Butterflies, Moths, Dragonflies & Damselflies of Dayton, Ohio

Calico Pennant

Male Calico Pennant. These are very beautiful dragonflies. They are sometimes mistaken for Red or Carolina Saddlebags, but Calico Pennants are smaller and have more spots on their wings. 

This is a shimmery, teneral Calico Pennant that had just emerged at Oakes Quarry. 

Calico Pennants will perch on the tops of grass stems or other short plants and let their wings flutter in the breeze.

Calico Pennants usually fly from late May through September (with stragglers into October). My personal early and late dates are May 15 and October 19th. 

Female Calico Pennant. The females are patterned like the males, but they are yellow rather than red.  

Calico Pennants are fairly widespread at local ponds and shallow wetlands. Cox Arboretum, Germantown MetroPark, Grant Park in Centerville, and Oakes Quarry in Fairborn are all good places to find them. 

Another newly-emerged Calico Pennant. I could photograph teneral dragonflies all day.  I love the iridescent wings!

Calico Pennant obelisking at Oakes Quarry on a hot day.