Variegated Meadowhawk

Sympetrum corruptum

The Variegated Meadowhawk is a colorful dragonfly that loves to fly around meadows and ponds. With its bright red and yellow colors, it is easy to spot while it dances in the air.

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Variegated Meadowhawk is a medium-sized dragonfly, usually displaying a reddish-orange or yellowish body with a distinctive white stripe on its side. Its wings are clear, often with amber patches near the base. It is visually different from other meadowhawks by its variable, streaky body patterns.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderOdonataFamilyLibellulidaeGenusSympetrum

Variegated Meadowhawk

Interesting facts

A dragonfly's wings beat about 30 times per second, making them super fast flyers!

Dragonflies have been around for over 300 million years, even before dinosaurs roamed Earth!

They can fly in place, hovering perfectly still, like a tiny, colorful helicopter!

Young Meadowhawks live underwater for months or even years before they grow wings to fly!

Special abilities

Variegated Meadowhawks have huge compound eyes that provide nearly 360-degree vision, helping them spot tiny prey and predators from far away.

Variegated Meadowhawks can hover, fly backwards, and make lightning-fast turns because of their powerful, independently moving wings.

Young Variegated Meadowhawks, called nymphs, can breathe underwater and use a unique hinged jaw to ambush aquatic prey.

Measurements & details

Wingspan: 50-70 mm
Size: 35-44 mm
Lifespan: 30-60 days
Flight Speed: 25 km/h
Leg Count: 6

Diet & Feeding

These agile hunters feast on small flying insects they snatch right out of the air!

Age differences: Nymphs hunt aquatic invertebrates underwater; adults hunt flying insects in the air.

Primary Foods

mosquitoes
midges
flies
small moths
gnats

Foraging Method

Pursuit

Ecological connections

hunts

Yellow Fever Mosquito

Aedes aegypti

Adult Meadowhawks actively hunt and eat adult mosquitoes.

eaten by

Largemouth Bass

Micropterus salmoides

Nymphs living in water are prey for various freshwater fish species.

eaten by

American Bullfrog

Rana catesbeiana

Adult dragonflies are often eaten by larger amphibians near water bodies.

Traits

Solitary

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

Variegated

Pertaining to plants with leaves or petals exhibiting different colors in patches or stripes.

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.