Kinzua Critters

Insects

Common Whitetail

(Plathemis lydia)

Common Whitetail

Species Description

**Description:** A medium-sized dragonfly where mature males feature a chalky, white abdomen and bold black bands on their wings.
**Size:** 1.5 to 1.9 inches long.
**Sexual Dimorphism:** Males have the stark white tail; females and juveniles are brown with yellow stripes on the side of the thorax.
**Behavior:** Highly territorial; they will patrol the same small stretch of shoreline all day, aggressively chasing away other dragonflies.
**Habitat:** Shorelines of the reservoir and quiet forest beaver ponds.