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banded pennant
banded pennant (Celithemis fasciata) [female] [male]
Photos © Mary Kay Rubey
Features and Behaviors
FEATURES
The banded pennant is known for its dark banded wings. Males have dark brown eyes and brown faces with metallic blue-black above. The thorax and abdomen are black with pale markings and a dusty, white at the base might develop. Black wing markings vary but are often observed at the tip of the wing, partially in the middle, and in a complex pattern at wing bases. Females have red-brown over pale green eyes, pale cream faces with blue-black metallic above with black thorax, and an abdomen with yellow dashes.
BEHAVIOR
Both males and females roost and feed high up in the trees, also lingering in weedy vegetation near water. Males perch on tips of leaves, branches, and grass stems along the shore or marsh vegetation or fly low over the water. Pairs lay eggs in tandem, flying wildly over a large area. Sometimes they separate to leave the female laying eggs solo over a small patch and sometimes guarded by the male. While laying eggs, females typically hover, drop to the water, tap once, rise, and repeat. They like sandy ponds and lakes with vegetation and some slow streams. They are found in the southern third of Illinois. Their range is east to the coast, south to the Gulf Coast, extending into Florida and Texas.
Illinois Range
Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Family: Libellulidae
Illinois Status: common, native
