chalk-fronted corporal
(Ladona julia)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Biology • Distribution • Taxonomy
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Description |
Chalk-fronted corporal is a medium-sized skimmer, 1⅝″ to 113 ⁄16″ long. Juveniles are light orangish-brown. There is a broad, dark stripe down the top of the abdomen and a pair of pale “shoulder” stripes on the top of the thorax. There is a small, triangular, brown patch at the base of the hindwing, where the wing attaches to the thorax. Aside from the basal patch and the stigma, the wing is clear. The face is brown and the forehead is gray. As they mature, they develop a waxy bloom (pruinescence) at segments 2 through 4 or 5 of the abdomen. On males, the pruinescence is white and the abdomen turns black. On females, the pruinescence is gray and the abdomen turns dark brown. Males also develop two stripes of white pruinescence, “corporal stripes”, on the top of their thorax. Females have a shorter, blunt abdomen, about ⅔ as long as the wing. |
Size |
Wingspan: 3″ Total length: 1⅝″ to 113 ⁄16″ |
Similar Species |
Common whitetail (Libellula lydia) wings have a broad, dark band. Frosted whiteface (Leucorrhinia frigida) is smaller and more slender. Widow skimmer (Libellula luctuosa) wings are boldly patterned, not clear. |
Habitat |
Lakes, ponds, marshes, peat bogs, slow streams. |
Biology |
Season |
Late May to early August |
Behavior |
Adults perch horizontally on the ground, on objects in water, or on other flat surfaces, and fly up to snatch prey. |
Life Cycle |
The female hovers just above the surface of shallow water, dips the tip of her abdomen into the water, and deposits the eggs. The male does not guard the female as she deposits her eggs. The naiads live on the bottom in a layer of decaying vegetation. They emerge as adults at night. |
Naiad Food |
Mosquito larvae, mayfly naiads, other aquatic fly larvae, and freshwater shrimp. |
Adult Food |
Mosquitoes, flies, butterflies, moths, mayflies, and flying ants or termites, and other soft-bodied flying insects. |
Distribution |
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Sources |
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| 6/26/2024 | ||
Occurrence |
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Common, often abundant |
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Taxonomy |
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Order |
Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) |
Suborder |
Epiprocta |
Infraorder |
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Superfamily |
Libelluloidea |
Family |
Libellulidae (skimmers) |
Genus |
Ladona (corporals) |
Most authors separate corporals as a separate species, Ladona. Some consider them a subgenus of Libellula. Some consider Ladona a synonym of Libellula. |
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Subordinate Taxa |
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Synonyms |
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Libellula julia |
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Common Names |
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chalk-fronted corporal |
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Glossary
Pruinescence
A waxy bloom that covers the underlying coloration and gives a dusty or frosty appearance.
Stigma
In plants, the portion of the female part of the flower that is receptive to pollen. In Lepidoptera, an area of specialized scent scales on the forewing of some skippers, hairstreaks, and moths. In other insects, a thickened, dark, or opaque cell on the leading edge of the wing.
Visitor Photos |
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Luciearl |
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Babette Kis |
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Ladona julia chalk-fronted corporal dragonfly Here's a photo of Ladona julia, chalk-fronted corporal, taken at Langlade Co., Wisconsin on June 15, 2021. |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Slideshows |
Chalk-fronted Corporal |
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Visitor Videos |
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Other Videos |
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Chalk-fronted Corporal (Libellulidae: Ladona julia) Male |
About
Uploaded on Jul 19, 2010 Photographed at Middle Thompson Lake, Kootenai National Forest, Montana (15 July 2010). Go here to learn more about this species: http://minnesotaseasons.com/Insects/chalk-fronted_corporal.html |
Uploaded on Jun 10, 2011 |
About
Uploaded on Jun 10, 2011 A common skimmer just now. Photographed at the Rydell NWR, Minnesota (09 June 2011). |
Ladona julia |
About
Published on Dec 31, 2013 Chalk-fronted Corporal dragonfly |
Ladona julia at Mundy Lake, Coquitlam, BC |
About
Published on Jul 11, 2012 Chalk-fronted Corporal dragonfly at Mundy Lake, Coquitlam, BC. A few years ago on a visit to Mundy Lake in the summer I noted that dragonflies frequently land on the same viewpoint repeatedly. I stood for a few moments at the edge of the lake with one finger pointed to the sky. A dragonfly alighted on the tip of my finger then flew off and came back to the tip of my finger. I walked further along the trail to another lake viewpoint where a woman and her young daughter were sitting. As they glanced in my direction a dragonfly came flitting along. I pointed at the dragonfly and the dragonfly landed on the tip of my finger. Their mouths dropped open in surprise and they asked me how I did that. ( Ladona julia ) Chalk-fronted Corporal July 11, 2012 |
Visitor Sightings |
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| Luciearl June 2024 |
Location: Cass County |
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Babette Kis |
Location: Langlade Co., Wisconsin Here's a photo of Ladona julia, chalk-fronted corporal, taken at Langlade Co., Wisconsin on June 15, 2021. |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
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