Common throughout the eastern United States and parts of Canada and Central America, Eastern Pondhawks, E. simplicicollis simplicicollis, are often found near still waters in wetlands and near ponds. Females are bright green with black markings on their abdomen. Males are blue with beautiful green faces.
Eastern Pondhawks will dash from their perch on plants near the ground to snatch prey which includes damselflies and other insects. They will carry their meal off to eat at a suitable place.
With only an average reproductive life of 10 days, reproduction occurs often and sometimes more than once a day. Mating occurs on vegetation and the female deposits her eggs on the water within a minute.
Fun fact: Dragonfly fossils have been dated at over 300 million years old. This means that dragonflies existed more than 100 million years before dinosaurs!
Photo Credit: Dan Kon
