Species Celithemis elisa - Calico Pennant

Classification · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Season · Food · Life Cycle · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited

Calico Pennant - Celithemis elisa - male

Calico Pennant? - Celithemis elisa - female

Calico Pennant Portrait - Celithemis elisa - male

teneral Calico Pennant - Celithemis elisa

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Odonata (Dragonflies and Damselflies)

Suborder Anisoptera (Dragonflies)

Family Libellulidae (Skimmers)

Genus Celithemis (Pennants)

Species elisa (Calico Pennant)

Size

Length 3.0 cm

Identification

Distinctive wing pattern, bold heart-shaped marks on abdomen, becoming bright red in mature male.

Range

Eastern and central North America

Habitat

Ponds, lakes with marshy borders

Season

March to October in much of ranger, June to August in north

Food

Predatory, forages in fields, perching on the tips of plants, as do other penants.

Life Cycle

Males are not territorial, perch along edges of ponds, on the lookout for incoming females. Pairs perch on vegetation near water while mating, oviposit as a pair.

Print References

Dunkle, p. 234, plate 44 (1)

Internet References

NJ Odes

Odonata of North America

Works Cited

1.	Dragonflies Through Binoculars: A Field Guide to Dragonflies of North America By Sidney W. Dunkle

Contributed by Cotinis on 16 February, 2004 - 12:32pm
Last updated 7 August, 2004 - 8:09am

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