




Leucorrhinia intacta
The Dot-tailed Whiteface is a beautiful dragonfly with a special dot on its tail. It loves to fly around ponds and wetlands, catching tiny bugs to eat. Watch it zoom and dart in the sunshine!
Habitat: Wetlands
The Dot-tailed Whiteface is a small, dark dragonfly, often appearing blackish. Males have a distinctive white face and a prominent yellow or white spot at the very end of their abdomen, which gives them their name. Their wings are clear with dark veins.





Category
InsectsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
18
After emerging, they shed their skin one last time, leaving behind a ghost-like shell!
Baby Dot-tailed Whitefaces, called nymphs, live underwater for years before they become flying adults!
Their amazing eyes have up to 30,000 tiny lenses, seeing in almost every direction!
They are ancient insects, flying since before dinosaurs walked the Earth!
Dot-tailed Whiteface has enormous compound eyes that give it nearly 360-degree vision, helping them spot prey or predators instantly.
Dot-tailed Whiteface can fly forwards, backwards, and hover because its four wings move independently, allowing for incredible mid-air maneuvers.
Dot-tailed Whiteface has spiky legs it uses to form a 'basket' that helps them scoop flying insects right out of the air.
Dot-tailed Whiteface nymphs can breathe underwater and are fierce hunters because of specialized gills and extendable jaws.
These fierce hunters eat other flying insects, catching them in mid-air!
Age differences: Nymphs eat aquatic invertebrates and small fish, while adults hunt flying insects.
Culex pipiens
Eats adult mosquitoes, helping control populations.
Musca domestica
Catches and eats flying house flies in mid-air.
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Tyrannus tyrannus
Adult dragonflies are prey for this agile bird.

Micropterus salmoides
Dragonfly nymphs are a food source for these fish.
Marked with spots or patches of a different color.
Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting.
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates.
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 animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species.
This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel.
Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.
No aliases listed yet.
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Dragonflies are friendly and won't hurt you, but it's best to watch them from a distance.
The easiest way to identify Dot-tailed Whiteface is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
50-60 mm
33-40 mm
30-60 days
35 km/h
These fierce hunters eat other flying insects, catching them in mid-air!
Wetlands
Pursuit
Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.
Jun 19, 2026
Days Ferry Historic DistrictPhoto attribution
(c) Doug Suitor, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
May 29, 2026
Lowell Holly ReservationPhoto attribution
(c) Jake McCumber, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
May 29, 2026
Lowell Holly ReservationPhoto attribution
(c) Jake McCumber, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
May 23, 2026
Harraseeket Historic DistrictPhoto attribution
no rights reserved
License: CC0 1.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.

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Minnesota, US
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Quebec, CA
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