white-faced meadowhawk
(Sympetrum obtrusum)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Biology • Distribution • Taxonomy
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Description |
The legs are black. The leading wing veins are black. On juveniles the thorax is yellow without black markings. |
Size |
Total length: 1⅓″ |
Similar Species |
Habitat |
Marshes, ponds, lakes, slow-moving streams, and occasionally bogs |
Biology |
Season |
Mid-June to late October |
Behavior |
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Life Cycle |
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Naiad Food |
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Adult Food |
Small flying insects |
Distribution |
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Sources Biodiversity occurrence data published by: Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas (accessed through the Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Portal, bellatlas.umn.edu, 7/28/2025). |
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| 7/28/2025 | ||
Occurrence |
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Common |
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Taxonomy |
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Order |
Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) |
Suborder |
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Superfamily |
Libelluloidea |
Family |
Libellulidae (skimmers) |
Genus |
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Subordinate Taxa |
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Synonyms |
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Diplax decisa Diplax obtrusum Sympetrum rubicundulum ssp. decisum |
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Common Names |
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white-faced meadowhawk |
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Visitor Photos |
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Alfredo Colon |
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Bill Reynolds |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Male |
Male |
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Female |
Female |
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Female |
Female |
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Juvenile |
Juvenile |
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Juvenile |
Juvenile |
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Juvenile |
Juvenile |
Slideshows |
White Faced Meadowhawk |
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About
Copyright DianesDigitals |
White-faced Meadowhawk |
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About
Sympetrum obtrusum |
Sympetrum obtrusum (White-faced Meadowhawk) |
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White-faced Meadowhawk |
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Visitor Videos |
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Other Videos |
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White-faced Meadowhawk (Libellulidae: Sympetrum obtrusum) Female on Leaf |
About
Uploaded on Aug 21, 2010 Photographed at the Rydell NWR, Minnesota (20 August 2010). Go here to see a wonderful photograph of a mating pair of White-faced Meadowhawks: http://www.botany.wisc.edu/spalding/naturephotos/botanygarden/whtfacemeadohwk2.htm |
White-faced Meadowhawk |
About
Uploaded on Aug 20, 2011 Common Name: White-faced Meadowhawk Canon 60d Music: Tchaikovsky - Nutcracker, Op. 71 (Act II, Tableau 3, Pas de deux, b. Variation I) |
White-faced Meadowhawk (Libellulidae: Sympetrum obtrusum) Male on Grassblade |
About
Uploaded on Aug 20, 2010 Photographed at the Rydell NWR, Minnesota (20 August 2010). Go here to watch a 6-minute video that tells about how Kurt Mead is helping others to learn more about Minnesota's Dragonflies : http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/nongame/videos/dragonflies.html |
White-faced Meadowhawk (Libellulidae: Sympetrum obtrusum) Female |
About
Uploaded on Jul 21, 2009 Photographed at Turtle River State Park, North Dakota (20 July 2009). |
White-faced Meadowhawk (Libellulidae: Sympetrum obtrusum) on Leaf |
About
Uploaded on Aug 19, 2009 Photographed at the Rydell NWR, Minnesota (18 August 2009). |
Visitor Sightings |
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| Alfredo Colon 10/16/2019 |
Location: Woodbury, MN |
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| Alfredo Colon 7/31/2018 |
Location: Woodbury, MN |
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| Helen August 2014 |
Location: Northfield MN I've been seeing lots of these, both male and female, in my garden and have been trying to identify them. Also seen recently: hemaris thysbe and hemaris diffinis, plus a number of beautiful ebony jewelwings in the Carleton College arboretum. Thank you for your helpful photos and website! |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
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Created: 7/24/2006 Last Updated: © MinnesotaSeasons.com. All rights reserved. |