ExploreInsects

Common Whitetail

Plathemis lydia

The Common Whitetail is a beautiful dragonfly with white patches on its wings. It loves to fly around ponds and sunny spots, making it a fun sight to see!

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Common Whitetail is a medium-sized dragonfly with a robust body. Males have a broad, chalky-white abdomen and dark patches at the base and middle of their clear wings. Females are yellowish-brown with a row of triangular spots along the abdomen and similar wing markings.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderOdonataFamilyLibellulidaeGenusPlathemis
Common Whitetail
solitary trait badgeaerial trait badgecolorful trait badgeinsectivorous trait badge
Common Whitetail

Category

Insects

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

Be the first to snap!

Interesting facts

A single Common Whitetail can eat hundreds of mosquitoes every single day!

Baby Common Whitetails can live underwater for several years before they fly!

Dragonflies have been zipping around Earth for over 300 million years!

They hold their six spiky legs like a basket to scoop up prey right out of the air!

Special abilities

Ability

Eagle Eyes

Common Whitetail has enormous compound eyes that help them spot tiny flying insects in almost every direction while hunting.

Ability

Aerial Acrobatics

Common Whitetail can fly straight up, backward, or hover perfectly still because of their two pairs of independently moving wings.

Ability

Underwater Ambusher

Common Whitetail larvae have a special hinged jaw that shoots out to grab and catch prey underwater very quickly.

Measurements & details

Wingspan
70-80 mm
Size
39-50 mm
Lifespan
30-60 days
Flight Speed
45 km/h
Leg Count
6

Diet & Feeding

Common Whitetails are fierce insect hunters, eating many different kinds of small flying insects.

Age differences: Larvae (naiads) eat aquatic insects, tadpoles, and small fish, while adults only eat flying insects.

Primary Foods

  • mosquitos
  • flies
  • gnats
  • midges
  • small moths

Foraging Method

  • Pursuit

Ecological connections

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Dragonflies are safe to watch, but don't try to catch them; they are delicate.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Common Whitetail's wingspan?

70-80 mm

How big is Common Whitetail?

39-50 mm

How long does Common Whitetail live?

30-60 days

How fast can Common Whitetail fly?

45 km/h

What does Common Whitetail eat?

Common Whitetails are fierce insect hunters, eating many different kinds of small flying insects.

Where is Common Whitetail usually found?

Wetlands

How does Common Whitetail hunt?

Pursuit

How many legs does Common Whitetail have?

6

Snap Map

Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.

Loading map…

Recent Snaps

Recent snaps will appear here as new observations are added.

Where to spot

More Insects