Common Whitetail (Plathemis lydia)

Common Whitetail
Plathemis lydia

The Common Whitetail (Plathemis lydia) is a very common dragonfly across the entire U.S. The male has large black patches on clear wings with a white abdomen, but the female is quite different, lacking the white abdomen and showing a different wing pattern. The photo of the male at right was a digital capture in western Travis Co., Texas in April,l 2003, with a Canon EOS 10D and EF 70-200 F2.8 L lens with 2X extender.
The photo of the female Common Whitetail shown here was shot in Austin, Travis Co., Texas in July, 2002, with a Canon EOS 1V and EF 300 mm F4 L IS lens with a 2X extender on Fuji Provia F.
The female Common Whitetail here was shot in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in July, 2003.
The male Common Whitetail shown here was in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in August, 2007 and was shot with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender and 580 flash.
The male Common Whitetail shown here was in Rockwall, Rockwall Co., Texas in August, 2007 and was shot with the same gear as previously described.
The immature male Common Whitetail shown here was in Dallas, Dallas Co., Texas, in August, 2007 and was shot with the same gear as previously described.
The female Common Whitetail shown here was at Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in August, 2007 and was shot with the same gear as previously described.
The male Common Whitetail shown here was near Unity, Baker Co., Oregon, in July, 2008 and was photographed with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender.
The shots of the male Common Whitetail shown here and in the next 2 shots at right were taken along the Little Black River in Ripley Co., Missouri, in June, 2009. These shots were all taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender and 580 flash. One shot at right shows two male whitetails on the same perch while another shows a male Common Whitetail and a male Spangled Skimmer (Libellula cyanea).


The young male Common Whitetail shown here (lacking the white pruniosity) was in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in August, 2010. This shot was taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and a Sigma 50-500mm lens and Canon 580 flash.
The Common Whitetail male on the right, lacking the white pruniosity like the previous shot, was in Austin, Travis Co., Texas in March, 2012.
The female Common Whitetail on the right was along Onion Creek, near Dripping Springs, Hays Co., Texas, in July, 2012.
Common Whitetail Plathemis lydia female Dripping Springs, Hays Co., Texas 17 April 2013
Common Whitetail Plathemis lydia male Hornsby Bend, Austin, Travis Co., Texas 7 June 2013
Common Whitetail Plathemis lydia female Gus Engeling W.M.A., Anderson Co., Texas 9 July 2013
Common Whitetail Plathemis lydia male Dripping Springs, Hays Co., Texas 1 August 2013
Common Whitetail Plathemis lydia female Hornsby Bend, Austin, Travis Co., Texas 6 August 2013