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Saffron-winged Meadowhawk - Sympetrum costiferum
General Description
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Species Range
Montana Range
Range Descriptions
Native
Range Comments
This species is found from southern British Columbia east to the Atlantic, extending south in the U.S. into California east to New York. In Montana, it is found throughout the state at lower elevations.
Observations in Montana Natural Heritage Program Database
Number of Observations: 235
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Map Help and Descriptions
Relative Density
Recency
(Observations spanning multiple months or years are excluded from time charts)
Habitat
The prefered habitat of the Saffron-winged Meadowhawk is marshes, ponds, and lakes often with little vegetation, as well as bogs. This species can be found in saline, alkaline, or acidic wetland conditions (Dunkle 2000, Nikula et al. 2002, Paulson 2009).
National Vegetation Classification System Groups Associated with this Species
Wetland and Riparian
Alkaline - Saline Wetlands
Alpine Riparian and Wetland
Peatland
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 Saffron-winged Meadowhawks are territorial and make short patrols over the open water with periodic hovering between perching events. Oviposition is completed in tandem with slow, methodical taps of the females abdomen into open water or onto the wet shoreline (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.
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.
- 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 "Saffron-winged Meadowhawk"
- Additional Sources of Information Related to "Insects"
