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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Dragonflies and Damselflies (Odonata) » Dragonflies (Anisoptera) » Skimmers (Libellulidae) » Rainpool Gliders (Pantala) » Spot-winged Glider (Pantala hymenaea)

Species Pantala hymenaea - Spot-winged Glider

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

Pantala hymenaea - Spot-winged Glider - Pantala hymenaea

Male Pantala hymenaea? - Pantala hymenaea

Spot-winged Glider dragonfly? - Pantala hymenaea

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Odonata (Dragonflies and Damselflies)

Suborder Anisoptera (Dragonflies)

Family Libellulidae (Skimmers)

Genus Pantala (Rainpool Gliders)

Species hymenaea (Spot-winged Glider)

Size

43-51 mm length

Identification

Similar to Wandering Glider, but abdomen mottled gray-brown, more tapered. Round spot at base of hindwings is characteristic but may be difficult to see.

Flies almost continuously, but does perch sometimes, vertically on twigs of trees, bushes.

Range

Much of North America, also Antilles, Central and South America, Galapagos. Ranges northward into Canada earlier in year than Wandering Glider. (A generational migrant--spring generations fly north, late summer and fall generations fly south.)

Habitat

Open areas with temporary ponds, including brackish waters.

Season

All year in southern United States, e.g., Texas, Florida. Late spring to fall in central areas. June-August in Canada.

Food

Predatory on other insects.

Life Cycle

Larval development is rapid--may be as short as five weeks.

See Also

Wandering Glider

Print References

Dunkle, Dragonflies Through Binoculars p. 216, plate 40 (1)

Dunkle, Dragonflies of the Florida Peninsula, p. 110, fig. 99 (2)

Nikula, p. 114 (3)

Abbott, p. 290, photo 60d (4)

Internet References

NJ Odes

Digital Dragonflies

Odonata Central

Works Cited

1.	Dragonflies Through Binoculars: A Field Guide to Dragonflies of North America Sidney W. Dunkle. 2000. Oxford Press.

2.	Dragonflies of the Florida Peninsula, Bermuda, and the Bahamas Sidney W. Dunkle. 1989. Scientific Publishers.

3.	Stokes Beginner's Guide to Dragonflies Donald and Lillian Stokes. 2002. Little, Brown and Company.

4.	Dragonflies and Damselflies of Texas and the South-Central United States John C. Abbott. 2005. Princeton University Press.

Contributed by Cotinis on 25 July, 2005 - 8:58am
Additional contributions by john and jane balaban, KenW
Last updated 4 September, 2021 - 12:43pm

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