Leucorrhinia intacta (Hagen, 1861)
Dot-tailed Whiteface
NatureServe Global Rank: G5
Virginia State Rank: S3
VA DGIF Tier: IV
Federal Legal Status: None
Virginia Legal Status: None
Description: The Dot-tailed Whiteface is a small, black, white-faced dragonfly, with a distinctive yellow-white spot on the seventh segment of the abdomen. The wings are unmarked. The size is 29-33 mm (1.1 - 1.3 inches).
Similar species: The Dot-tailed Whiteface is our only small black, white-faced dragonfly with a lone yellow-white spot near the end of the abdomen.
North American Range: The Dot-tailed Whiteface is a northern species found all across Canada and the northeastern United States to the west coast and south in the Rocky Mountains, also extending south at higher elevations of the Appalachians to Virginia and Tennessee. In Virginia, it is known from six western counties (Roble et al., 2009).
VA Observations by Locality: Alleghany | Augusta | Bath | Montgomery | Augusta | Giles | Highland
Flight season and broods: The Dot-tailed Whiteface has been found from 29 April to 25 July in Virginia.
Aquatic Habitat: The Dot-tailed Whiteface uses ponds and lakes with emergent vegetation.
Behavior and Ecology: Males have 2-4 yard territories and spend time defending these or intruding on others, occasionally perching on low stems or floating vegetation. Individuals can be found basking on the ground in sunny clearings.
Population trend and potential threats: The Dot-tailed Whiteface is common across its northern range, but vulnerable in its southeastern range including Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia (NatureServe, 2011).
Management practices: Monitor and protect occupied habitat.
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.
Dunkle, Sydney W. 2000. Dragonflies Through Binoculars: A Field Guide to Dragonflies of North America. Oxford University Press, New York, NY. 266 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: Oct 18, 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 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. Virginia Museum of Natural History Special Publication No. 16., Martinsville, Virginia.