Common whitetail facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Common whitetail
Adult male
Adult female
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Odonata
Infraorder:	Anisoptera
Family:	Libellulidae
Genus:	Plathemis
Species:	P. lydia
Binomial name
Plathemis lydia (Drury, 1773)
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Synonyms
Libellula lydia Drury, 1773 Libellula serva Fabricius, 1793 Libellula trimaculata De Geer, 1773

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The common whitetail or long-tailed skimmer (Plathemis lydia) is a well-known dragonfly found across much of North America. It has a unique and eye-catching look.

Male common whitetails have a sturdy white body, about 5 cm (2.0 in) long. Their clear wings have brownish-black bands, giving them a cool checkered pattern. Females, on the other hand, have brown bodies and different wing spots. They look a bit like the female twelve-spotted skimmer (Libellula pulchella). You can tell whitetail females apart because they are smaller, have shorter bodies, and white zigzag stripes on their belly. The twelve-spotted skimmer females have straight, yellow stripes.

Immature male

You can often spot common whitetails hunting for mosquitoes and other small flying insects. They fly over ponds, marshes, and slow-moving rivers. They are found in most areas, except for very high mountain regions. The time of year they are active changes depending on where they live. For example, in California, adult whitetails are active from April to September.

Like other "percher" dragonflies, common whitetails often rest on things near the water, or sometimes on the ground. Male whitetails are very protective of their space. They claim a stretch of water's edge, usually about 10-to-30-meter stretch (30 to 100 ft) long. They fly around this area to keep other males away. The white, powdery coating on the male's belly, called pruinescence, is a signal to other males that this territory is taken.

Young whitetail dragonflies, called nymphs, are dark green or brown. They are often covered in algae, which helps them blend in. Nymphs eat small water creatures like mayfly larvae and tiny crayfish. They also eat small water animals such as tadpoles and minnows. Because there are so many whitetail nymphs, they are an important food source for fish, frogs, birds, and other water insects.

Some scientists group whitetails, including the common whitetail, into the genus Libellula instead of Plathemis. This has been a topic of discussion for a long time. Recent studies using DNA evidence suggest that keeping whitetails separate in their own genus, Plathemis, might be the right way to classify them.

How Common Whitetails Reproduce

Female Plathemis lydia dragonflies visit ponds every few days to lay their eggs. Male dragonflies that are guarding territories at the ponds will try to find a partner with the females. Females often choose specific spots in the pond that are best for their eggs.

Males compete with each other for the best territories. These territories are usually good places for females to lay eggs. This competition creates a kind of ranking among males. Stronger males often get to partner with females more often. The quality of a male's territory is more important for his success than how long he stays in one spot.

Male dragonflies have very strong flight muscles. These muscles help them fly fast and fight off other males. Males with stronger flight muscles are often more successful in these aerial contests. However, having big muscles means they have less stored energy, like fat. This is a balance between being strong for fights and having enough energy for a long life.

When a male and female join, the male holds the female's neck. The female then connects her body to the male's in a special way. This allows the male to transfer what is needed for new dragonflies. Females must choose to connect, as males cannot force them.

After they have joined, the male whitetail often stays near the female while she lays her eggs. He hovers about 0.5 to 1 meter away. He chases off any other males that try to bother her. This "mate-guarding" helps protect the female and her eggs. Males guard more intensely if there are many other males around. They usually stop guarding once all the eggs are laid.

Females carefully choose where to lay their eggs. Many things affect how well the eggs will grow, like temperature. Studies have shown that temperature greatly impacts how fast the eggs develop and how many hatch. Females often lay their eggs in water, mud, or on plants. These are good spots for the eggs to grow.

A female P. lydia might lay her eggs in several different places. This helps make sure that not all her eggs get eaten at once. She often flips her eggs with her belly to spread them out widely. Females might also choose smaller bodies of water where there are fewer fish that could eat the eggs. Once the eggs are laid, the female does not care for her young.

The Common Whitetail Life Cycle

Most of a common whitetail dragonfly's life is spent as a nymph, living underwater. During this water stage, many nymphs do not survive, mainly due to being eaten or drying out. After a while, the nymphs change into adult dragonflies. The adult stage only lasts a few weeks. During this time, adults find partners and lay eggs to start the cycle again.

Common Whitetail Anatomy

Common whitetails are built for fast flight. They have wide wings and powerful muscles that help them move quickly through the air. To power these muscles, they need a lot of oxygen. Dragonflies have a special breathing system, called a tracheal system, to get enough oxygen.

When they are nymphs living underwater, they do not use their wings. Their breathing system parts that would be used for flying are not active during this stage.

Images for kids

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  Female

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  Male

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  Immature male

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  Male

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  Female ovipositing