Dot-winged Baskettail (Epitheca [Tetragoneuria] petechialis)

Dot-winged Baskettail
Epitheca [Tetragoneuria] petechialis

The Dot-winged Baskettail (Epitheca [Tetragoneuria] petechialis) is a dragonfly of the southern U.S. (ranging west to New Mexico and north to Kansas). It is a member of the Corduliidae family and is one of the earliest dragonflies of the spring. Most authorities place genus Epitheca and subgenus Tetragoneuria. The first photo here was a digital capture in mid March, 2004, in Austin, Travis Co., Texas and was shot with a Canon EOS 10D and EF 70-200 F/2.8 L IS lens with a 2X extender and 550 EX flash. Eye color indicates this is a young individual. The next shot shows another individual taken at same location with the same equipment, but about a week later.

The male Dot-winged Baskettail in the next four shots was in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in April, 2007. These images were shot with a Canon EOS 1D Mark II and EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender.



The Dot-winged Baskettail shown here was at Lake Marvin, Hemphill Co., Texas, in April, 2007. This shot was taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark II and EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender and 580 flash.
The Dot-winged Baskettails in the next 7 images shown here were near Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in March, 2008. These images were shot with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender.






The next 5 images of Dot-winged Baskettails were taken in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in April, 2008, with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender. Some individuals of this species lack the "dots" on the leading edge of the hind wing such as in image 18.




The next 3 shots show early emerging Dot-winged Baskettails in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in late February, 2009. These 3 images were taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender.


The female Dot-winged Baskettail shown here was in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in March, 2009. This image was taken with the same gear described previously.
The next 2 shots show the same recently emerged male Dot-winged Baskettail in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in March, 2009. In the first image the insect is perched with its wings folded over its back, something that recently emerged dragons sometimes do. The insect could fly fine, however, and after a few short flights it started perching with its wings spread as can be seen in the next image. This is about as fresh as you can get for an adult dragonfly.

Another Dot-winged Baskettail from Austin in March, 2009.
The next 4 images again show Dot-winged Baskettails from Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in March, 2009. The same photo gear as previously described was used. The shot shown here shows 3 individuals perched closely together which is frequently observed. Note that the middle individual in the image to the left shows no "dots" on the wings, which is not unusual for this species in central Texas.



The next 4 shots, also of Dot-winged Baskettails in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, were taken in April, 2009. The first two shots show females, one without "dots" in the wing and one with "dots". These are followed by two shots of males, one with dots and one (a lateral view) without dots.



The next 5 shots show Dot-winged Baskettails in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in March, 2010. These 5 images were taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and an EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender and 580 flash.




The next 2 shots of Dot-winged Baskettail, of a female and a pair in copula, were taken in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in April, 2010, with a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and an EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender and 580 flash.

The next six images of Dot-winged Baskettail were taken in northeast Texas on the west side of Caddo Lake, Marion Co., Texas, in April, 2010. In central Texas, near Austin, probably 60-70% plus of Dot-winged Baskettail have the charasteristic "dots" on the wings to one degree or another. We are learning that individuals of this same species in east Texas lack these "dots" most if not all the time. The next six images are all of individuals that were later collected and deposited into the insect collection of the University of Texas at Austin, where the ID of this species has been confirmed. These shots were all taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and an EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 580 flash.





The female Dot-winged Baskettail on the right and the male in the next shot, were in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in March, 2011. These shots were taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and a Sigma 50-500mm lens and Canon 580 flash.

The next four shots were also taken in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in March, 2011, with a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and a Sigma 50-500mm lens and Canon 580 flash. The shot on the right shows a male, while the next two images show a female with especially well marked wings. The fourth shot shows another mature male.



The female Dot-winged Baskettail on the right was in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in early May, 2011.
Some Dot-winged Baskettails lack the "dots" in the wings. This male was in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in March, 2012.
Dot-winged Baskettail Epitheca petechialis female Southeast Metro Park, Travis Co., Texas 13 April 2013