Field Marks

• Average adult size is approximately from 2.3 to 3.0 inches
• Face yellow to tan with no distinct facial markings
• Green eyes when mature
• Thorax mostly brown to tan with faint yellow spots possible on the sides
• Dark abdomen with bold pale ring separating segments 2 and 3 and less distinct rings separating the other segments
• Yellow patches on the sides of segments 4 to 8
• Dark terminal appendages
• Dark spots on the base, middle and tip of each wing

Field Marks

• Female is colored similarly to the male
• Red and grey eyes
• Long terminal appendages, the length of segments 9 and 10 combined
• Subgenital plates more rounded, 'U' shaped and about equal in length to segment 9

Similar Species

• Twelve-spotted Skimmer
• Unlike the Prince Baskettail, male Twelve-spotted Skimmers develop pruinose on the abdomen and wings as they mature
• The Prince Baskettail is much larger than the Twelve-spotted Skimmer
• Twelve-spotted skimmers typically have thoracic stripes where Prince Baskettail do not
• Common Whitetail
• Males look very different but females look similar
• The Prince Baskettail is much larger than the Common Whitetail
• Prince Baskettail and female Common Whitetail have similar wing patches
• Common Whitetail females have thoracic and abdominal stripes where Prince Baskettails have little to none

Behavior

This species looks more like a Skimmer, with its size and wing pattern, but acts more like a Darner. A strong flyer they patrol the shoreline, chasing away most any other dragonfly. When perched they hang vertically, like a darner

Habitat

Lakes and ponds, slow moving streams and rivers

Reproduction

Mating occurs in fight. Females produce eggs which accumulate on the end of their abdomen, like a tiny basket, while the female looks for a suitable location to oviposit. She will look for a location with aquatic vegetation, often floating on the water, where she will dip her abdomen in and release the 'basket' of eggs which become long strings in the water. Often more than one female will oviposit in the same location