4,510 Records

Common Whitetail (Plathemis lydia) is one of the most common and adaptable North American dragonflies, found at nearly any decent-sized standing or slow-flowing body of water with a muddy substrate. The distinctively patterned males are unmistakable. This species is very tolerant of degraded habitat, and is often seen at drying ponds or shallow puddles without other odonate species present. This dragonfly habitually and conspicuously perches on the ground or plants, or on flat surfaces like rocks or tree trunks, and flies up to hawk flying prey (Paulson, 2011). This is an abundant species in Maryland, found in every county (Richard Orr's The Dragonflies and Damselflies of Maryland and the District of Columbia).