length 1.9 - 2.1” red forehead, length 1.5 - 1.9” pg. 30 Halloween Identification:Celithemis eponina • orange wings with brown spots • bands on forewings and hindwings Penant • length 1.4 - 1.7”

Habitat/Range: This species can be found at borders of ponds, borrow pits, lakes, and marshes. It is widely, though locally, distributed throughout Wisconsin.

Similar Species: Calico Penant

Flight Season:

Base of hindwing red/ brown, saddles with reddish/brown spots on wings, length 1.1 - 1.3” pg. 31 Identification:Erythemis simplicicollis Eastern • powder blue abdomen • green thorax without stripes • green face Pondhawk • length 1.5 - 1.7” • aggressively patrols shoreline Habitat/Range: Common from eastern to central United States with some parts in Canada, it is usually found at ponds, lakes, and slow waters that are associated with floating plants. It is widely distributed throughout Wisconsin.

Similar Species: Blue Dasher Flight Season:

Powder blue abdomen, yellow and black thorax, white face, green eyes, length 0.9 – 1.8” pg. 32 Chalk-fronted Identification:Ladona julia • distinctive wide pale shoulder bars on top of the thorax that are white in males Corporal • basal (anterior) portion of abdomen is whitish gray • clear wings • Length 1.6 - 1.8”

Habitat/Range: Common throughout Wisconsin in lakes, ponds, and bogs.

Similar Species: Frosted Whiteface Flight Season:

Lacks white bars on thorax and has a distinctive white- face, length 1.1 - 1.3”. pg. 33 Identification: Frosted • male is black with some white on abdominal segments • small with white face Whiteface • length 1.1 - 1.3”

Habitat/Range: Found in southern Wisconsin, especially around vegetated lake, ponds and sphagnum bogs.

Similar Species: Belted Dot-tailed Whiteface Whiteface Flight Season:

Belted Whiteface has red The Dot-tailed Whiteface has a on thorax and abdomen, distinctive yellow spot mid- length 1.3 - 1.4”. way on the dorsal part of the abdomen, length 1.1 - 1.3” pg. 34 Dot-Tailed Identification:Leucorrhinia intacta • mostly black • white face Whiteface • yellow dot located 2/3 length of abdomen • length 1.1 – 1.3”

Habitat/Range: This species is common in southern Canada and United States, except for the southern United States. It is usually found at vegetated ponds, lakes, and slow waters. It is common in farm-ponds. The dot-tailed white- face is distributed widely and often abundantly throughout Wisconsin.

Flight Season: Similar Species: None pg. 35 Identification:Leucorrhinia proxima Belted • small dark body with distinctive white face • white on the base of the abdomen • red on throax and the base of the abdomen Whiteface • length 1.3 - 1.4”

Habitat/Range: Typically at or near bogs, vegetated ponds and lakes, especially in northern Wisconsin.

Similar Species: Frosted Dot-tailed Whiteface Whiteface Flight Season:

Frosted Whiteface lacks The Dot-tailed Whiteface has a red on thorax and distinctive yellow spot mid- abdomen, length 1.1 - 1.3”. way on the dorsal part of the abdomen, length 1.1 - 1.3” pg. 36 Widow Identification:Libellula luctuosa • 8 spots, 4 black-brown basal spots and 4 white spots mid-wing Skimmer • length 1.7 – 2.0”

Habitat/Range: It is usually found at ponds, lakes, marshes, and some few slow streams. It is common and widely distributed throughout Wisconsin.

Similar Species:

Common Twelve-Spotted Whitetail Skimmer Flight Season:

White/pale abdomen with 8 grey/white abdomen, 12 brown to black spots, 2 per black spots and 8 white wing, female brown abdomen spots, 3 black and 2 white with 12 spots, length 1.7 - 1.9” per wing, length 2.0 – 2.2” pg. 37 Identification:Libellula pulchella Twelve-Spotted • grey/white abdomen • 12 black spots and 8 white spots, 3 black and 2 white per wing, Skimmer • length 2.0 – 2.2”

Habitat/Range: This species is common throughout United States and southern Canada. It is usually found at ponds, marshy-bordered lakes, bogs, and slow streams. It is widely distributed throughout Wisconsin.

Similar Species: Common Widow Whitetail Skimmer

Flight Season:

White/pale abdomen with 8 8 spots, 4 black-brown brown to black spots, 2 per basal spots and 4 white wing, female brown abdomen spots mid-wing, length with 12 spots, length 1.7 - 1.9” 1.7 – 2.0” pg. 38 Great Blue Identification:Libellula vibrans • relatively large mostly blue skimmer • Black streaks prominent around tips of Skimmer wings, forewings and hindwings • length 2.2 - 2.5”

Habitat/Range: Small, shallow ponds and slow-moving forest streams. Rare through- out WI, though may be more prominent in southern/southeastern WI.

Similar Species: Eastern Blue Dasher Pondhawk Flight Season:

Powder blue abdomen, yellow Powder blue abdomen, green and black thorax, white face, thorax without stripes, green green eyes, length 0.9 – 1.8” face, length 1.5 - 1.7” pg. 39 Identification:Pachydiplax longipennis • powder blue abdomen Blue Dasher • yellow and black thorax • white face • green eyes • length 0.9 – 1.8”

Habitat/Range: It is usually found at well-vegetated ponds, lake bays, marshes, bogs, slow streams, and ditches. It is widely distributed throughout Wisconsin, and there is some evidence that this species has been increasing its range northward in recent years.

Similar Species: Eastern Pondhawk Flight Season:

Powder blue abdomen, green thorax without stripes, green face, length 1.5 - 1.7” pg. 40 Wandering Identification:Pantala flavescens • yellow/orange/brown abdomen • red eyes Glider • length 1.9 – 2.0” Habitat/Range: This species is common in United States and southern Canada. It is common in the south, while it is migratory in the north. It is usually found at small standing waters, including ponds and puddles, but also can be seen over fields, etc, well away from waters. It is widely distributed throughout Wisconsin, though infrequently seen in many areas. Strong, effortless flier, may appear to glide. Similar Species: Common Smoky Basketail Shadowdragon

Flight Season:

Dark brown body, small Brown, smoky grey wings, dark triangular shaped small black basal dots, basal patch on hind wings, length 1.8 – 2.1” length 1.5 – 1.7” pg. 41 Identification:Perithemis tenera Eastern • brownish-orange abdomen • amber wings • length 0.8 – 1” Amberwing

Habitat/Range: This species is usually found at a variety of ponds and lakes, especially poorly vegetated, shallow, sandy or gravelly habitats. It may be found occasionally in bogs. It is widely distributed throughout Wisconsin, but is rarely present in high densities, as are most other meadowhawks.

Similar Species: Saffron-Winged Meadowhawk Flight Season:

Outer edges of wings amber-orange tinted, length 1.2 - 1.4” pg. 42 Common Identification:Plathemis lydia • white/pale abdomen • 8 brown to black spots, 2 per wing Whitetail • female brown abdomen with 12 spots • length 1.7 - 1.9”

Habitat/Range: Common throughout United States and southern Canada, it is found at almost any non-moving or slow waters, including marshes and ponds. It seems to tolerate disturbed habitats. It is widely distributed throughout Wisconsin.

Similar Species: Twelve-Spotted Widow Skimmer Skimmer Flight Season:

Grey/white abdomen, 12 8 spots, 4 black-brown black spots and 8 white basal spots and 4 white spots, 3 black and 2 white spots mid-wing, length per wing, length 2.0 – 2.2” 1.7 – 2.0” pg. 43 Identification:Sympetrum corruptum Variegated • mostly brown with red-orange markings on abdomen • brown legs, length 1.5 – 1.7” Meadowhawk

Habitat/Range: Usually found at non-moving waters, slow streams, and including ponds, This species is found throughout United States and southern Canada. It is very common in the west. In the east, including Wisconsin, it is migratory.

Similar Species: Autumn Cherry-Faced Meadowhawk Meadowhawk

Flight Season:

Brownish- red head, Bright red abdomen and thorax and dull red head with clear to orange abdomen, yellow-brown wings, length 0.8 - 1.4” legs, length 1.2 - 1.4” pg. 44 Saffron-Winged Identification:Sympetrum costiferum • outer edges of wings amber-orange tinted Meadowhawk • length 1.2 - 1.4” Habitat/Range: This species is usually found at a variety of ponds and lakes, especially poorly vegetated, shallow, sandy or gravelly habitats. It may be found occasionally in bogs. It is widely distributed throughout Wisconsin, but is rarely present in high densities, as are most other meadowhawks.

Similar Species: Cherry-Faced Ruby Meadowhawk Meadowhawk Flight Season:

Bright red abdomen and Yellow to brown head, head with clear to orange length 1.3” wings, length 0.8 - 1.4” pg. 45 Identification:Sympetrum danae Black • the only largely black meadowhawk • small and dark colored • flies primarily in fall Meadowhawk • length 0.8 – 0.9”

Habitat/Range: Associated primarily in wetlands, especially bogs, fens, marshes, and sometimes ponds or lakes. Relatively uncommon in Wisconsin.

Similar Species: Dot-tailed Whiteface

Flight Season:

Dot-tailed Whiteface is also small and darkly colored, has a distinctive white face and yellow dot on the abdomen. Dot-tailed Whiteface flies earlier in June and July. pg. 46 Cherry-Faced Identification:Sympetrum internum • bright red abdomen and head • clear to orange wings Meadowhawk • length 0.8 - 1.4”

Habitat/Range: It is usually found at ponds, lakes, marshes, bogs, and slow streams. It is infrequently found in Wisconsin, mostly in the north.

Similar Species: Ruby Saffron-Winged Meadowhawk Meadowhawk Flight Season:

Yellow to brown head, Outer edges of wings length 1.3” amber-orange tinted, length 1.2 - 1.4” pg. 47 Identification:Sympetrum obtrusum White-faced • red with some black markings • distinctive white face • flies late summer to fall Meadowhawk • length 1.2 – 1.5”

Habitat/Range: Found at or near ponds, lakes, marshes, bogs, and slow streams. May be found well away from water.

Flight Season: Similar Species: Other red meadowhawks lack the distinctive white face and other white faced dragonflies are brown to black rather than red. pg. 48 Ruby Identification:Sympetrum rubicundulum • yellow to brown head Meadowhawk • length 1.3” Habitat/Range: This species prefers temporary ponds and ponds and marshes or occasionally lakes, swamps, bogs, and stream backwaters. In Wisconsin, it has been reported from scattered sites throughout the state, but because of mis- identifications with other meadowhawks, the limits of its range in Wisconsin are not well known.

Similar Species: Cherry-Faced Saffron-Winged Meadowhawk Meadowhawk Flight Season:

Bright red abdomen and Outer edges of wings head with clear to orange amber-orange tinted, wings, length 0.8 - 1.4” length 1.2 - 1.4” pg. 49 Identification:Sympetrum semicinctum Band-winged • primarily red meadowhawk • amber patches at the bases of the hindwings • length 0.9 - 1.2” Meadowhawk

Habitat/Range: Associated primarily with wetland and marshy areas of small shallow ponds and streams. Though widely distributed throughout Wisconsin, Band-winged Meadowhawks are rarely abundant.

Flight Season: Similar Species: None pg. 50 Autumn Identification:Sympetrum vicinum • brownish- red head and thorax • dull red abdomen Meadowhawk • yellow-brown legs • length 1.2 - 1.4” Habitat/Range: This species is usually found at bogs, ponds, marshes, lakes, and slow streams. It likes the habitats that are wooded and permanent or sometimes temporary. It is commonly found throughout United States and southernmost Canada. In Wisconsin, it is abundantly distributed through- out the state. Similar Species: Cherry-Faced Variegated Meadowhawk Meadowhawk

Flight Season:

Bright red abdomen and Mostly brown with head with clear to orange red-orange markings on wings, length 0.8 - 1.4” abdomen, brown legs, length 1.5 – 1.7” pg. 51 Identification:Tramea carolina Carolina • base of hindwing red saddles • saddles 1/4 of wing • violet forehead Saddlebags • length 1.9 - 2.1”

Habitat/Range: This species is more common in the south and possibly migratory toward to the north. It prefers ponds, lakes, swamps, and slow streams, including temporary ponds and avoids muddy water. In Wisconsin, it is known from just a few widely scattered sites.

Similar Species: Calico Red Penant Saddlebags

Flight Season:

Base of hindwing red/ Base of hindwings red brown, saddles with saddles 1/5 of wing, reddish/brown spots on red forehead, length wings, length 1.1 - 1.3” 1.5 - 1.9” pg. 52 Black Identification:Tramea lacerata • mostly blue-black • black basal patch on hindwings Saddlebags • length 2.0 - 2.2”

Habitat/Range: Found throughout United States and southernmost Canada, the black saddlebags prefers ponds, lakes, and ditches without fish, including temporary ponds. It occurs fairly commonly throughout the southern two-thirds of Wisconsin.

Flight Season: Similar Species: None pg. 53 Identification:Tramea onusta Red Saddlebags • base of hindwings red with saddles • saddles 1/5 of wing • red forehead • length 1.5 - 1.9”

Habitat/Range: Prefers ponds, lakes, swamps, and slow streams, including temporary ponds, and also avoids muddy water. It is occasionally seen throughout Wisconsin, but more commonly in the southern half of the state.

Similar Species: Calico Carolina Penant Saddlebags

Flight Season:

Base of hindwing red/ Base of hindwing red brown, saddles with saddles 1/4 of wing, violet reddish/brown spots on forehead, length 1.9 - 2.1” wings, length 1.1 - 1.3” Gomphidae Clubtail Family pg. 55 Identification: furcifer Lilypad • dark green with black shoulder and thoracic stripes • abdomen mostly black with a knob or Clubtail club-like tip • length 1.9 – 2.1”

Habitat/Range: Though uncommon, it may be found throughout WI ponds, lakes, and slow streams with floating or submerged vegetation such as lilypads and lotus.

Similar Species: Midland Clubtail Flight Season:

Clubtail species are remarkably similar and often difficult to distinguish, length 1.9 - 2.2” pg. 56 Midland Identification:Gomphurus fraternus • black abdomen with green-yellow dorsal stripes • yellow markings in the knob or club-like tip of Clubtail the abdomen • length 1.9 – 2.2”

Habitat/Range: Rarely abundant and associated with slow-moving sandy bottom streams and sometimes inlets.

Similar Species: Lilypad Clubtail Flight Season:

Lilypad Clubtail has a dark unmarked knob or club-like tip of abdomen, length 1.9 - 2.1”

r Sugar R e iv p e p r U •

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n a o t i e t r a sh ci ed Asso