# Cherry-faced Meadowhawk (*Sympetrum internum*) The Cherry-faced Meadowhawk is a bright red dragonfly that loves to fly around ponds and wetlands. It has a special cherry-colored face that makes it easy to spot! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Cherry-faced Meadowhawk](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Sympetrum_internum%252C_M%C3%A4nnchen.jpg&width=800) Photo: ALAN SCHMIERER, CC0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sympetrum_internum%252C_M%C3%A4nnchen.jpg) ## Appearance The Cherry-faced Meadowhawk is a small dragonfly. Males are distinguished by their bright cherry-red face and abdomen, contrasting with clear wings that have a reddish vein near the base. Females are typically yellowish-orange with similar wing patterns, making them visually different from other red meadowhawks. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Odonata - **Family:** Libellulidae - **Genus:** Sympetrum ## Interesting facts - A meadowhawk's two sets of wings beat separately, allowing super-precise flight control! - Baby meadowhawks live underwater as fierce hunters for up to two years! - Dragonflies are ancient insects, flying since before dinosaurs roamed the Earth! - These dragonflies can warm themselves by sunbathing or cool down by perching in the shade! ## Special abilities - **Aerial Acrobatics:** Cherry-faced Meadowhawk can fly in every direction, even backward, because of powerful independent wing control, helping them dodge and chase prey. - **Predator Vision:** Cherry-faced Meadowhawk has huge compound eyes covering most of its head, providing nearly 360-degree vision that helps spot tiny insects. - **Flying Food Basket:** Cherry-faced Meadowhawk has spiny legs that form a basket-like trap, helping them scoop up and hold flying insects mid-flight. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 45-60 mm - **Size:** 30-40 mm - **Lifespan:** 30-60 days - **Flight Speed:** 40 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Tiny insects like mosquitoes and gnats are snatched from the air by this speedy hunter! - **Age differences:** Nymphs hunt aquatic insects and tiny tadpoles underwater, while adults hunt flying insects in the air. - **Primary Foods:** Mosquitoes, Gnats, Midges, Small flies, Leafhoppers - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Common House Mosquito (*Culex pipiens*) — Adults snatch flying mosquitoes from the air. - **Eaten by:** [Green Frog](https://www.snappit.app/explore/green-frog) (*Lithobates clamitans*) — Adult meadowhawks can become a meal for hungry frogs. - **Eaten by:** [Bluegill](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bluegill) (*Lepomis macrochirus*) — Nymphs living underwater are prey for these fish. - **Depends on:** Common Cattail (*Typha latifolia*) — Nymphs hide and hunt among cattail stems underwater. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Dragonflies are friendly and won't hurt you, but it's best to watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Cherry-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 Cherry-faced Meadowhawk's wingspan? 45-60 mm ### How big is Cherry-faced Meadowhawk? 30-40 mm ### How long does Cherry-faced Meadowhawk live? 30-60 days ### How fast can Cherry-faced Meadowhawk fly? 40 km/h ### What does Cherry-faced Meadowhawk eat? Tiny insects like mosquitoes and gnats are snatched from the air by this speedy hunter! ### Where is Cherry-faced Meadowhawk usually found? Wetlands ### How does Cherry-faced Meadowhawk hunt? Pursuit ## Where to spot - [Logging Creek Ranger Station Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/logging-creek-ranger-station-historic-district) — Montana, 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: [Cherry-faced Meadowhawk: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cherry-faced-meadowhawk)