What is a white dragonfly?
The Whitetail or Long-tailed Skimmer (Plathemis Lydia) is a common dragonfly that can be seen from the eastern United States to central Canada. Its long, white body and brownish-black bands on its otherwise translucent wings give it a checkered look.
The Common Whitetail is an aggressive predator and will fly after insects that look like food to it. It uses its long legs to hold its prey in place until it can eat it.
The Common Whitetail has four eyes, which are located on two pairs of short stalks on either side of its head. These eyes are very small, but they are well developed and provide excellent vision in all directions.
The Common Whitetail’s body is covered with large scales called ‘veins.’ These veins are connected by several thin membranes called ‘gill covers’ that help keep water circulating through these insects’ bodies.
The whitetail has been known for centuries for its beauty, but it is also one of the best-known North American dragonflies. It’s often seen hovering above grassy meadows, ponds, and rivers, where it waits for fish to rise to the surface.
The male has a long body with an abdomen that is mostly white with black spots. The female is smaller than the male, so she appears pale yellow in color when she flies over the water.
The whitetail has been known for centuries for its beauty, but it is also one of the best-known North American dragonflies. It’s often seen hovering above grassy meadows, ponds, and rivers, where it waits for fish to rise to the surface.
Where is the common whitetail dragonfly?
The Common Whitetail or Long-tailed Skimmer is common in North America. It is one of the most commonly seen skimmers and can be found in many different habitats.
It can be found along rivers and lakes but also in open fields and forest edges. The Common Whitetail Skimmer is also known as the Long-tailed Skimmer because of its long tail.
The Common Whitetail Skimmer has an elongated body shape with a long tail that extends past the rest of its body. This skimmer has large wings that are folded back over its abdomen when it is not flying and then unfold when it flies.
The underside of this dragonfly’s wings is bright green with a blue border around them, while the top side has a brown border around them. This insect has brown eyes, and there are two black spots on either side of its face just above where its eyes are located on its head.
The Common Whitetail Skimmer can be found in most parts of North America except for parts of southern Canada, which have its own species called the Long-tailed Skimmer (Pyrrhias Socrates).
Are white dragonflies rare?
The common whitetail or long-tailed skimmer is a common dragonfly in the eastern United States. It is found from southern Canada to Central America and south to Argentina, including the Caribbean islands.
Adult males of this species look like a cross between a mosquito and a dragonfly. They have four wings, two front wings, and two hind wings. The front wings are large and rounded with wide tails that resemble those of mosquitoes. The rear pair of wings are smaller, pointed, and have narrow tails that look like those of more typical dragonflies.
Adult females are smaller than males, but they also have four pairs of wings: two large hindwings and two small front pairs. The front pairs are very similar in size to their male counterparts, but their tails are much shorter than those of males.
Both sexes can be distinguished by their coloration: males have bright orange bodies with black markings on their abdomens; females are light green with darker markings on their abdomens.
Conclusion
As you can see, the Common Whitetail or Long-tailed Skimmer is a beautiful dragonfly that is often encountered throughout the eastern United States. Its checkered appearance and unique body coloration make this dragonfly a favorite amongst both students and professional entomologists alike.
