Celithemis

Hagen, 1861

pennants, small pennants

Species Guides

Celithemis amanda(Amanda's Pennant)
Celithemis bertha(Red-veined Pennant)
Celithemis elisa(Calico Pennant)
Celithemis eponina(Halloween Pennant)
Celithemis fasciata(Banded Pennant)
Celithemis martha(Martha's Pennant)
Celithemis ornata(ornate pennant)
Celithemis verna(double-ringed pennant)

Celithemis is a monophyletic of eight in the Libellulidae, commonly known as pennants or small pennants. Species are primarily distributed in eastern North America. Males of multiple species perch conspicuously on vegetation to defend territories and exhibit resource partitioning through differential perch height selection.

Celithemis eponina by (c) geosesarma, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by geosesarma. Used under a CC-BY license.

Celithemis verna by (c) Laura Gaudette, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Laura Gaudette. Used under a CC-BY license.

Celithemis elisa by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Celithemis: /ˌsɛlɪˈθɛmɪs/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Small to medium-sized skimmers with relatively slender . Many have distinctive wing patterns including bands or spots. Males often show bright coloration on the body or wings. The can be distinguished from other Libellulidae by combinations of wing venation, abdominal shape, and patterning, though species-level identification requires examination of specific markings and body proportions.

Images

Habitat

Freshwater including ponds, lakes, and wetlands with emergent vegetation that provides perching substrates. Habitats typically have open water adjacent to vegetated margins where males establish territories.

Distribution

Eastern North America, with ranges extending from southern Canada through the eastern United States.

Seasonality

Active from late spring through summer; have been observed from May to July in studied .

Behavior

Males are perch-site faithful, returning to the same elevated perches to defend territories. Multiple co-occurring partition perch heights vertically: larger species perch higher and closer to open water, while smaller species use lower perches. Aggressive interactions occur between conspecifics and heterospecifics, with attack frequency correlating with relative body size and abundance.

Similar Taxa

LibellulaSimilar-sized skimmers in the same , but Libellula generally have broader and different wing patterning; perch selection differ where they co-occur.
SympetrumOverlapping use in some regions, but Sympetrum typically have different body proportions and perch lower in vegetation; less territorial perching observed.

More Details

Perch partitioning

Research on three co-occurring (C. elisa, C. eponina, C. fasciata) demonstrates that even small body size differences contribute to partitioning. C. fasciata, the largest species, perches highest and closest to water; C. elisa, the smallest, uses lowest perches. This vertical stratification reduces .

Competitive hierarchy

Interspecific aggression patterns follow a size-dependent hierarchy: larger C. fasciata is attacked less frequently than expected by abundance, while smaller are attacked more frequently, suggesting size-mediated dominance in territorial interactions.