Blue Corporal

Ladona deplanata

The Blue Corporal is a beautiful dragonfly with bright blue colors. It loves to fly around ponds and wetlands, catching little bugs in mid-air. Watching them zoom is a fun sight!

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Blue Corporal is a stout dragonfly, with adult males sporting a striking powdery blue abdomen that contrasts with black markings near the tip. Females are typically yellowish-brown. Their clear wings often have dark veins and a small black spot at the leading edge.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderOdonataFamilyLibellulidaeGenusLadona

Blue Corporal

Interesting facts

A male Blue Corporal will fiercely guard his sunny pond territory from rivals.

Blue Corporal nymphs can shoot water out their rear to jet propel themselves!

Their wings beat so fast, they often hum while hovering like tiny helicopters.

They are one of the first dragonflies to emerge in early spring each year.

Special abilities

Blue Corporal can spot tiny prey from far away because its huge compound eyes give it nearly 360-degree vision.

Blue Corporal can dart, hover, and even fly backward, thanks to independent wing control that makes it an expert flyer.

Blue Corporal nymphs have a lightning-fast extendable lower jaw that shoots out to grab unsuspecting underwater prey.

Measurements & details

Wingspan: 45-65 mm
Size: 28-36 mm
Lifespan: 28-42 days
Flight Speed: 15-40 km/h
Leg Count: 6

Diet & Feeding

They are fierce insect hunters, catching other bugs both as nymphs underwater and as flying adults!

Age differences: Nymphs hunt underwater prey like tadpoles, while adults catch flying insects in the air.

Primary Foods

mosquitoes
flies
gnats
midges
tadpoles
small aquatic insects

Foraging Method

Pursuit

Ecological connections

hunts

Common Malaria Mosquito

Anopheles quadrimaculatus

Adults prey on these flying insects.

hunts

Lake Midge

Chironomus plumosus

Adults catch these small flying insects in mid-air.

eaten by

Largemouth Bass

Micropterus salmoides

Fish, especially bass, prey on Blue Corporal nymphs.

eaten by

American Bullfrog

Lithobates catesbeianus

Frogs will ambush and eat adult dragonflies.

eaten by

Eastern Kingbird

Tyrannus tyrannus

Insectivorous birds like kingbirds hunt adult dragonflies.

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.