Identification

Field Marks

• Average adult size is approximately from 1.8 to 2.2 inches
• Dark brown eyes with a light brown to tan face
• Top of thorax is dark brown with a pale line running down the center from the wings to the neck
• Brown thorax with small yellow side spot
• Veins at the base of the wings are dark and bold with amber colored cells in between
• Dark brown abdomen with yellow rings dividing segments 2 through 8
• Yellow side spots on abdominal segments 4 through 8
• Uniquely shaped dark terminal appendages

Field Marks

• Female is colored similarly to the male
• Often less amber in the wing patches than the males
• Abdomen is lighter brown on top than males with larger yellow side spots that are visible from above
• Subgenital plate is small tubular shaped opening

Behavior

The term Stygian is a reference to the River Styx which the ancient Greeks believed flowed into the land of the dead. Today, Stygian is often used as another word for darkness. This is an appropriate name, in this case, as the Stygian Shadowdragon spends most of the day resting in dense shade, coming out just before dusk, to mate and feed, and typically flying into the night

Habitat

Large lakes and rivers with a lot of wave motion and little shoreline vegetation. Often found around rapids or waterfalls

Reproduction

Mating takes place in the tree tops. Females oviposit alone at dusk, flying low and fast over the surface of the water frequently dipping their abdomen