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Crimson-ringed Whiteface - Leucorrhinia glacialis
State Rank Reason (see State Rank above)
The Crimson-ringed Whiteface is currently ranked S3 as a "potential species of concern" in Montana because it is potentially at risk of extirpation in the state, due to limited and/or declining numbers, range and/or habitat, even though it may be abundant in some areas.
General Description
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Species Range
Montana Range
Range Descriptions
Native
Range Comments
Crimson-ringed Whiteface are widespread across northern Canada: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Newfoundland, North West Territories, Ontario, Quebec, Yukon; and the northern United States: New Hampshire south to West Virginia in the east and Colorado, California and Oregon in the west. In Montana, this speices is found in the western Middle Rockies forested region of the state.
Observations in Montana Natural Heritage Program Database
Number of Observations: 32
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Map Help and Descriptions
Relative Density
Recency
(Observations spanning multiple months or years are excluded from time charts)
Habitat
Crimson-winged Whitefaces prefer sparsely- to well-vegetated, boggy lake, pond, and marsh habitats in forested areas (Dunkle 2000, Nikula et al. 2002, Paulson 2009).
National Vegetation Classification System Groups Associated with this Species
Wetland and Riparian
Alkaline - Saline Wetlands
Peatland
Riparian and Wetland Forest
Riparian Shrubland
Wet Meadow and Marsh
Food Habits
Larvae feed on a wide variety of aquatic insects, such as mosquito larvae, other aquatic fly larvae, mayfly larvae, and freshwater shrimp. They will also eat very small fish and tadpoles.
Adult- The dragonfly will eat almost any soft-bodied flying insect including mosquitoes, flies, small moths, mayflies, and flying ants or termites.
Ecology
A male of this species was found in tandem with a teneral male Belted Whiteface (L. proxima) (Miller and Gustafson 1996).
Reproductive Characteristics
Male Crimson-winged Whitefaces are territorial, often perching on lily pads or low vegetation. Females are rarely encountered alone, most already paired with a male before reaching breeding sites. Mated pairs also tend to perch more than fly and copulation is lengthy and at rest. Female Crimson-winged Whitefaces oviposit in flight by tapping water with the tip of their abdomen while the males often hovers nearby (Dunkle 2000, Nikula et al. 2002, Paulson 2009).
Stewardship Responsibility
References
- Literature Cited AboveLegend:
View Online Publication
Miller, K.B. and D.L. Gustafson. 1996. Distribution records of the Odonata of Montana. Bulletin of American Odonatology 3(4):75-88.- Nikula, B., J. Sones, D.W. Stokes, and L.Q. Stokes. 2002. Stokes beginner's guide to dragonflies and damselflies. Boston: Little, Brown. 159 pp.
- Additional ReferencesLegend: View Online Publication
Do you know of a citation we're missing?- Dunkle, S.W. 2000. Dragonflies through binoculars: A field guide to dragonflies of North America. New York, NY. Oxford University Press. 266 pp.
- Paulson, D.R. 2009. Dragonflies and Damselflies of the West. Princeton University Press, Princeton. 535 pp.
- Web Search Engines for Articles on "Crimson-ringed Whiteface"
- Additional Sources of Information Related to "Insects"
