Sympetrum vicinum

Identifying Features

The yellow-legged meadowhawk dragonfly is 1 1/4" long. They have a red thorax, yellow legs, and clear wings. When resting, their wings are held flat out to the sides.

Habitat & Range

These dragonflies live near ponds and fields across the Eastern and Midwestern US. They are also found in the far Western US and Southern Canada.

Behavior

As adults, these dragonflyies will eat insects.

Life Cycle

The yellow-legged meadowhawk will find a slow moving body of water with aquatic plants to lay its eggs in during the summer. Eggs will develop, then overwinter.

Eggs hatch in the spring, and naiads, dragongly nymphs, will live in the water and molt several times before becoming adults.

Featured image by James Dake.