White-belted Ringtail

Erpetogomphus compositus

The White-belted Ringtail is a beautiful dragonfly with striking white bands on its body. It loves to fly around water and is often seen darting above ponds and streams.

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The White-belted Ringtail has a dark body with bright yellow-green markings along its thorax and abdomen. A distinctive pale or white ring encircles the end of its segmented tail, making it visually unique. It also features large, widely separated compound eyes.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderOdonataFamilyGomphidaeGenusErpetogomphus

White-belted Ringtail

Interesting facts

Adult ringtails can eat hundreds of pesky mosquitoes and flies every day!

Dragonflies have been zipping around Earth for over 300 million years!

Dragonfly nymphs breathe underwater using gills located in their backside!

Males perform dazzling aerial dances to impress females for mating.

Special abilities

White-belted Ringtail has giant compound eyes that help them detect prey from almost any direction, even behind them.

White-belted Ringtail can hover, fly backward, and change direction instantly because of its independently controlled wings.

Baby White-belted Ringtails are fierce underwater hunters with an extendable jaw that helps them ambush small prey.

Measurements & details

Wingspan: 70-110 mm
Size: 45-55 mm
Lifespan: 1095-1825 days
Flight Speed: 35 km/h
Leg Count: 6

Diet & Feeding

These insects are expert hunters, with nymphs catching underwater prey and adults snaring flying bugs.

Age differences: Nymphs hunt small aquatic animals, while adults catch flying insects.

Primary Foods

mosquitoes
flies
midges
damselflies
tadpoles

Foraging Method

Pursuit

Ecological connections

eats

Mosquito

Culex pipiens

Adults consume many mosquitoes daily.

eaten by

Mosquitofish

Gambusia affinis

Nymphs can be prey for these fish.

eats

American Bullfrog

Lithobates catesbeianus

Large frogs prey on both nymphs and adults.

eaten by

Barn Swallow

Hirundo rustica

Adult dragonflies are a meal for these birds.

Traits

Striped

Marked with parallel bands or lines of color.

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.