VARIEGATED MEADOWHAWK (Sympetrum corruptum)
- percher
- small (length 1 ½ inches, wingspread 2 ¼ inches)
- mostly red (mature males) to yellowish-brown (females and immatures)
- two yellow side spots low on thorax (obscured in mature males)
- yellow and white pattern along abdomen (obscured in mature males)
Variegated Meadowhawk (3D image)
Mostly western to midwestern species. Individuals appear in North in spring before local emergence, breed during summer. Massive emergence in late summer, with large southbound migrations in western mountains and along Pacific Northwest coast. Southern populations presumably breed during winter. Also resident populations, but much to be learned.
SIMILAR SPECIES
- Cardinal Meadowhawk (Sympetrum illotum) – male bright scarlet, female brown or red-brown; pale spots low on sides of thorax, no complex abdominal markings
- Striped Meadowhawk (Sympetrum pallipes) – Red-veined Meadowhawk (Sympetrum madidum) – pale stripes on thorax, jagged black markings on sides of abdomen in male, dark longitudinal stripe on sides of abdomen in female
- Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens) – flier; larger, yellow to orange, no pale markings on thorax or white markings on abdomen
- other red or brown meadowhawks (Sympetrum spp.) – other species lack spots or stripes on thorax, light markings on abdomen; slightly smaller and more slender than Variegated
SIMILAR TROPICAL SPECIES
- Red-tailed Pennant (Brachymesia furcata) – red-brown thorax, bright red abdomen (male and some females) or plain brown (most females); only markings faint black median stripe at tip.
