Meadowhawks – Dragons of the Prairies
Danielle Bell, Communications Chair
A sure sign that autumn is approaching is when I start to see Meadowhawk dragonflies flying in the prairies. These acrobats of the sky are commonly seen zooming around the grassland catching small insects as they defend their territory. The size of the territory varies among species, with Ruby Faced Meadowhawks (Sympetrum rubicundulum) having one of the smallest at around 6 feet in diameter.
Male dragonflies spend a lot of time on their perch watching for potential threats, finding a mate, or looking to grab a quick snack. His perch can be a flower, a stick, or a blade of grass. If you accidentally cause one of these tiny dragons to fly from their perch, take a minute to pause and wait. He will usually return to the same perch after being disturbed or getting his meal. Then you can enjoy a slight head tilt as he checks you out and maybe you will be able to snap a photo.
White-Faced Meadowhawk (female)
These reddish, orange dragonflies are some of the hardest species to distinguish in the field, especially the females. The Cedarburg Bog is home to six species of Meadowhawks. (Check out our Odonata checklist!) They all have very similar coloration on the abdomen. There are some small differences that you can use to try to name them. White-faced Meadowhawks (Sympetrum obtrusum) are one of the easiest to notice with their pearly white faces and are one of the more common species. Band-winged Meadowhawks (Sympetrum semicinctum) are also easy to distinguish in the field, even in flight. Their wings have yellow-brown banding close to their abdomen. This species is uncommon as it has specific habitat requirements. They need small, spring fed ponds. Band-winged larvae are also very susceptible to predation in their aquatic habitat.
Band-Winged Meadowhawk (immature-male)
All dragonflies need water to complete their life cycles. The larval or nymph stage is completely aquatic where they fiercely devour mosquito larvae (YAY!!) and other small aquatic invertebrates, sometimes even other dragonfly or damselfly nymphs. Species lay their eggs in various proximities to water. Some simply drop their eggs into the water; others cut slits into grass blades and deposit their eggs. Cherry Faced Meadowhawks (Sympetrum internum) will lay their eggs in grassy vegetation that is adjacent to water and even in lawns in hopes that the area will flood causing the eggs to hatch.
Meadowhawk dragonflies are some of the last dragonflies that you will see in the season, possibly into October or November. As the prairie blooms fade and the foliage begins to transition from green to reds and golds, watch for these golden fliers of the prairie.
Cherry-Faced Meadowhawk (male)
