# Eastern Pondhawk (*Erythemis simplicicollis*) The Eastern Pondhawk is a bright green dragonfly that loves to fly around ponds and wetlands. They are fast and can catch other insects in mid-air, making them great hunters! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 102 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Eastern Pondhawk](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Eastern_Pondhawk%252C_female.jpg&width=800) Photo: D. Gordon E. Robertson, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eastern_Pondhawk%252C_female.jpg) ## Appearance The Eastern Pondhawk has a robust body and distinctive coloring. Males are a striking powdery blue with a black tipped abdomen, while females and juveniles are vibrant green. Its stout body and clear wings differentiate it from many other slender dragonflies. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Odonata - **Family:** Libellulidae - **Genus:** Erythemis ## Interesting facts - Dragonfly larvae, called naiads, live underwater for years before they become adults! - Eastern Pondhawks are amazing bug zappers, eating thousands of mosquitoes and other pests in their lifetime! - Imagine flying backwards! Eastern Pondhawks are incredible aerialists who can do just that with ease. - These ancient insects were around when dinosaurs roamed the Earth, making them living fossils! ## Special abilities - **Nimble Navigator:** Eastern Pondhawk has four independently moving wings that help it fly forward, backward, and even hover perfectly still. - **Underwater Hunter:** Young Eastern Pondhawks can ambush prey underwater using a special hinged jaw that shoots out to grab food. - **Color Switcher:** Eastern Pondhawk males change from bright green to brilliant blue as they get older, making them stand out. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 60-80 mm - **Size:** 40-50 mm - **Lifespan:** 30-90 days - **Flight Speed:** 25 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding These aerial hunters feast on smaller insects, helping to keep mosquito populations in check! - **Age differences:** Larvae (naiads) are aquatic predators, eating tadpoles and other small aquatic insects; adults eat flying insects. - **Primary Foods:** mosquitoes, flies, small butterflies, moths, smaller dragonflies - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Common Mosquito (*Culex pipiens*) — Eastern Pondhawks are major predators of adult mosquitoes. - **Eats:** House Fly (*Musca domestica*) — Adult pondhawks consume various small flying insects, including flies. - **Eaten by:** [Eastern Kingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-kingbird) (*Tyrannus tyrannus*) — Birds like kingbirds prey on adult Eastern Pondhawks. - **Eaten by:** [Yellow Perch](https://www.snappit.app/explore/yellow-perch) (*Perca flavescens*) — Fish frequently consume Eastern Pondhawk larvae (naiads) in water. ## 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 harmless and fun to watch, but it's best to observe them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Eastern Pondhawk? 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 Eastern Pondhawk's wingspan? 60-80 mm ### How big is Eastern Pondhawk? 40-50 mm ### How long does Eastern Pondhawk live? 30-90 days ### How fast can Eastern Pondhawk fly? 25 km/h ### What does Eastern Pondhawk eat? These aerial hunters feast on smaller insects, helping to keep mosquito populations in check! ### Where is Eastern Pondhawk usually found? Wetlands ### How does Eastern Pondhawk hunt? Ambush ## Where to spot - [Abbott Farm Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/abbott-farm-historic-district) — New Jersey, US · Historic District - [Bainbridge Commercial Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bainbridge-commercial-historic-district) — Georgia, US · Historic District - [Black Hawk State Historic Site](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/black-hawk-state-historic-site) — Illinois, US · Park - [Broadmoor](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/broadmoor) — Louisiana, US · Neighborhood - [Brooklyn Botanic Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brooklyn-botanic-garden) — New York, US · Botanical Garden - [Cape Charles Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cape-charles-historic-district) — US · Historic District [View all places to see Eastern Pondhawk](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/eastern-pondhawk) ## 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: [Eastern Pondhawk: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-pondhawk)