Prince Baskettail

Epitheca princeps

The name 'Baskettail' comes from the way females carry their egg mass in a rounded cluster at the end of their abdomen, resembling a small basket.

Scientific name: Epitheca princeps
Taxonomy: Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Odonata › Corduliidae › Epitheca
IUCN Red List status: Least Concern
Population trend: stable
Biome: wetland
Habitat: Lakes, large ponds, and slow-moving rivers with plentiful emergent vegetation.
Diet: Carnivorous; feeds on flying insects including mosquitoes, midges, and small moths.
Range: Eastern United States, Southeastern Canada, Midwestern United States
Size: 70-80 mm in length with a wingspan up to 100 mm
Lifespan: 1-2 years (mostly as aquatic nymphs; 4-8 weeks as flying adults)
Active: diurnal
Threats: Water pollution, pesticide runoff, and loss of freshwater wetland habitats.
Safe to approach?: Harmless. These dragonflies do not bite or sting humans. Maintain a respectful distance to observe their aerial acrobatics without startling them; avoid handling as their wings are highly fragile.

Epitheca princeps , the prince baskettail , is a species of emerald dragonfly in the family Corduliidae. It is found in North America.

Photo: John Rosford, CC-BY, via iNaturalist