Autumn Meadowhawk
Autumn Meadowhawk resting on a park bench. This species flies later in the year than any other dragonfly in our area. Autumn Meadowhawks are common and widespread in the fall months, even into November, weather permitting. My latest personal sighting is November 23rd!
Male Autumn Meadowhawk. This species was formerly called the Yellow-legged Meadowhawk. The yellow legs are a distinctive feature for this species. Other meadowhawks in our area generally have black legs.
Female Autumn Meadowhawk. Young females are yellow, but they turn pale reddish-brown with age. This is a young female photographed on July 18, 2021 at Pointe North near Urbana.
Teneral Autumn Meadowhawk at Oakes Quarry, June 22, 2019. This is my personal early date for the species. Tenerals can be seen in late June and early July, but after that, Autumn Meadowhawks are scarce for the rest of the summer. They return in force when autumn rolls around.
Mated pair of Autumn Meadowhawks on the boardwalk at Siebenthaler Fen.
Here is a much older female perched on some pretty red berries at Oakes Quarry. Females of this species have prominent ovipositors beneath the tips of their abdomens.
Male Autumn Meadowhawks have mostly solid-red abdomens with a few faint black spots. A Ruby or White-faced Meadowhawk would have larger black spots.
