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wandering glider
wandering glider (Pantala flavescens) [female]
Illinois Status: common, native
Photo © Mary Kay Rubey
wandering glider (Pantala flavescens) [male]
Illinois Status: common, native
Photo © Mary Kay Rubey
Features and Behaviors
FEATURES
The wandering glider is a stout, yellow to orange dragonfly, with the largest wings of any odonate in Illinois. They have reddish eyes on an orange face, and the abdomen has a dark median line down the top. The other species in this genus, the spot winged glider (Pantala hymenaea), is darker and has a spot on the hind wing close to the body.
BEHAVIORS
Much is known about the wandering glider. They can be spotted just about anywhere and at any time of day, from June to September in Illinois. This species is the most widespread dragonfly on the planet, occurring on every continent, but Antarctica. The wandering glider, or globe skimmer in other countries, makes multi-generational migrations of up to 11,200 miles, the longest known migration of any insect! They hang vertically when not in flight on trees and plants. They feed singly or in small to large swarms, usually before dusk. They are attracted to wetlands, ditches, and other shallow water for mating. Mating is very brief, taking 30 seconds to five minutes, and females deposit up to 800 eggs from a single mating.
Illinois Range
Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Family: Libellulidae
Habitats
wetlands, ditches, and other shallow water
