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Band-winged meadowhawk

Band-winged meadowhawk

Sympetrum semicinctum

A species of Darters

Sympetrum semicinctum can reach a length of 2.5 - 3.5 cm, with a wingspan of 4.5 - 6 cm. The male has a bright red abdomen with black markings on the lower sides and on the top of the segments 8 and 9, creating a U like pattern. The thorax is brownish red and the sides show three irregular black stripes. Face and eyes are dark red. The legs are black. The hind wings have a rusty patch at the base, covering one-third of the wings, while the front wings are almost completely transparent. Pterostigma is blackish red. The female is mainly greenish-yellowish or orange, with red over green on eyes and extended blackish markings on the abdomen. Mature females sometimes turn red like males, while immature males are yellow like females and slowly reach their red coloration.

General Info About Band-winged meadowhawk
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Attributes of Band-winged meadowhawk
Colors
Black
Red
Habitat
forest; wetland; grassland
Adult Food Sources
Flying insects, mosquitoes, flies, small moths, aphids
Larva Food Source
Small aquatic insects, tadpoles, small fish, larvae of other insects, aquatic worms
Biting/stinging
Not reported
Allergy-causing
Not reported
Defensive attack
Not reported
Venomous
Not reported
Non-poisonous
The Band-winged meadowhawk is non-toxic and generally doesn't pose a risk to human health. No need for excessive worry.
Borer
Not reported
Biting animal or pet
Yes
Mouthparts Type
Chewing mouthparts
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Species Status of Band-winged meadowhawk
It is native to Canada and Continental United States, from coast to coast.
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Distribution Area of Band-winged meadowhawk
Canada, Continental United States
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Life Cycle of Band-winged meadowhawk
Egg The eggs of band-winged meadowhawk are typically laid in or near water bodies. They are small and often obscured within the environment. Their primary function is to protect and nourish the developing embryo until it is ready to hatch.
Naiad Band-winged meadowhawks in the naiad stage are aquatic, resembling the adult form but without wings. They undergo a series of molts, growing larger and developing external gill structures, predatory mouthparts, and compound eyes. Their color may camouflage with underwater vegetation.
Adult Emerging from the nymph stage, the adult band-winged meadowhawk has large, net-veined wings and elongated bodies. The coloration often becomes more vivid, and they gain the ability to fly. Adults are primarily focused on mating and laying eggs, and do not feed or grow.
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Adult Size of Band-winged meadowhawk
4 - 4.5 cm
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Interesting Facts About Band-winged meadowhawk
Band-winged meadowhawk can fly backwards, making rapid shifts in direction to outmaneuver predators and pursue prey.
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Scientific Classification of Band-winged meadowhawk
Class
Bugs
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Order
Odes
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Family
Skimmers
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Genus
Darters
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Tips for Finding Band-winged meadowhawk
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Youth Habitat of Band-winged meadowhawk
Freshwater Habitats
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Adult Habitat of Band-winged meadowhawk
Forests and Woodlands, Freshwater Habitats, Grasslands and Prairies, Agricultural and Cultivated Areas, Urban and Suburban Areas
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How Can You Attract Band-winged meadowhawk
There is no specific food used to trap band-winged meadowhawk as they are predatory and chase after live prey. However, being around areas rich in small insects can increase the likelihood of spotting band-winged meadowhawk, especially in the adult stage when they are active hunters.
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Habitat Preferences of Band-winged meadowhawk Through Different Life Stages
The eggs of band-winged meadowhawk are laid in water, where they hatch into aquatic naiads inhabiting ponds, marshes, or slow-moving streams. These naiads are predators and often cling to submerged vegetation or rest in the sediment. The search for naiads would require gentle sifting through aquatic plants or net-sweeping the waterbed. As they mature, naiads eventually climb onto nearby plants to undergo metamorphosis. The emergent adults typically stay close to the water, where they can be found perching on vegetation or patrolling the water's surface. Seeking adult band-winged meadowhawk would involve scanning the edges of water bodies on warm, sunny days when they are most active.
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How and Where Can You Find Band-winged meadowhawk at Different Life Stages
Egg Eggs of band-winged meadowhawk are typically laid in water or on vegetation near water. Locate them by carefully observing the stems of aquatic plants in calm waters such as ponds or slow-moving streams.
Naiad Band-winged meadowhawk naiads are aquatic and seen underwater. Search for them among submerged vegetation and debris on the bottoms of ponds, lakes, and slow-flowing rivers where they reside and hunt.
Adult When the naiads of band-winged meadowhawk are ready to metamorphose, they climb onto a stable surface above water. This is often the time they metamorphose into adults. Look for them on rocks, sticks, or vegetation near the water's edge during this transition.
Adult band-winged meadowhawk can be found flying over water bodies like ponds, lakes, or slow streams, or perching nearby. They can be observed during the day when they are most active, often resting on sunny surfaces to thermoregulate.
Are Band-winged meadowhawk harmful?
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Beneficial Effects of Band-winged meadowhawk
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Explore how insects help as pollinators, pest predators, and biocontrol agents. From seed dispersal to decomposition, they play vital roles in our ecosystem.
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Predators of Pests
Predators of Pests
Stage
Adults, Naiads
Diets
Mosquitoes, Flies
Band-winged meadowhawk, as an adept flyer in its adult stage, consumes a significant number of flying insects, including mosquitoes, which benefits ecosystems by controlling pest populations. In addition to adults, the naiads are also aquatic predators, feeding on a variety of aquatic insects. This behavior reflects their ecological role as critical predators both in water and in the air.
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