Western Pondhawk

Erythemis collocata

The Western Pondhawk is a bright green dragonfly that loves to fly around ponds and lakes. It has a long body and big eyes, making it look like a little superhero of the water!

Hábitat: Wetlands

Aspecto

The Western Pondhawk is a medium-sized dragonfly with a robust body. Males are distinctive with bright green faces and a pale blue, frosted body. Females and young males are brilliant green with dark brown markings and yellow spots on their abdomen.

ReinoAnimaliaFiloArthropodaClaseInsectaOrdenOdonataFamiliaLibellulidaeGéneroErythemis

Western Pondhawk

Categoría

Insectos

Rareza

Common

Peligro

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Snaps

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Datos interesantes

An adult Western Pondhawk can eat hundreds of mosquitoes every single day!

Males often perch on leaves near ponds, fiercely guarding their territory from rivals.

They are ancient insects; dragonflies have existed for over 300 million years!

Western Pondhawk babies, called nymphs, live entirely underwater for up to two years!

Habilidades especiales

Western Pondhawks have massive compound eyes that cover most of their head, helping them spot prey from almost any direction.

Western Pondhawks can hover, fly backward, and change direction instantly because of their four independently moving wings.

Western Pondhawk nymphs breathe and hunt underwater, using a special extendable jaw to catch other aquatic creatures.

Medidas y detalles

Envergadura: 50-90 mm
Tamaño: 35-48 mm
Esperanza de vida: 400-800 días
Velocidad de vuelo: 50 km/h
Cantidad de patas: 6

Dieta y alimentación

These amazing aerial hunters catch and eat all sorts of flying insects right out of the air!

Diferencias por edad: Nymphs hunt aquatic insects and tadpoles underwater, while adults hunt flying insects in the air.

Alimentos principales

Mosquitoes
Flies
Moths
Small butterflies
Midges

Método de búsqueda

Pursuit

Conexiones ecológicas

eats

Common House Mosquito

Culex pipiens

Adults help control mosquito populations near water.

eats

House Fly

Musca domestica

Adult Western Pondhawks prey on various flying insects, including flies.

eaten by

Western Kingbird

Tyrannus verticalis

Birds like kingbirds are known predators of adult dragonflies.

eaten by

American Bullfrog

Lithobates catesbeianus

Bullfrogs prey on both adult dragonflies and their aquatic nymphs.

Rasgos

Aéreo

Las criaturas aéreas pasan una parte importante de su vida en el aire, utilizando el vuelo para diversas actividades como la caza, la migración o la anidación.

Colorido

Colorido describe a organismos u objetos que exhiben una amplia variedad de colores brillantes y distintivos.

Insectívoro

Este rasgo identifica a los organismos cuya dieta consiste principalmente en insectos y otros pequeños invertebrados.

Humedal

Este rasgo de hábitat identifica especies que se encuentran en humedales, que son áreas de tierra saturadas de agua, ya sea permanente o estacionalmente, e incluyen marismas, pantanos y ciénagas.