Celithemis elisa

(Hagen, 1861)

Calico Pennant

Celithemis elisa, commonly known as the calico pennant, is a in the Libellulidae native to eastern North America. are small to medium-sized (24–34 mm body length) with distinctive brown spots at the wing bases and tips. The species inhabits calm freshwater bodies with emergent vegetation and exhibits spatial partitioning of perching microhabitats when co-occurring with .

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

Celithemis elisa 311651452 by Brady Reed. Used under a CC0 license.

Female Calico Pennant - Celithemis elisa (5866793895) by Wayne National Forest. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Celithemis elisa: //sɛ.lɪˈθi.mɪs ɛˈliː.sə//

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Identification

Distinguished from similar Celithemis by the brown spots at wing bases and tips combined with intermediate body size. C. fasciata is larger with different patterning; C. ornata is smaller. Perches at intermediate heights when sympatric with these . Pterostigma color (yellow in young, red in old) and color (yellow to red in older males) provide additional cues.

Images

Appearance

Body length 24–34 mm; hindwing length 25–30 mm. Wings with brown spots at bases and tips. Pterostigma yellow in younger individuals, red in older. yellow, turning red in older males. yellow-brown with large dark stripe and several smaller brown stripes. dark with paler markings.

Habitat

Calm freshwater bodies surrounded by vegetation, including ponds and lakes with emergent vegetation providing perching substrates

Distribution

Eastern Canada and eastern United States

Seasonality

active May to July based on observation records from South Carolina; likely broader season across range

Behavior

Perches on vegetation at heights intermediate between sympatric (lower than C. ornata, higher than C. fasciata), suggesting spatial partitioning of perching microhabitats that may reduce . Males engage in aggressive interactions with conspecifics and congeners.

Similar Taxa

Celithemis fasciataLarger body size; perches lower and closer to water; different wing patterning
Celithemis ornataSmaller body size; perches higher; different wing patterning

More Details

Competitive interactions

When co-occurring with C. fasciata and C. ornata, C. elisa occupies an intermediate position in a size-dependent competitive hierarchy for perch selection. This spatial partitioning may facilitate coexistence among these ecologically similar .