The Chalk-fronted Corporal is a common Skimmer that can frequently be seen perched on roads or trails, often in large numbers. They get their common name from the white, chalk-colored stripes on the top of the thorax that look like corporal stripes
The Chalk-fronted Corporal can often be seen in great numbers, frequently perched flat on a sunny road or trail. Males can be territorial chasing away other males as well as males of other similar skimmer species. This species is not very wary of humans. One time, at a northern bog lake, a Chalk-fronted Corporal perched on the brim of my hat to eat a deer fly which it caught while the fly was trying to bite me
Prefers an acidic habitat such as bogs, marshy lakes and ponds, and slow-moving mucky streams
Mating takes place in flight and is very quick, often only about 5 seconds. Females lay eggs by dipping their abdomen into shallow waters, typically near the shoreline
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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.