Minnesota Dragonfly

Dot-tailed Whiteface

Leucorrhinia intacta

The Dot-tailed Whiteface is a small dark, aptly named, skimmer. Mature males are mostly black, with a white face and a yellow top spot on segment seven. Females and immature are generally lighter and have a series of yellow top spots that extend to segment seven and some yellow on the side of the abdomen

Identification

Field Marks
  • Average adult size is approximately from 1.1 to 1.3 inches
  • White face
  • Eyes are dark brown over dark grey
  • Black unmarked thorax
  • Black legs
  • Black abdomen with a yellow top spot on segment 7
  • Sometimes pruinose markings on the bottom of segment 2
  • Small black patches at base of wings
  • Black terminal appendages
  • Short cerci not much longer than epiproct

Click on photos above for a close-up view.

Field Marks
  • Whiteface with brown eyes
  • Brown thorax with black spotting
  • Yellow sidespots on segments 3 to 5
  • Yellow top spots on segments 3 to 7 that get darker and disappear with age
  • Two spike like projections on subgenital plates

Click on photos above for a close-up view.

Natural History

Behavior

The Dot-tailed Whiteface is the most common Whiteface found throughout most of the southern two thirds of Minnesota. In Northern Minnesota, particularly the northeast, where other Whitefaces are more common, the Dot-tailed whiteface is an uncommon sight

Habitat

Lakes, ponds and slow streams with emergent vegetation

Reproduction

Pairs are often seen flying in "wheel" looking for a location in trees, bushes, or tall grasses to mate. Females typically lay eggs alone and unguarded, by dipping their abdomen into the water usually over submerged vegetation or in algae mats

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.