# White-faced Meadowhawk (*Sympetrum obtrusum*) The White-faced Meadowhawk is a small dragonfly with a bright red body and a white face. They are often found resting on plants near water, where they hunt for tiny insects. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![White-faced Meadowhawk](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Female_Sympetrum_obtrusum_in_central_Connecticut%252C_2008-07-21.jpg&width=800) Photo: Sage Ross, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Female_Sympetrum_obtrusum_in_central_Connecticut%252C_2008-07-21.jpg) ## Appearance The White-faced Meadowhawk has a distinctive bright white face, especially in males, contrasting with its otherwise vibrant red body. Females are typically yellow-brown, but can also show some red as they mature. Their clear wings make their body colors stand out strikingly. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Odonata - **Family:** Libellulidae - **Genus:** Sympetrum ## Interesting facts - A dragonfly's huge eyes can have up to 30,000 tiny lenses, making them incredible hunters. - Before becoming an adult, they live underwater for months, breathing with gills like a fish! - Dragonflies were among Earth's very first winged insects, flying over 300 million years ago! - Their transparent wings beat independently, allowing them to perform amazing aerial stunts. ## Special abilities - **Super Sight:** White-faced Meadowhawks have huge compound eyes that give them nearly 360-degree vision, helping them spot tiny prey from far away. - **Aerial Acrobatics:** White-faced Meadowhawks can fly forwards, backwards, hover, and turn on a dime, making them expert hunters in the air. - **Underwater Hunter:** Their young (naiads) are fierce underwater predators, snatching other aquatic creatures with a special extendable jaw. - **Flight Power Boost:** White-faced Meadowhawks can quickly warm their bodies by basking in the sun, powering up their muscles for speedy flight. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 45-55 mm - **Size:** 29-36 mm - **Lifespan:** 30-60 days - **Flight Speed:** 25 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding These speedy hunters keep bug populations in check by eating tiny flying insects! - **Age differences:** Young White-faced Meadowhawks (naiads) hunt aquatic insects and tadpoles underwater; adults catch flying insects in the air. - **Primary Foods:** Mosquitoes, Midges, Small flies, Gnats, Small moths - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** [Yellow fever mosquito](https://www.snappit.app/explore/yellow-fever-mosquito) (*Aedes aegypti*) — Adults catch mosquitoes mid-air. - **Hunts:** Common midge (*Chironomus plumosus*) — A primary food source for adult dragonflies. - **Eaten by:** [American Bullfrog](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-bullfrog) (*Lithobates catesbeianus*) — Large frogs prey on adult dragonflies. - **Eaten by:** [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) — Birds often snatch dragonflies from the air or perches. - **Eaten by:** [Bluegill](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bluegill) (*Lepomis macrochirus*) — Fish frequently eat dragonfly naiads underwater. ## 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. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [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, but it's best to watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify White-faced Meadowhawk? 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 White-faced Meadowhawk's wingspan? 45-55 mm ### How big is White-faced Meadowhawk? 29-36 mm ### How long does White-faced Meadowhawk live? 30-60 days ### How fast can White-faced Meadowhawk fly? 25 km/h ### What does White-faced Meadowhawk eat? These speedy hunters keep bug populations in check by eating tiny flying insects! ### Where is White-faced Meadowhawk usually found? Wetlands ### How does White-faced Meadowhawk hunt? Pursuit ## Where to spot - [Sasquatch Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sasquatch-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Grohman Narrows Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/grohman-narrows-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park ## 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: [White-faced Meadowhawk: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-faced-meadowhawk)