Epitheca canis (McLachlan, 1886)
Beaverpond Baskettail
NatureServe Global Rank: G5
Virginia State Rank: S1
VA DGIF Tier: IV
Federal Legal Status: None
Virginia Legal Status: None
Description: The Beaverpond Baskettail is a medium-sized brown dragonfly with yellow markings along the side of the abdomen. The thorax is brown and rather hairy. The wings of the male are clear except for small black spots at the base of the hindwing. The wings of the female are tinted brown. The size range is 43-48 mm (1.7 - 1.9 inches).
Similar species: It is very similar to several other species of Baskettail (Epitheca sp.) in Virginia, but males can be distinguished in hand by the distinctive terminal appendages that are bent downward at the tip. See illustrations in Paulson (2011) p. 398 . Females brown-tinted wings separate them from all other baskettails.
North American Range: The Beaverpond Baskettail is primarily found in the northeastern United States and eastern Canada west to Minnesota. There is a southern extension in higher elevations of the Appalachians to Virginia. Also, scattered populations to the west coast. The only Virginia sites are in Highland County (Roble et al., 2009).
VA Observations by Locality: Highland | Highland
Flight season and broods: The flight season in Virginia for the Beaverpond Baskettail ranges from 21 May - 27 June.
Aquatic Habitat: In Virginia, the Beaverpond Baskettail uses high elevation ponds and beaver ponds.
Behavior and Ecology: Most baskettails fly early in the season and are gone by mid-summer.
Population trend and potential threats: It is secure in its core northeastern U.S. and eastern Canada range, but imperiled in four states in its southern range (NatureServe, 2011).
Management practices: Monitor and protect occupied habitats.
References: Carle, F.L., 1982. A contribution to the knowledge of the Odonata. Ph.D. thesis, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia. 1,095 pp.
NatureServe. 2011. NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life [web application]. Version 7.1. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available http://www.natureserve.org/explorer (Accessed: March 16, 2012).
Paulson, Dennis. 2011. Dragonflies and Damselflies of the East. Princeton University Press. Princeton and Oxford. 538 pp.
Roble, Steven M. 2011. Dragonflies of Virginia- Flight dates. Unpub.
Roble, S. M., Carle, F. L., and O. S. Flint. 2009. Dragonflies and Damselflies (Odonata) of the Laurel Fork Recreation Area, George Washington National Forest, Highland County, Virginia: Possible evidence for Climate Change. Pp 365-399, in S. M. Roble and J.C. Mitchell (eds.). 2009. A lifetime of contributions to Myriapodology and the Natural History of Virginia. Virginia Museum of Natural History Special Publication No. 16, Martinsville, Virginia.