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Ebony Boghaunter

Williamsonia fletcheri

The Ebony Boghaunter is a small rare dragonfly that is dark, has very little markings and green eyes. They are fairly easy to identify because their small size, dark color and limited markings make them unique. Because of their niche habitat needs they are very rare

Identification

Field Marks
  • Average adult size is approximately from 1.1 to 1.4 inches
  • Dark unmarked face with lots of hairs
  • Green eyes that get deeper green with age
  • Dark, unmarked, hairy thorax
  • Black legs
  • Dark abdomen with two pale rings, one where segments 2 and 3 join and the other where 3 and 4 join
  • Dark terminal appendages

Click on photos above for a close-up view.
Field Marks
  • Female is colored similarly to the male
  • Grayish-green eyes
  • White rings at back of segments 2 through 4
  • Sub-genital plate hangs parallel to the body and is as long as segment 9
  • Short terminal appendages

Click on photos above for a close-up view.

Natural History

Behavior

Both male and female Ebony Boghaunters usually perch flat, either on logs or the ground. Males often perch on sphagmun mats, making patrol flights low over bog pools

Habitat

Small sphagnum pools in bogs and fens typically surrounded by woodlands

Reproduction

Mating usually happens away from the water. Females lay eggs into small bog pools by dipping abdomen into the water

Range Maps

Click on the icons above for this species' range maps

Click here for county and state checklists from Odonata Central.

Range maps and checklists courtesy of Odonata Central. Copyright © 2016 OdonataCentral. All Rights Reserved. Abbott, J.C. 2006-2018. OdonataCentral: An online resource for the distribution and identification of Odonata. Available at www.odonatacentral.org.

© JEFFREY FISCHER 2016. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.