Epitheca semiaquea (Burmeister, 1839)
Mantled Baskettail
NatureServe Global Rank: G5
Virginia State Rank: S1
VA DGIF Tier: IV
Federal Legal Status: None
Virginia Legal Status: None
Description: The Mantled Baskettail is a small brown dragonfly with yellow markings along the side of the abdomen. The thorax is brown and rather hairy. The hindwings are broadly marked with black at the base, extending halfway out the wing. It ranges in size from 32-37mm (1.3 - 1.5 inches).
Similar species: The Mantled Baskettail is very similar to several other species of baskettail (Epitheca sp.) in Virginia, but can be distinguished by the combination of its smaller size relative to the other baskettails, its stout abdomen, and the more extensive dark markings on the hindwing.
North American Range: The Mantled Baskettail is found along the eastern coastal plain from Nova Scotia to northern Florida. There is also a disjunct population in Oklahoma and Texas. In Virginia, it is reported as being from Southampton County (Carle, 1982), but based on the directional information, this is an error and rather was collected from the Franklin (City) and Isle of Wight County line.
VA Observations by Locality: Franklin, City of | Isle of Wight
Flight season and broods: The only record in Virginia is from 20 May, but the flight season in New Jersey extends from late April through late June.
Aquatic Habitat: The Mantled Baskettail prefers sandy lakes and ponds with emergent vegetation.
Behavior and Ecology: Most baskettails fly early in the season and are gone by early summer.
Population trend and potential threats: The Mantled Baskettail's scattered local habit and similarity to other closely related species make this species status hard to assess. Considered Secure or Apparently Secure in only two states (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.