COMMON PONDHAWK

DRAGONFLIES AND DAMSELFLIES OF WEST VIRGINIA SPECIES PAGE

Previously called: Eastern Pondhawk

This is one of the most common West Virginia dragonflies, and may be found at almost any pond in the state in the summer months. You may spot them in swamps or meadows as well.

The mature male (shown above) has an unmarked powder blue body, with white appendages on the tip of the abdomen. The eyes are green.

The females and immature males look markedly different from the mature males. Their bodies are green with black markings on the abdomen, and the abdomen becomes progressively blacker toward the rear. Their eyes are green to brown. Both males and females have green faces.

At some West Virginia ponds two common blue dragonflies are flying at the same time: the male Common Pondhawk and the male Blue Dasher. The Pondhawks are the larger of the two—the Dashers are noticeably smaller. Also note that the male Dashers have black toward the rear of their abdomen, while the male Pondhawks are blue with the terminal appendages white. One final difference is that Common Pondhawks have green faces while Blue Dashers have white.

Coloration of the females and immature males of the Common Pondhawk. Note that the abdomen becomes progressively blacker toward the rear of the insect.

Both males and females of the Common Pondhawk have green faces. The coloration of the mature males is shown above, while that of the females and immature males is below.

The thorax of the females and immature males is a bright, unmarked green.

Mature male Common Pondhawk. Note the powder blue body and the white terminal appendages.

Side view showing detail of the coloration of the females and immature males.

Males that are not quite mature may be predominantly blue but with some green remaining.

Mating wheel of Common Pondhawks. The weight of the two dragonflies here is supported by floating Duckweed, the smallest flowering plant in the United States.

This species is also included in the Odonate pages of the Insects of West Virginia site.