Eastern amberwing
Males of this dragonfly wiggle their amber wings while perched, moving and looking enough like a stinging wasp to make predators think twice.
| Where | Ponds and slow moving streams |
|---|---|
| Size | 20 to 25 mm body length |
| When | April to September |
The Eastern amberwing is one of the smallest dragonflies in North America, with males showing solid amber-orange wings and females showing wings patterned with brown blotches.
Males perch on waterside plants and defend small territories around ponds and slow streams, often wiggling their wings in a wasp-like display that may discourage predators and rivals.
Traits
Habitat
Wetland
Colour
Orange, Brown, Red
Active
Day
To people
Harmless to people; does not bite or sting.
Activity through the year
Often confused with
Females can look similar with brown-blotched wings, but the Halloween pennant is noticeably larger at about 38 to 42 mm long, well beyond the Eastern amberwing's maximum length of 25 mm.
Questions
Is the Eastern amberwing dangerous to people?
Harmless to people; does not bite or sting.
When can you see the Eastern amberwing?
The Eastern amberwing can be seen from April to September, by day.
Plate retouched from a photo by bradyreed, CC0, iNaturalist Licence
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Dragonflies and damselflies›Skimmers›Perithemis
Last updated 2026-09-26. Every entry is checked against published sources.