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Chalk-fronted Corporal - Ladona julia
State Rank Reason (see State Rank above)
The Chalk-fronted Corporal dragonfly is currently listed as an "S3S4" species of concern in Montana because they are potentially at risk because of 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
Chalk-fronted Corporal are widespread across northern Canada: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Newfoundland, North West Territories, Ontario, Quebec, Yukon; and the northern United States: New Hampshire, Maine south to North Carolina in the east, and south to Montana and N. California in the west. Chalk-fronted Corporal are usually encountered at higher latitudes or at higher elevations at lower latitudes. In Montana, found in the western Middle Rockies forested region of the state. Abundant in northwestern Montana (Miller and Gustafson 1996).
Observations in Montana Natural Heritage Program Database
Number of Observations: 67
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Relative Density
Recency
(Observations spanning multiple months or years are excluded from time charts)
Migration
This species is not known to make long migrations
Habitat
Chalk-fronted Corporals prefer habitats of open and wooded lakes, ponds, marshes, swamps and bogs with acid water, as well as slow streams. Away from water this species tends to forage and bask in sunny patches of nearby woodlands and forest (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 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.
Reproductive Characteristics
Male Chalk-fronted Corporals are very aggressive toward other males of the species and are quite territorial, patrolling for extended periods low and fast over the water with brief hovering before perching. Copulation is in flight and females may copulate with multiple males. Females oviposits in short flights over the water with regular tapping of her abdomen while the male guards her (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.
- Nelson, Howard E. 1953. The summer dragonflies of Flathead Valley, Montana. M.A. Thesis. University of Montana. Missoula, MT.
- Paulson, D.R. 2009. Dragonflies and Damselflies of the West. Princeton University Press, Princeton. 535 pp.
- Web Search Engines for Articles on "Chalk-fronted Corporal"
- Additional Sources of Information Related to "Insects"
