Saffron-winged Meadowhawk

Sympetrum costiferum

The Saffron-winged Meadowhawk is a beautiful dragonfly with bright yellow wings. It loves to fly around sunny meadows and ponds, catching tiny bugs to eat.

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Saffron-winged Meadowhawk has a slender body, rusty brown thorax, and a yellow to reddish-brown abdomen with black markings. Its distinguishing feature is the vibrant saffron or amber patch at the base of its clear wings, especially prominent on the hindwings.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderOdonataFamilyLibellulidaeGenusSympetrum

Saffron-winged Meadowhawk

Interesting facts

An adult Meadowhawk can eat hundreds of mosquitoes in just one day!

Dragonflies are one of Earth's oldest insects, flying for millions of years!

Dragonfly nymphs live underwater for years before becoming adults!

Their powerful wings beat up to 30 times a second for amazing flight.

Special abilities

Saffron-winged Meadowhawk can fly forwards, backwards, and hover because of four independently moving wings that help them navigate expertly.

Saffron-winged Meadowhawk has huge compound eyes that help them spot tiny insect prey from far away with incredible detail.

Young Saffron-winged Meadowhawks (nymphs) can breathe underwater using gills that help them hunt other aquatic creatures.

Saffron-winged Meadowhawk can catch flying insects mid-air using its basket-like legs that help them scoop up prey.

Measurements & details

Wingspan: 50-65 mm
Size: 32-40 mm
Lifespan: 30-60 days
Flight Speed: 25 km/h
Leg Count: 6

Diet & Feeding

These agile hunters feast on tiny flying insects and, as youngsters, on critters underwater!

Age differences: Nymphs live underwater, preying on aquatic insects and tadpoles.

Primary Foods

mosquitoes
flies
gnats
small moths
midges

Foraging Method

Pursuit

Ecological connections

eaten by

Yellow fever mosquito

Aedes aegypti

Helps control mosquito populations near water sources.

eaten by

House fly

Musca domestica

An important predator of common flying insect pests.

eats

American Robin

Turdus migratorius

Adult meadowhawks are a food source for many bird species.

eats

American Bullfrog

Lithobates catesbeianus

Frogs prey on adult and nymph stage dragonflies.

eaten by

Largemouth Bass

Micropterus salmoides

Aquatic nymphs are a food source for fish.

Traits

Solitary

Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.

Aerial

Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting.

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.