White-faced meadowhawk

The white-faced meadowhawk (Sympetrum obtrusum) is a dragonfly of the genus Sympetrum. It is found in the northern United States and southern Canada. Adult males are identifiable by a distinctive pure white face and red bodies.^[2] However, females are usually yellowish or brown.^[3]

Female white-faced meadowhawk (Sympetrum obtrusum)

White-faced meadowhawk
Immature female, central Connecticut
Mature male, Temagami, Ontario
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Odonata
Infraorder:	Anisoptera
Family:	Libellulidae
Genus:	Sympetrum
Species:	S. obtrusum
Binomial name
Sympetrum obtrusum (Hagen, 1867)

Similar species

Juvenile white-faced meadowhawks are almost indistinguishable from the ruby and cherry-faced meadowhawks. The three species habitats also overlap extensively. White-faces can be identified by having white faces, as the name implies, at maturity.^[2]

• Sympetrum internum – cherry-faced meadowhawk
• Sympetrum rubicundulum – ruby meadowhawk