Family: Libellulidae
Western Pondhawk		Hudsonian Whiteface
Dot-tailed Whiteface		Red-waisted Whiteface
Comanche Skimmer		Eight-spotted Skimmer
Chalk-fronted Corporal		Common Whitetail
Hoary Skimmer			Twelve-spotted Skimmer
Four-spotted Skimmer			Flame Skimmer
Desert Whitetail			Blue Dasher
Wandering Glider			Variegated Meadowhawk
Saffron-winged Meadowhawk		Black Meadowhawk
Cardinal Meadowhawk		Cherry-faced Meadowhawk
Red-veined Meadowhawk		White-faced Meadowhawk
Western Meadowhawk		Striped Meadowhawk
Yellow-legged Meadowhawk		Black Saddlebags

Libellulidae: The Skimmers

Family Facts:

• The dragonflies of this family are known as the skimmers. They inhabit virtually every type of dragonfly-type habitat in North America. They are absent only from the far northern extremes of Canada and Alaska, and the very highest mountains. These dragonflies come in many shapes and sizes. This family is so diverse that there is no single body plan that can be described as typical for the family. Each genus does have a characteristic body plan, however, these are described in the genus descriptions below.
• This is probably the most diverse family of dragonflies in the world. It is certainly the most diverse family of true dragonflies (Anisoptera). In North America, there are 27 genera of Libellulidae, containing 105 species. In Idaho, there are 27 species in 7 genera.
• With the exceptions of the gliders (Pantala) and the saddlebags (Tramea), these dragonflies scan for flying insects from perches on twigs or rocks. The gliders and the saddlebags fly almost continually during the day, and even eat while on the wing.
• The ovipositor of the females is greatly reduced, and the females lay their eggs (oviposit) by dipping the tip of the abdomen in the water while hovering just above the surface. In some species, the females lay eggs while flying singly, while in others the females fly in tandem with the male.
• The naiads are found in a wide variety of habitats, but most typically in ponds and lakes. Some members prefer bogs, and others prefer streams and rivers.
• The naiads are stocky and relatively short. They are known as the sprawlers. They typically sit in the debris on the bottom of lakes, ponds, and streams, and wait for prey to come to them. Their coloration is usually brown to match bottom sediments and debris.
• The naiads emerge at night. Emergence is a slow process and the newly emerged adults are very vulnerable to predators. They usually crawl vertically onto vegetation and emerge while vertical.

Genus:Erythemis
Most members of this genus are found in the tropics. The abdomen is slender and triangular in cross-section. The spines on the front of the legs are unusually long. Only one species is known to occur in Idaho.

Erythemis collacata- Western Pondhawk

Genus:Leucorrhinia
These dragonflies are mostly black in color, and all but one species have red markings. They are small, with slender abdomens. They have the most northerly distribution of any genus in this family, and are the most common dragonflies over much of Canada and Alaska. In the United States, most species are found at high elevations. Only one species, L. intacta, is found at lower elevations and in warmer climates. They are often found near peat bogs and sedge marshes. Three species are known to occur in Idaho.

Leucorrhinia hudsonica- Hudsonian Whiteface
Leucorrhinia intacta- Dot-tailed Whiteface
Leucorrhinia proxima- Red-waisted Whiteface

Genus: Libellula
These are medium-sized to large dragonflies with stout abdomens. In Idaho, most species are black or brown with yellow markings, with the exception of older adult males, which turn a powdery whitish blue. This whitish-blue coating is called pruinosity, and dragonflies that have it are said to be pruinose. The only species in our area in which the males do not become pruinose is the four-spotted skimmer (L. quadrimaculata). Nine species of Libellula are known to occur in Idaho.

Libellula comanche- Comanche Skimmer
Libellula forensis- Eight-spotted Skimmer
Libellula julia- Chalk-fronted Corporal
Libellula [Plathemis] lydia- Common Whitetail
Libellula nodisticta- Hoary Skimmer
Libellula pulchella- Twelve-spotted Skimmer
Libellula quadrimaculata- Four-spotted Skimmer
Libellula saturata- Flame Skimmer
Libellula [Plathemis] subornata- Desert Whitetail

Genus: Pachydiplax
This genus contains only one species, a small species in which the pruinose males resemble Erythemis. They can be distinguished from Erythemis by their smaller size and striped thorax. The abdomen is about the same width as the thorax across the back. The larvae are bright green on the underside.

Pachydiplax longipennis- Blue Dasher

Genus: Pantala
This genus consists of two species in North America, one of which is found in Idaho. These dragonflies are characterized by their large, triangular hind wings. Both the forewings and hind wings appear large in relation to their bodies. The coloration is orange to brown. They travel long distances, and store fat in their abdomens to provide energy for their migrations. In their migrations, they search out seasonal ponds in which to lay eggs. The naiads feed voraciously and grow very quickly in order to mature before the ponds dry up.

Pantala flavescens- Wandering Glider

Genus: Sympetrum
These are relatively small dragonflies with slender abdomens. With the exception of S. danae, the black meadowhawk, they are all more or less red in color. They are found mainly at ponds and lakes, usually perched on vegetation or rocks. With the exception of S. illotum, the cardinal meadowhawk, these dragonflies emerge relatively late in the summer, and are most common in late summer and early fall. The Latin name Sympetrum means "with rock" and is derived from their habit of basking on rocks to absorb heat early in the day. Ten species of Sympetrum are known to occur in Idaho.

Sympetrum corruptum- Variegated Meadowhawk
Sympetrum costiferum- Saffron-winged Meadowhawk
Sympetrum danae- Black Meadowhawk
Sympetrum illotum- Cardinal Meadowhawk
Sympetrum internum- Cherry-faced Meadowhawk
Sympetrum madidum- Red-veined Meadowhawk
Sympetrum obtrusum- White-faced Meadowhawk
Sympetrum occidentale- Western Meadowhawk
Sympetrum pallipes- Striped Meadowhawk
Sympetrum vicinum- Yellow-legged Meadowhawk

Genus: Tramea
These are large dragonflies with long wings in relation to their bodies, and have large triangular rear wings similar to those of the gliders. The wings have brown or black markings on their bases that resemble saddlebags, hence the common name saddlebags. They also migrate, like the gliders, but lay their eggs in permanent ponds and lakes that are heavily vegetated. Only one species is known to occur in Idaho.

Tramea lacerata- Black Saddlebags