Color patterns in dragonflies can vary within a species depending on factors such as sex and development, which can make identification tricky. Furthermore, climate change could effect regional differences or create conditions for hybrid species. This blog is meant to be a reference and a record of the color variation within species at survey sites in Duluth, Minnesota.
Autumn Meadowhawk
Teneral female.
Female
Male
Twelve-spotted Skimmer
Female
Mature, male Twelve-spotted Skimmers have a striking pattern of color that is detectable from a distance. Teneral individuals have more faint white spots on the wings and white on the abdomen, which makes them easy to mistake for a female.
