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chalk-fronted corporal
chalk-fronted corporal (Ladona julia) [male]
Photo © Mary Kay Rubey
Features and Behaviors
FEATURES
Chalk-fronted corporal is a chunky type of skimmer dragonfly known for its chalky, dusty white front of its body. Both males and females have dark markings at all wing bases. Males have dark brown eyes and black faces. The male thorax and abdomen are dark brown with a dusty white front, including abdominal segments one through four. Females have a tan face, brown eyes, and brown thorax. The abdomen has pale sides around a dark stripe and black lines separating the abdominal segments.
BEHAVIOR
Adults exist in high quantities across their entire range, usually outnumbering other species when found in their ideal habitat. They are commonly found away from water during the early season. Males perch on shore or shoreline vegetation above lake and pond water. They typically vary activities between short-distance flights back and forth, and long bouts of perching. They can be aggressive towards other individuals, including species similar in appearance such as Four-spotted Skimmers. They defend their territories up to 80 feet. However, some males are not territorial and take long flights along the shore. When away from the water, both the males and females perch on the ground, on light-colored surfaces, roads, or sunny tree sides. They feed on variable-sized prey away from the water. Mating is brief and in flight. Males hover to guard while females lay eggs by tapping the water intermittently in open or densely vegetated areas near the shore, sometimes in road puddles. They like wooded or open lakes, ponds, and acidic bog waters with muddy bottoms for larval habitat. They are barely found in the northeast corner of Illinois, bordering Lake Michigan. They range north into southern Canada, and east to New England.
Illinois Range
Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Family: Libellulidae
Illinois Status: uncommon, native
