Facilitating the protection and restoration of species and ecosystems at risk on BC’s South Coast
Autumn Meadowhawk
Sympetrum vicinum
Sympetrum
vicinum
A member of the family Libellulidae (“Skimmer” dragonflies), which along with its subfamilies and allies forms the largest dragonfly family in the world. Members within the genus Sympetrum are referred to as “Meadowhawks” or “Darters.” Autumn Meadowhawk was previously referred to as Yellow-legged Meadowhawk.
Length: males 3.2—3.5 cm, females 2.6—3.4 cm. Males and females are dimorphic in colour (males are larger). Both sexes of this species lack much in the way of markings or patterning. In mature males, the face, eyes, thorax and abdomen are shades of red to reddish brown; legs are yellow to reddish-brown. In females the face is light brown with brown and green eyes. The thorax is yellow to grey, the legs yellowish, and the abdomen brown. Females have a prominent v-shaped ovipositor (structure used to place eggs). Immature individuals tend to be yellow or similar to females, taking on deeper colouration according to sex as they mature. The pterostigma (coloured, thickened cell on the leading edge of each wing membrane near the tip), is reddish-brown. In some regions (in the US), this species is known to change colour with cool weather, with the male’s red coloration shifting to orange, then brown with dropping temperatures. The 1.2-1.5 cm larvae (“nymphs”) are mottled green and brown in color with several large dorsal hooks along the abdomen. The last two abdominal segments have a single, large, rear-facing spine on each side.
Download Species Fact Sheet in PDF
Status
Global Status:
G5
Provincial Status:
S3S4
BC List Status:
Blue (Considered to be of Special Concern)
RESOURCES
For further information see:
As part of the Living Landscapes Project in northern British Columbia (BC),the Royal
British Columbia Museum (RBCM) and the Ministry of Environment’s British Columbia
Conservation Data Centre (CDC) joined forces, beginning in 2000, to study the
dragonflies (Insecta: Odonata) of the region. The study area includes the province north
of about 52º N, approximately the latitude of Williams Lake.
A source for authoritative conservation information on thousands of plants and animals and hundreds of ecological communities in BC. From here connect to all provincial and federal recovery plans (including the SARA Registry), COSEWIC (Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada), Identified Wildlife guidance and conservation requirements for specific species and ecological communities of conservation concern impacted by forestry activities) and links to E-Flora and E-Fauna (the Electronic Atlas of the Plants and Wildlife of British Columbia).
A joint venture resource providing comprehensive information on a range of species and ecological communities specific to the Coast Region of BC (including the South, Central and North Coast, Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii).
Environmental guidelines for urban and rural land development in BC.
Learn what species are at risk in your area, search by name, habitat type, regional district and forest district.
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