The Ruby Meadowhawk is a small red skimmer of the genus Sympetrum. Males are mostly reddish brown with black side spots on the abdomen. Females come in a mustard yellow or red form. Distinguishing between Meadowhawk species can be very difficult
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
Ponds, marshes, lakes, roadside ditches, bogs and slow moving streams
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
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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.