The White-faced Meadowhawk is a member of the genus Sympetrum. Males are mostly red and brown with a white face and black abdominal side spots. Females are usually yellow or red. Distinguishing between Meadowhawk species can be very difficult
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The White-faced Meadowhawk is typically the most common Sympetrum throughout most of Minnesota. The white face helps to identify males from other similar red Meadowhawks. Immature and females do not have as distinctively white faces, making them more difficult to identify
Temporary or permanent marshy ponds, lakes, bogs, slow moving streams and forests
Mating takes place away from the water. Females lay eggs while flying or perched, alone or in tandem, by dropping them into shallow water, dried up pools and ponds or grassy fields that may flood in the spring. Eggs overwinter and hatch in spring when pools and ponds fill up. Males hover guard when not in tandem
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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.
