Dot-tailed whiteface
Males of this dragonfly carry just one square yellow dot on the abdomen, while females wear a whole row of yellow spots that fade as they age.
| Where | Marshy ponds, lakes, slow streams |
|---|---|
| Size | 28 to 37 mm body length |
| When | May to July |
The Dot-tailed whiteface is a small, mostly black dragonfly with a white face and clear wings marked by a small dark spot at the base of each wing. Males show a single yellow spot on the seventh abdominal segment, while females carry yellow spots along segments two through six that fade with age. Body length runs from about 28 to 37 mm.
It is found at marshy ponds, lakes, slow streams and bogs, where it perches low on floating plants or waterside vegetation. Adults fly from mid spring into mid summer across most of the United States and Canada.
Traits
Habitat
Wetland
Colour
Black, White, Yellow
Active
Day
To people
Harmless to people; adults perch low over water and are often seen resting on shoreline plants.
Activity through the year
Often confused with
Lacks the single square yellow spot on the seventh abdominal segment that marks the male Dot-tailed whiteface, showing only pale markings restricted to the base of the abdomen.
Questions
Is the Dot-tailed whiteface dangerous to people?
Harmless to people; adults perch low over water and are often seen resting on shoreline plants.
When can you see the Dot-tailed whiteface?
The Dot-tailed whiteface can be seen from May to July, by day.
Plate retouched from a photo by abieticola, CC0, iNaturalist Licence
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Dragonflies and damselflies›Skimmers›Leucorrhinia
Last updated 2026-09-27. Every entry is checked against published sources.