Plathemis lydia

occurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations

Canada

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

Global Range: (>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)) This ubiquitous species occurs throughout the United States and all of southern Canada; extending into Mexico in Nuevo Leon (Needham et al., 2000). Although this species is widespread, its distribution is limited to the north where more than 1,660 degree days of growth (at a threshold of 5.6C ) are afforded (Abbott, 2007).

The mature male is unmistakable and there is a distinct dimorphism between the sexes. The female twelve-spotted skimmer, Libellula pulchella, has a similar wing pattern, but the abdomen is not as chunky, and yellow on sides of abdomen is continuous (not broken) (Nikula et al., 2003) and it is larger. The prince baskettail (Epitheca princeps) is larger with green eyes, a long slender abdomen and it lacks any white in the wings. The desert whitetail (Plathemis subornata) has a pale window within the brown wing band at the nodus and has distinct white areas basally. The eight-spotted skimmer (Libellula forensis) has brown wing bands at the nodus that do not reach the pterostigma. Other similar banded dragonflies like four-spotted pennant (Brachymesia gravida) and band-winged dragonlet (Erythrodiplax umbrata) lack basal wing markings (Abbott, 2007). In the south-central U.S., female twelve-spotted skimmer, L. pulchella, is similar, but larger, and has yellow dorsolateral stripes on the abdomen. Prince baskettail, Epitheca princeps, is larger, with green eyes, a long slender abdomen, and a lack of any white in the wings. Desert whitetail (P. subornata) has a pale window within the brown wing band at the nodus, and has distinct white areas basally. Eight-spotted skimmer, L. forensis, has brown wing bands at the nodus that do not reach the pterostigma. Other similar banded dragonflies like four-spotted pennant, Brachymesia gravida, and band-winged dragonlet, Erythrodiplax umbrata, lack basal wing markings (Abbott, 2005).

Habitat Type: Freshwater

Comments: It occurs in a variety of wetlands including ponds, slow-moving, muddy-bottomed rivers and streams, and marshes; apparently tolerant of degraded habitats (Nikula et al., 2003). It is commonly seen at any standing body of water during summer but can be found at any pool, pond, lake, or quiet stream.

Non-Migrant: Yes. At least some populations of this species do not make significant seasonal migrations. Juvenile dispersal is not considered a migration.

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make local extended movements (generally less than 200 km) at particular times of the year (e.g., to breeding or wintering grounds, to hibernation sites).

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make annual migrations of over 200 km.

Males will often venture some distance from their breeding sites, and may commonly be seen along roadsides and path margins, perching on the ground, logs, or low vegetation (Abbott, 2007).

Note: For many non-migratory species, occurrences are roughly equivalent to populations.

Estimated Number of Occurrences: > 300

Comments: It was recently found in Fort Sill, Lawton, Camanche Co., Oklahoma (Zuellig et al., 2006). In the south-central U.S. it occurs in the Arkansas, Bayou Bartholomew, Brazos, Canadian, Cimarron, Colorado, Colorado (New Mexico), Guadalupe, Lower Rio Grande, Mississippi, Neches, Nueces, Ouachita, Pecos, Red, Sabine, San Antonio, San Jacinto, St. Francis, Trinity, Upper Rio Grande, and White River watersheds (Abbott, 2005). It is one of the most widespread and abundant dragonflies in Massachusetts (Nikula et al., 2003). In Maine, it has been found in every county across the state (Brunelle and deMaynadier, 2005). It is distributed across most of Minnesota, routinely at an expansion of the Baptism north of Finland (Lake Co.) south to the Root River at Whalen (Fillmoce Co.), but it is relatively uncommon at northern streams (Haarstad, 1997).

>1,000,000 individuals

Comments: Adults stray far from water, foraging in fields and forest openings and perching horixontally on the ground or obliquely on low vegetation (Nikula et al., 2003). The distinct white abdomen of mature males is used in displays to threaten other males. They elevate the abdomen above the rest of the body and fly towards an intruder. Males patrol moderate-sized habitats of 15-30 m around the shores of ponds, lakes and occasionally streams. They will often venture some distance from their breeding sites and may commonly be seen along roadsides and path margins perching on the ground, logs or low vegetation (Abbott, 2007).

Flight period has been documented as March 3 (Louisiana) to November 24 (Louisiana) (Abbott, 2005). Needham et al. (2000) document flight period as February 9 (Florida)/ May 21 (Ontario) to September 5 (Ontario)/ November 24 (Louisiana). In Cape Cod, Massachusetts, it is late May to early September (Carpenter, 1991). In British Columbia it is from May 14 to September 24 (Cannings and Stewart, 1977). In Kansas it is April to October (Beckemeyer and Higgins, 1997). In California it is March to October (Biggs, 2000). In Florida it is February 9 to November 16 (Dunkle, 1989). In Georgia it is from mid-March to early November (Beaton, 2007). In Ohio it is from April 14 to October 1 (Glotzhober and McShaffrey, 2002). In the western Great Lakes, it is late May to early September (Mead, 2003). In Massachusetts, it it mid-May to mid-September (Nikula et al., 2003).

Males defend small territories and raise their abdomens aggressively in flight when clashing with other males. Females oviposit in flight, tapping the tips of their abdomens to the water's surface to release the eggs. Males often hover hearby during oviposition (Nikula et al., 2003). Adults mature after an average of two weeks, after which they return to bodies of water to breed. Males are aggressive, often stealing females from other males. Mating is quick, occurring as the pair hovers over the water, usually no longer than three seconds. Males will often attempt to guard more than one female as they lay some 1,000 eggs, by tapping the tip of the abdomen to the water in regular intervals (Abbott, 2007).

Females oviposit exophytically.

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 27
Specimens with Barcodes: 38
Species With Barcodes: 1

The following is a representative barcode sequence, the centroid of all available sequences for this species.

There are 29 barcode sequences available from BOLD and GenBank.  Below is a sequence of the barcode region Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI or COX1) from a member of the species.  See the BOLD taxonomy browser for more complete information about this specimen and other sequences.

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Canada

Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure

Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure

Reasons: This species occurs throughout the United States and southern Canada.

Global Protection: Unknown whether any occurrences are appropriately protected and managed