Calico Pennant

Celithemis elisa

The Calico Pennant is a colorful dragonfly with bright red and yellow patterns. They love to fly around sunny areas and can often be seen resting on plants or rocks near water.

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Calico Pennant is a medium-sized dragonfly with a striking pattern. Its wings are clear but marked with prominent dark brown and reddish-yellow patches, creating a distinct 'calico' or checkerboard effect. The body is typically reddish-brown with yellow markings, making it visually distinct from solid-winged species.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderOdonataFamilyLibellulidaeGenusCelithemis

Photo: Judy GallagherCC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsView original ↗

Calico Pennant

Interesting facts

Calico Pennants can perch and bask in the sun to warm up, just like tiny lizards!

Dragonflies spend most of their life underwater as fierce aquatic predators!

Male Calico Pennants 'patrol' territories over ponds to find a mate and guard it!

These dragonflies can catch flying insects with incredible precision, even in mid-air!

Special abilities

Calico Pennant can dart, hover, and fly backwards because of its four independently controlled wings that help them hunt agile prey.

Calico Pennant has massive compound eyes that allow it to see almost 360 degrees, helping them spot tiny insects from far away.

Calico Pennant nymphs can quickly snatch prey with a hinged lower lip that helps them catch other aquatic creatures.

Measurements & details

Wingspan: 45-60 mm
Size: 30-45 mm
Lifespan: 30-90 days
Flight Speed: 35 km/h
Leg Count: 6

Diet & Feeding

They are airborne hunters that snatch other insects right out of the sky!

Age differences: Nymphs hunt aquatic invertebrates underwater; adults hunt flying insects in the air.

Primary Foods

Mosquitoes
Flies
Midges
Gnats
Smaller dragonflies

Foraging Method

Pursuit

Ecological connections

Eaten by

Eastern Kingbird

Tyrannus tyrannus

Adult dragonflies are prey for this bird.

Eaten by

American Bullfrog

Lithobates catesbeianus

Adults and nymphs can be eaten by bullfrogs.

Hunts

Yellow Fever Mosquito

Aedes aegypti

Adult dragonflies prey on adult mosquitoes.

Hunts

Non-biting Midge

Chironomus plumosus

Adult Calico Pennants eat flying midges.

Eaten by

Bluegill Sunfish

Lepomis macrochirus

Aquatic nymphs are prey for this fish.

Traits

Social

Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.

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.

Diurnal

Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.

Speedster

This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel.

Pollinator

Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Insects

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Dragonflies are harmless, but it's best to watch them from a distance.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Calico Pennant?

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 Calico Pennant's wingspan?

45-60 mm

How big is Calico Pennant?

30-45 mm

How long does Calico Pennant live?

30-90 days

How fast can Calico Pennant fly?

35 km/h

What does Calico Pennant eat?

They are airborne hunters that snatch other insects right out of the sky!

Where is Calico Pennant usually found?

Wetlands