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Variegated Meadowhawk - Sympetrum corruptum
Native Species
Global Rank:
G5
State Rank:
S5
Agency Status
USFWS:
USFS:
BLM:
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General Description
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Species Range
Montana Range
Range Descriptions
Native
Range Comments
This species is found from British Columbia east to Ontario, extending south through much of the U.S. to southern California east to Florida. It migrates as far south as Honduras in Central America, and also occurs in eastern Asia. It occurs throughout Montana except at the highest elevations.
Observations in Montana Natural Heritage Program Database
Number of Observations: 370
(Click on the following maps and charts to see full sized version)
Map Help and Descriptions
Relative Density
Recency
(Observations spanning multiple months or years are excluded from time charts)
Migration
Distinct early and late emergences have been observed in the state. A late migration of recently emerged adults was observed in Bozeman during August 1993 flying from the southeast to the northwest just above the ground (Miller and Gustafson 1996).
Habitat
The habitat of the Variegated Meadowhawk includes marshy lakes and ponds, often saline and sand-bottomed, slow streams, vegetated pools of rivers, and springs, as well as temporary pools and rain puddles (Dunkle 2000, Nikula et al. 2002, Paulson 2009).
National Vegetation Classification System Groups Associated with this Species
Grassland
Lowland - Prairie Grassland
Montane - Subalpine Grassland
Wetland and Riparian
Alkaline - Saline Wetlands
Alpine Riparian and Wetland
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.
Reproductive Characteristics
Male Variegated Meadowhawks are territorial and also compete with other species for access to open water. They alternate between patrolling low over the water and perching in suitable habitat. Tandem pairs oviposit by repeated tapping of the females abdomen into the water or onto algae (Dunkle 2000, Nikula et al. 2002, Paulson 2009).
Stewardship Responsibility
Threats or Limiting Factors
Populations are widespread, abundant, and secure.
References
- Literature Cited AboveLegend:
View Online Publication- Dunkle, S.W. 2000. Dragonflies through binoculars: A field guide to dragonflies of North America. New York, NY. Oxford University Press. 266 pp.
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.
- Paulson, D.R. 2009. Dragonflies and Damselflies of the West. Princeton University Press, Princeton. 535 pp.
- Additional ReferencesLegend: View Online Publication
Do you know of a citation we're missing?- Acorn, J. 2004. Damselflies of Alberta: flying neon toothpicks in grass. Edmonton, Alberta: University of Alberta Press. 156 pp.
- Hendricks, P., S. Lenard, D.M. Stagliano, and B.A. Maxell. 2013. Baseline nongame wildlife surveys on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. Report to the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, MT. 83 p.
- Nelson, Howard E. 1953. The summer dragonflies of Flathead Valley, Montana. M.A. Thesis. University of Montana. Missoula, MT.
- Sater, S. 2022. The insects of Sevenmile Creek, a pictorial guide to their diversity and ecology. Undergraduate Thesis. Helena, MT: Carroll College. 242 p.
- Web Search Engines for Articles on "Variegated Meadowhawk"
- Additional Sources of Information Related to "Insects"
