Erythemis simplicicollis

Common Pondhawk


Erythemis simplicicollis, Common Pondhawk male

Family: Libellulidae

Length: typically 40-45

 

This is one of the most common West Virginia dragonflies, and may be found at almost any pond in the state in the summer months. You may spot them in swamps or meadows as well.

The mature male (shown above) has an unmarked powder blue body, with white appendages on the tip of the abdomen. The eyes are green.Common Pondhawk, Erythemis simplicollis, Eastern Pondhawk female, dorsal view

The females and immature males look markedly different from the mature males. Their bodies are green with black markings on the abdomen, and the abdomen becomes progressively blacker toward the rear. Their eyes are green to brown. Both males and females have green faces.

At some West Virginia ponds two common blue dragonflies are flying at the same time: the male Common Pondhawk and the male Blue Dasher. The Pondhawks are the larger of the twothe Dashers are noticeably smaller. Also note that the male Dashers have black toward the rear of their abdomen, while the male Pondhawks are blue with white terminal appendages. One final difference is that Common Pondhawks have green faces while Blue Dashers have white.


Common Pondhawk, Erythemis simplicollis, Eastern Pondhawk
Both males and females of the Common Pondhawk have green faces. The coloration of the mature males is shown above, while that of the females and immature males is below.

Common Pondhawk, Erythemis simplicollis, Eastern Pondhawk

 

Common Pondhawk, Erythemis simplicollis, Eastern Pondhawk
Above: The thorax of the females and immature males is a bright, unmarked green.

 

Common Pondhawk, Erythemis simplicollis, Eastern Pondhawk
Above: Mature male Common Pondhawk. Note the powder blue body and the white terminal appendages.

 

Common Pondhawk, Erythemis simplicollis, Eastern Pondhawk
Above: Side view showing detail of the coloration of the females and immature males.

 

Common Pondhawk, Erythemis simplicollis, Eastern Pondhawk
Above: Males that are not quite mature may be predominantly blue but with some green remaining.

 

Common Pondhawk, Erythemis simplicollis, Eastern Pondhawk
Mating wheel of Common Pondhawks. The weight of the two dragonflies here is supported by floating Duckweed, the smallest flowering plant in the United States. 


Insects of West Virginia