# Blue-Faced Meadowhawk (*sympetrum ambiguum*) The Blue-Faced Meadowhawk is a colorful dragonfly that loves to flutter around ponds and grassy areas. With its bright blue face and red body, it's like a little flying jewel in nature! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** They live near ponds, marshes, and grassy fields. - **Also known as:** Blue-faced Dragonfly, Blue-faced Skimmer, Red Meadowhawk ![Blue-Faced Meadowhawk](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Blue-faced_Meadowhawk_Sympetrum_ambiguum_2008-11-08.jpg&width=800) Photo: Gaberlunzi (Richard Murphy), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Blue-faced_Meadowhawk_Sympetrum_ambiguum_2008-11-08.jpg) ## Appearance The Blue-Faced Meadowhawk has a striking blue face, or frons, which contrasts with its reddish-brown body. Its clear wings may show a subtle amber tint at the base, and mature males often display brighter red abdominal markings, making them visually distinct. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Odonata - **Family:** Libellulidae - **Genus:** Sympetrum ## Interesting facts - A Blue-Faced Meadowhawk larva lives underwater for months, breathing through gills in its tail! - Their huge eyes are made of thousands of tiny lenses, giving them incredible vision to hunt fast! - These dragonflies can fly backward, sideways, and hover perfectly still, like a tiny helicopter! - When it's cold, they shiver their flight muscles to warm up, just like we do to stay warm! ## Special abilities - **Acrobatic Flight:** The Blue-Faced Meadowhawk can quickly change direction mid-air because of its independently moving wings, helping it catch prey. - **Super Sight:** The Blue-Faced Meadowhawk has nearly 360-degree vision from its large compound eyes that helps them spot tiny insects from far away. - **Predator Evasion:** The Blue-Faced Meadowhawk can detect sudden movements with its keen vision, allowing it to quickly escape from approaching predators. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 45-55 mm - **Size:** 28-36 mm - **Lifespan:** 30-90 days - **Flight Speed:** 35 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding These aerial hunters feast on small flying insects caught with incredible skill in mid-air! - **Age differences:** Larvae hunt aquatic insects underwater, while adults catch flying insects in the air. - **Primary Foods:** Mosquitoes, Midges, Flies, Gnats, Small moths - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Eastern Kingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-kingbird) (*Tyrannus tyrannus*) — Adult dragonflies are a common prey for this acrobatic bird. - **Eaten by:** [American Bullfrog](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-bullfrog) (*Lithobates catesbeianus*) — Tadpoles and adult dragonflies are both on this frog's menu. - **Hunts:** Common House Mosquito (*Culex pipiens*) — Actively preys on these common biting insects, helping control numbers. - **Eats:** Bluegill Sunfish (*Lepomis macrochirus*) — Larval dragonflies are a food source for many freshwater fish. - **Hunts:** Lake Midge (*Chironomus plumosus*) — Consumes large numbers of these small flies near water bodies. ## Traits - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Blue-Faced Meadowhawk? Compare wing shape and resting posture, where the eyes sit, body markings and the tail segments. Males and females can look very different in color. Dragonfly Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Blue-Faced Meadowhawk's wingspan? 45-55 mm ### How big is Blue-Faced Meadowhawk? 28-36 mm ### How long does Blue-Faced Meadowhawk live? 30-90 days ### How fast can Blue-Faced Meadowhawk fly? 35 km/h ### What does Blue-Faced Meadowhawk eat? These aerial hunters feast on small flying insects caught with incredible skill in mid-air! ### Where is Blue-Faced Meadowhawk usually found? They live near ponds, marshes, and grassy fields. ### How does Blue-Faced Meadowhawk hunt? Pursuit ## Where to spot - [Illinois Caverns State Natural Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/illinois-caverns-state-natural-area) — Illinois, US · State Park - [Main–Yankee Street Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/main-yankee-street-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Blue-Faced Meadowhawk: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-faced-meadowhawk)