DRAGONFLIES AND DAMSELFLIES OF WEST VIRGINIA SPECIES PAGE
With its tiny size and its yellow and brown coloration, this diminutive
dragonfly is easy to mistake for a wasp. In fact, it has adopted several
behavior patterns to mislead would-be predators into thinking that it is
indeed a wasp.
For the male, the tiny size, amber colored wings, and red stigmas, are
diagnostic. Females in West Virginia have clear wings with brown spots and
bands (see photo). Sometimes the female's wings have some amber coloration
toward the base.
Ponds and lakes are the most common habitat for this species. Eastern
Amberwings generally don't appear at rivers, unless at a calm backwater
pool of a river.
Despite their tiny size, the males fiercely guard their small territories—an
area about five feet in diameter with a good egg-laying site at center.
Typical wing pattern of the Eastern Amberwing female. Note the abdomen,
which is considerably thicker than that of the male.
This Eastern Amberwing has just emerged from the larval skin.
