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ruby meadowhawk

ruby meadowhawk (Sympetrum rubicundulum) [female] [male]
Photos © Mary Kay Rubey

Features and Behaviors

FEATURES
The ruby meadowhawk is about 1.5 inches long; has huge, blue eyes with red caps, a tan face, clear wings with black veins, and black legs. Males have a yellow-brown thorax, and a bright, orange abdomen with a black triangle pattern along each side. Females are similar in pattern but have a stouter abdomen with a yellow spot underneath at the base of the thorax. This species is easily confused with white faced meadowhawk (Sympetrum obtrusum) and the two can only distinguished in hand, both species occur statewide. 

BEHAVIOR
This species can be seen from late June to early October, along the shorelines of large wetlands, ponds, and lake shores. Little is known about the behavior of this species.

Illinois Range

Taxonomy

​Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Family: Libellulidae

Illinois Status: common, native