Epitheca cynosura
(Say, 1840)
Common Baskettail
Epitheca cynosura, the Common Baskettail, is a in the Corduliidae. have brilliant green and a brown, hairy . Some individuals display a triangular spot at the base of the hindwing. The is difficult to distinguish from without examining caudal appendages. season begins unusually early, with records from January in some regions.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Epitheca cynosura: //ɛpɪˈθiːkə saɪˈnoʊsʊrə//
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Identification
Difficult to distinguish from other Epitheca by general appearance alone. The caudal appendages (terminal abdominal structures) differ between species and require comparison with reference drawings or close-up photographs. Some specimens show a triangular spot at the base of the hindwing, but this is not consistent. The brown, hairy and green are shared with .
Images
Distribution
North America.
Seasonality
season can begin as early as January.
Similar Taxa
- Epitheca princepsBoth share green , brown hairy , and baskettail ; E. princeps has longer, narrower and different season timing
- Twelve-spotted Skimmer (Libellulidae)Superficially similar in but lacks green and has different wing pattern; proportion differs