Sympetrum costiferum, the saffron-winged meadowhawk, is a dragonfly of the genus Sympetrum. It is found across northern and central United States and most of Canada, including a southern portion of the Northwest Territories.
Its abdomen is yellowish-brown, turning pale red at maturity in both sexes. Juveniles and females have gold (saffron) coloured wing stripes.Dunkle, S.W., Dragonflies through Binoculars: A Field Guide to Dragonflies of North America. New York:Oxford University Press, 2000. Veins of males and females are reddish or orange.Mead, Kurt. Dragonflies of the North Woods. Second edition. Duluth, MN:Kollath+Stensaas, 2009. The sides of the abdomen are marked with black triangles. Some females have amber in basal areas of their wings. Legs are striped in black and yellow or red. Size: . This species overlaps with and is difficult to distinguish from both the ruby and white-faced meadowhawks.
Similar species Sympetrum obtrusum – white-faced meadowhawk Sympetrum rubicundulum – ruby meadowhawk Sympetrum internum – cherry-faced meadowhawk
References
External links Saffron-winged Meadowhawk, Nature Inquiries Saffron-winged Meadowhawk, BugGuide