ARROWHEAD SPIKETAIL
Arrowhead Spiketail, named for the distinctive arrowhead-shaped markings on the abdomen. This Arrowhead Spiketail was resting in the grass at Germantown MetroPark, early in the morning. He was perched in the shade, waiting for the sun to warm up so that he could fly.
This Arrowhead Spiketail was photographed June 3, 2021. He was munching on a bee, a favorite snack of Arrowhead Spiketails.
Arrowhead Spiketails fly in late May and early June. My sightings range from May 19th through June 6th.
The preferred habitat for Arrowhead Spiketails is very small, shallow, fishless streams and trickles, in woods with sunny clearings. The stream should be small enough to step across without getting your feet wet, and there should be enough sunlight that there is grass growing on the streambanks.
This is the same individual as above. He was guarding his breeding territory, a tiny pool along a little trickling stream.
This Arrowhead Spiketail and all of the other ones below were photographed at Caesar Creek.
There are two forms of Arrowhead Spiketails, one with green eyes and one with dark blue eyes. All of the individuals I have found at Caesar Creek had green eyes, but the one at Germantown (top of this page) was the blue-eyed form.
Lateral view of an Arrowhead Spiketail.