Sympetrum costiferum

(Hagen, 1861)

Saffron-winged Meadowhawk

Sympetrum costiferum, the saffron-winged meadowhawk, is a small in the skimmer Libellulidae. It is distinguished by yellowish-brown to pale red coloration and distinctive saffron-colored wing stripes in juveniles and females. The occurs across northern and central North America and is notably difficult to distinguish from closely related meadowhawk species.

Sympetrum costiferum by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Saffron-winged Meadowhawk, male by D. Gordon E. Robertson. Used under a CC BY-SA 3.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Sympetrum costiferum: /sɪmˈpɛtrəm kɒsˈtɪfərəm/

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

Identification

Most reliably distinguished from similar meadowhawks by the combination of saffron wing stripes (present in juveniles and females) and black triangular markings on the sides of the . Overlaps extensively with and is difficult to separate from the ruby meadowhawk (Sympetrum rubicundulum), white-faced meadowhawk (Sympetrum obtrusum), and cherry-faced meadowhawk (Sympetrum internum). Close examination of facial pattern, wing stripe presence, and abdominal markings may be required for confident identification.

Images

Appearance

Small , approximately 35 mm in length. yellowish-brown in individuals, turning pale red at maturity in both sexes. Juveniles and females possess distinctive gold (saffron) colored wing stripes. Wing reddish or orange in both sexes. Sides of abdomen marked with black triangles. Some females exhibit amber coloration in basal wing areas. Legs striped black and yellow or red.

Distribution

Northern and central United States; most of Canada including southern portion of Northwest Territories

Similar Taxa

Sympetrum rubicundulumRuby meadowhawk; overlaps in range and extremely difficult to distinguish; requires careful examination of markings
Sympetrum obtrusumWhite-faced meadowhawk; overlaps in range and extremely difficult to distinguish; facial pattern may aid separation
Sympetrum internumCherry-faced meadowhawk; overlaps in range and extremely difficult to distinguish

More Details

Identification challenges

This is explicitly noted as overlapping with and difficult to distinguish from multiple . Field identification to species level may require expert examination or documentation of multiple characters.