Autumn Meadowhawk

Sympetrum vicinum

The Autumn Meadowhawk is a colorful dragonfly that loves to fly around in the fall. With its bright red body and clear wings, it can be seen near ponds and marshes, making it a fun friend to spot!

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Autumn Meadowhawk is a small, striking dragonfly. Males boast bright, often brilliant, red bodies and faces, with clear wings that have reddish veins at the base and distinctive yellow legs striped with black. Females are typically yellowish-brown, but also feature the characteristic striped legs.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderOdonataFamilyLibellulidaeGenusSympetrum

Autumn Meadowhawk

Interesting facts

Autumn Meadowhawk nymphs live underwater for months, breathing through gills just like fish!

Dragonflies existed before dinosaurs, making them truly ancient insects!

Male Autumn Meadowhawks often guard their mates, chasing away other males nearby!

They are sometimes called 'cherry-faced' dragonflies because of their bright red faces!

Special abilities

Autumn Meadowhawk can hover and fly backwards because of its four independent wings that help them catch prey.

Autumn Meadowhawk has huge compound eyes that help them spot tiny flying insects from far away, even behind them.

Autumn Meadowhawk can warm up its flight muscles by shivering its wings, helping them fly on cooler autumn days.

Measurements & details

Wingspan: 40-55 mm
Size: 28-36 mm
Lifespan: 30-90 days
Flight Speed: 15 km/h
Leg Count: 6

Diet & Feeding

These aerial hunters feast on tiny flying insects, helping to control mosquito populations!

Age differences: Nymphs hunt aquatic insects and tadpoles underwater, while adults hunt flying insects in the air.

Primary Foods

mosquitoes
gnats
midges
flies
small moths

Foraging Method

Pursuit

Ecological connections

hunts

Yellow Fever Mosquito

Aedes aegypti

Adults expertly snatch mosquitoes from the air.

eaten by

Largemouth Bass

Micropterus salmoides

Fish prey on meadowhawk nymphs living in the water.

eaten by

Eastern Kingbird

Tyrannus tyrannus

Birds often catch adult dragonflies over meadows.

Traits

Solitary

Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.

Aerial

Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting.

Colorful

Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.

Insectivorous

This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.