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Photo#400306
Dragonfly in Wisconsin - Epitheca

Dragonfly in Wisconsin - Epitheca
Cedarburg Bog - near Saukville, Washington County, Wisconsin, USA
May 23, 2010
Mid-morning. There were many corporals flying about -- ID'd by a naturalist. However, I don't know if this is also a corporal of some type.

Images of this individual: tag all
Dragonfly in Wisconsin - Epitheca Dragonfly in Wisconsin - Epitheca

3 likely possibilities for WI
Beaverpond (E. canis), Common (E. cynosura) and Spiny (E. spinigera). Looks most like Common to me.

Moved
Moved from Dragonflies.

 
I can't
remember reading anything about those hairs. Perhaps someone with Corbet's outstanding text could see if he had anything on them. Maybe it helps in thermoregulation; sensory "accessories" for flight (air currents???), or maybe it helps guide the males claspers to the females head???

Purpose? That's an interesting question
unfortunately we don't know the answer. We can say that your dragonfly reminds us of Baskettail

but again unfortunately, we don't know how to tell them apart :(

 
Detailed photos
of the terminalia are typically required to species the Baskettails; such as the one above.

...and what is the purpose of
the white ?bristles on the back of the head?

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