Identification

Field Marks

• Average adult size is approximately from 1.3 to 1.4 inches
• Brown face
• Red over brown eyes
• Reddish brown unmarked thorax
• Black legs
• In the Western edge of range, including Minnesota, they usually have an amber patch at base of wings
• Red abdomen with black side spots on segments 4 to 9
• Red terminal appendages
• Cerci longer than epiproct
• Examine hamules to identify between Ruby, Cherry-faced and White-faced Meadowhawk males

Field Marks

• Yellow face with red over yellow eyes
• Yellow unmarked thorax
• Amber wing patches in western part of their range
• Yellow abdomen with black side spots on segments 4 to 9
• Subgenital plates are "M" shaped

Behavior

Like most species of Symptrum, the Ruby Meadowhawk is most commonly found in the open fields where males perch at the top of tall grasses or on shrubs and defend a small territory

Habitat

Ponds, marshes, lakes, roadside ditches, bogs and slow moving streams

Reproduction

Mating usually takes place away from the water. Females lay eggs alone or in tandem either by dipping her abdomen into the water or by dropping eggs into the grass near the waterline