# Western Pondhawk (*Erythemis collocata*) The Western Pondhawk is a bright green dragonfly that loves to fly around ponds and lakes. It has a long body and big eyes, making it look like a little superhero of the water! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Western Pondhawk](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Erythemis_collocata-Female-1.jpg&width=800) Photo: Eugene Zelenko, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Erythemis_collocata-Female-1.jpg) ## Appearance The Western Pondhawk is a medium-sized dragonfly with a robust body. Males are distinctive with bright green faces and a pale blue, frosted body. Females and young males are brilliant green with dark brown markings and yellow spots on their abdomen. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Odonata - **Family:** Libellulidae - **Genus:** Erythemis ## Interesting facts - An adult Western Pondhawk can eat hundreds of mosquitoes every single day! - Males often perch on leaves near ponds, fiercely guarding their territory from rivals. - They are ancient insects; dragonflies have existed for over 300 million years! - Western Pondhawk babies, called nymphs, live entirely underwater for up to two years! ## Special abilities - **360-Degree Vision:** Western Pondhawks have massive compound eyes that cover most of their head, helping them spot prey from almost any direction. - **Aerial Acrobatics:** Western Pondhawks can hover, fly backward, and change direction instantly because of their four independently moving wings. - **Underwater Hunter:** Western Pondhawk nymphs breathe and hunt underwater, using a special extendable jaw to catch other aquatic creatures. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 50-90 mm - **Size:** 35-48 mm - **Lifespan:** 400-800 days - **Flight Speed:** 50 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding These amazing aerial hunters catch and eat all sorts of flying insects right out of the air! - **Age differences:** Nymphs hunt aquatic insects and tadpoles underwater, while adults hunt flying insects in the air. - **Primary Foods:** Mosquitoes, Flies, Moths, Small butterflies, Midges - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Common House Mosquito (*Culex pipiens*) — Adults help control mosquito populations near water. - **Eats:** House Fly (*Musca domestica*) — Adult Western Pondhawks prey on various flying insects, including flies. - **Eaten by:** [Western Kingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-kingbird) (*Tyrannus verticalis*) — Birds like kingbirds are known predators of adult dragonflies. - **Eaten by:** [American Bullfrog](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-bullfrog) (*Lithobates catesbeianus*) — Bullfrogs prey on both adult dragonflies and their aquatic nymphs. ## Traits - [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. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [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 friendly and won't hurt you, but it's best to watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Western 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 Western Pondhawk's wingspan? 50-90 mm ### How big is Western Pondhawk? 35-48 mm ### How long does Western Pondhawk live? 400-800 days ### How fast can Western Pondhawk fly? 50 km/h ### What does Western Pondhawk eat? These amazing aerial hunters catch and eat all sorts of flying insects right out of the air! ### Where is Western Pondhawk usually found? Wetlands ### How does Western Pondhawk hunt? Pursuit ## Where to spot - [Sun Pass State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sun-pass-state-forest) — Oregon, US · Forest - [The Gardens at the Las Vegas Springs Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/the-gardens-at-the-las-vegas-springs-preserve) — Nevada, US · Botanical Garden - [John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/john-d-rockefeller-jr-memorial-parkway) — Wyoming, US · Park [View all places to see Western Pondhawk](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/western-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: [Western Pondhawk: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-pondhawk)