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.
Female Autumn Meadowhawk. Young females are yellow, but they turn pale reddish-brown with age. This is a very young female photographed on August 30th.
Teneral Autumn Meadowhawk at Oakes Quarry, June 22, 2019. This is my personal early date for the species. Teneral Autumn Meadowhawks can be seen in late June and early July, but then they 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 a prominent ovipositor beneath the abdomen tip.
The legs on young individuals are yellow, but they can darken with maturity. This feature distinguishes Autumn Meadowhawks from other species of meadowhawks, which generally have black legs. Also, Autumn Meadowhawks have reduced black markings on their abdomens compared with Ruby Meadowhawks and other look-alikes.