Identification

Field Marks

• Average adult size is approximately from 1.4 to 1.9 inches
• Green face
• Blue-green eyes at maturity
• Unmarked thorax that is pruinose blue over green
• Black legs
• Abdomen pruinose blue
• Cerci white with dark epiproct
• Immature male look like females. About a week after they emerge they begin to develop pruinosity, starting with the abdomen then moving to the thorax. It can take weeks for them to change completely

Field Marks

• Green face and eyes
• Green thorax with 2 narrow, faint side stripes
• Green abdomen with black spots becoming almost completely black on last segments
• White terminal appendages
• Spout style ovipositor

Behavior

Eastern podhawks often perch flat on or near the ground. They are ferocious hunters that will catch and eat prey that is their size, including other Eastern Pondhawks. Males usually protect territories from a perch but will also fly with another male in a type of leapfrog pattern. The two will fly close to the water with the male in front dropping down and moving back while the one in the rear flies over him to take the front position. This happens over and over

Habitat

Still waters, such as ponds, lakes, ditches, and slow-moving streams, with a lot of emergent and floating vegetation

Reproduction

Mating typically takes place in flight. After mating the female will often perch for a while before ovipositing. Eggs are laid during quick trips to vegetation beds where the female will lay around 900 eggs in seconds