Common whitetail

[urbpan]

This guy lives up to the name--it's the most frequently seen dragonfly in the yard. This is a male, with his bluish white abdomen; females are the same shape but have brown "tails" marked with light diagonal dashes. (As seen here.) All dragonflies are predators that catch other insects in flight, including biting flies. You should always be happy to have dragonflies around.

Comments

[viridian5.livejournal.com]

Common where you are, but I've never seen this dragonfly before in my tri-state area. Very interesting looking!

[ellettra.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen a dragonfly in ages. :(