Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar

TaxonomyBrowse
Info
ImagesLinksBooksData

Species Epitheca princeps - Prince Baskettail

Prince baskettail - Epitheca princeps - male Epitheca princeps hatch process - Epitheca princeps Insane pile-up - Epitheca princeps Large DF (F?) just rescued from my pool - Epitheca princeps - female dragonfly - Epitheca princeps prince baskettail exuvia - Epitheca princeps prince baskettail exuvia - Epitheca princeps - female prince baskettail exuvia - Epitheca princeps - female
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Odonata (Dragonflies and Damselflies)
Suborder Anisoptera (Dragonflies)
Family Corduliidae (Emeralds)
Genus Epitheca (Baskettails)
Species princeps (Prince Baskettail)
Size
Length 5-8 cm
Identification
Flies constantly. Wing pattern resembles that of some skimmer, but narrow body shape is distinctive. Wings held in a slight dihedral (V) while flying.
Range
Eastern North America
Habitat
Permanent bodies of water: ponds, lakes, slow streams. Somewhat tolerant of muddy water.
Season
March-December in Florida, June to August in northernmost part of range.
Food
Predatory on flying insects. Often feeds high over trees, may form swarms in evening.
Life Cycle
Females oviposit in evening. A rope of eggs (up to 50 cm long!) is draped over a stem of emergent vegetation. Males patrol low (or up to 2 m high) over water for hours (or all day) gliding, then flitting wings.
Remarks
Larger in south, up to 8 cm, as large as a Darner. Typically seen as a male patrolling over a pond. Perches (in evening?) by hanging under twigs.

The southeastern form, regina, is usually larger, more heavily marked, and has a slightly different spot pattern:
Print References
Dunkle, p. 142, plate 23 (1)
Internet References