Epitheca is a genus of dragonflies in the family Corduliidae. They are commonly known as baskettails. Baskettails' distinction is the specially adapted, upturned abdomen tip of the females which allows them to carry their egg masses in a small, orange-tinted globule.
Some authorities spin off the North American baskettails into two new genera, Epicordulia and Tetragoneuria, but this has not gained widespread acceptance and most references place them under this genus.
Species The genus contains the following species: Image Scientific name Common name DistributionEpitheca bimaculata Eurasian baskettail Serbia and Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia, UkraineEpitheca canis beaverpond baskettail Canada and northern United States. Epitheca costalis slender baskettail or stripe-winged baskettail eastern and southern United StatesEpitheca cynosura common baskettaileastern and southern United States Epitheca marginata China, Korea, JapanEpitheca petechialis dot-winged baskettailSouth central United StatesEpitheca princeps prince baskettail midwestern and eastern United States.Epitheca semiaquea mantled baskettaileastern United States.Epitheca sepia sepia baskettailNorth AmericaEpitheca spinigera spiny baskettailnorthern United States and southern Canada Epitheca spinosa robust baskettaileastern United States.Epitheca stella Florida baskettail Florida
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References
Genus Epitheca - Baskettails, BugGuide Image of female baskettail sp. with egg mass on tip of tail