The BioFiles - Bill Hubick

    Chalk-fronted Corporal (Ladona julia)

    Source: Wikipedia

    Chalk-fronted corporal
    Male

    Secure  (NatureServe)
    Scientific classification Edit this classification
    Domain: Eukaryota
    Kingdom: Animalia
    Phylum: Arthropoda
    Class: Insecta
    Order: Odonata
    Infraorder: Anisoptera
    Family: Libellulidae
    Genus: Ladona
    Species:
    L. julia
    Binomial name
    Ladona julia
    Uhler, 1857

    The chalk-fronted corporal (Ladona julia) is a skimmer dragonfly found in the northern United States and southern Canada.

    Juveniles of both sexes are light reddish brown, with white shoulder stripes and a black stripe down the middle of the abdomen. As they mature, males develop a white pruinescence on the top of the thorax and at the base of the abdomen, while the rest of the abdomen turns black. Females become almost uniformly dark brown, with a dusting of gray pruinescence near the base of the abdomen; a few develop the same color pattern as the males.

    Chalk-fronted corporals often perch horizontally on the ground or on floating objects in the water, flying up to take prey from the air. They are gregarious for dragonflies, and are commonly seen perching in groups. They readily approach humans to feed on the mosquitoes and biting flies that humans attract.

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    References

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    • Dunkle, S. W. (2000). Dragonflies through Binoculars. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 176. ISBN 0-19-511268-7.
    • Needham, J. G.; et al. (2000). Dragonflies of North America (rev. ed.). Gainesville, FL: Scientific Publishers. pp. 686–687. ISBN 0-945417-94-2.
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