variegated meadowhawk

not listed

N5 - Secure

SNR - Unranked

not listed

Variegated meadowhawk is a medium-sized, distinctively marked, migratory dragonfly.

The thorax is gray with two lateral stripes that are white at the top fading to yellow at the bottom. On males the stripes fades as the male matures eventually leaving only two yellow spots.

The abdomen has two silver stripes on top and a white stripe on each side. On females and juvenile males the abdomen is bordered with orange on top and at the end of each segment. Abdominal segments 2, 8, and 9 have a black border on top. The face is tan. On mature males the colored border, the face, and the border of top of segment 2 are red.

The legs are black with yellow vertical stripes.

The wings are clear. Some of the veins along the leading edge of the forewing are orange. The stigmas are yellow at the end.

Total length: About 1½″

Still water and slow streams, but not bogs or acid fens

Mid-May to mid-September

Eggs are laid in open shallow water or in algae.

Any living thing up to and including small fish.

Flying insects

Sources

4, 7, 18, 27, 29, 30, 82.

Uncommon

Immature male

Female