Wild Facts About The Common Baskettail Dragonfly

How To Identify Common Baskettail Dragonflies

• Common Baskettail dragonflies grow to 1.7 inches (44 mm) in total body length and 1.2 inches (31 mm) hind wing length.
• Adult males have:
  • Deep turquoise or emerald green eyes.
  • Dull orange faces with black frons.
  • Fuzzy brown thoraxes.
  • Clear wings; some individuals have a triangular dark patch at base of hind wings.
  • Black or dark brown abdomens decorated with elongated orange spots.
• Adult females look like males only with thicker abdomens.
• As is implied by their common name, Common Baskettail dragonflies live throughout North Carolina and are the most abundant baskettail dragonfly in most areas.
  • Look for Common Baskettail dragonflies anywhere with quiet freshwater, like ponds and slow forest streams.
• Common Baskettail dragonflies travel far from water to hunt and are most active in the late afternoon (Dunkle 2000).
  • This species hunts small flying insects, which they eat while in flight.