Common Pondhawk Erythemis simplicicollis (Say, 1839)    Synonyms: Eastern Pondhawk.
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Arthropoda   >   Class Insecta   >   Order Odonata   >   Family Libellulidae   >   Genus Erythemis   

Status:

Common Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis) is an abundant, aggressive skimmer widely distributed across eastern North America. This adaptable species can breed in most still or slow-moving bodies of water with emergent vegetation. This species is a rapacious and successful predator of vegetated habitats, often attacking prey as large as itself, commonly including other Odonata. In Maryland, this is one of the most abundant dragonflies, recorded from all counties (Richard Orr's The Dragonflies and Damselflies of Maryland and the District of Columbia).

There are 2,574 records in the project database.

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A female Common Pondhawk in Prince George's Co., Maryland (6/28/2014). Determined by John S. Ascher/BugGuide. Photo by Barbara Thurlow. (MBP list)

A male Common Pondhawk in Montgomery Co., Maryland (7/20/2021). (c) Scot Magnotta, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Scot Magnotta via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A male Common Pondhawk in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (7/31/2010). Determined by Denis A. Douchet/BugGuide. Photo by Bill Harms. (MBP list)

A female Common Pondhawk in Prince George's Co., Maryland (7/7/2018). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

A female Common Pondhawk in Prince George's Co., Maryland (8/30/2020). (c) Jenny Glenn, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Jenny Glenn via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A male Common Pondhawk in Montgomery Co., Maryland (6/13/2021). (c) Scot Magnotta, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Scot Magnotta via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A male Common Pondhawk eating a female Calico Pennant in Dorchester Co., Maryland (8/12/2007). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

A male Common Pondhawk in Frederick Co., Maryland (8/14/2014). Photo by John R. Whitaker. (MBP list)

Common Pondhawk in Baltimore City, Maryland (7/5/2014). Photo by Mike Hudson. (MBP list)

A male Common Pondhawk in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (5/15/2015). Photo by Robert Aguilar, SERC. (MBP list)

A male Common Pondhawk in Baltimore City, Maryland (7/13/2006). Photo by Thomas Wilson. (MBP list)

A female Common Pondhawk caught by a Spatula-leaved Sundew in Worcester Co., Maryland (7/26/2008). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

Common Pondhawk in Wicomico Co., Maryland (7/28/2019). Photo by Wayne Longbottom. (MBP list)

Common Pondhawk in Baltimore Co., Maryland (6/12/2020). (c) Emily L. Stanley, all rights reserved. Photo by Emily Stanley. (MBP list)

A female Common Pondhawk in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (5/15/2015). Photo by Robert Aguilar, SERC. (MBP list)

A Common Pondhawk in Charles Co., Maryland (9/12/2016). Photo by William Wise. (MBP list)

A female Common Pondhawk preying on a Halloween Pennant in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (7/15/2012). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

A female Common Pondhawk feasting on a Blue Dasher in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (7/21/2013). Photo by Richard Orr. (MBP list)

Common Pondhawk in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (7/23/2021). (c) Mel, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by archifist via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Common Pondhawk in Prince George's Co., Maryland (6/16/2013). (c) 116916927065934112165, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA). Photo by Matt Muir via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A male Common Pondhawk in Howard Co., Maryland (8/22/2012). Photo by Bonnie Ott. (MBP list)

A female Common Pondhawk in Baltimore Co., Maryland (6/19/2013). Photo by Benjamin DeHaven. (MBP list)

Common Pondhawk in Washington Co., Maryland (7/11/2020). (c) jugbayjs, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by jugbayjs via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A female Common Pondhawk in Baltimore City, Maryland (8/31/2014). Photo by Wendy J. Alexander, Ph.D. (MBP list)

A Common Pondhawk preying on an Eastern Amberwing in Calvert Co., Maryland (9/1/2019). Photo by Jason Avery. (MBP list)

Common Pondhawk in Montgomery Co., Maryland (7/15/2022). (c) Lindsay D. Loyd, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Lindsay D. Loyd via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A female Common Pondhawk preying on a Needham's Skimmer in Dorchester Co., Maryland (7/12/2022). (c) Lindsay D. Loyd, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Lindsay D. Loyd via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Common Pondhawk in Prince George's Co., Maryland (7/5/2021). (c) Lindsay D. Loyd, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Lindsay D. Loyd via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Common Pondhawks in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (7/13/2019). (c) Timothy Reichard, all rights reserved. Photo by Timothy Reichard. (MBP list)

A female Common Pondhawk with prey in St. Mary's Co., Maryland (8/14/2022). (c) rosalie-rick, all rights reserved. Photo by rosalie-rick via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Common Pondhawk in Prince George's Co., Maryland (7/30/2020). No rights reserved. Photo by Sam Droege. (MBP list)

A female Common Pondhawk with Cabbage White prey in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (5/28/2022). (c) Lindsay D. Loyd, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Lindsay D. Loyd via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A male Common Pondhawk in Prince George's Co., Maryland (5/17/2014). Verified by Larry de March/BugGuide. Photo by Mark Etheridge. (MBP list)

Common Pondhawk in Kent Co., Maryland (6/8/2019). (c) Judy Gallagher, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Judy Gallagher. (MBP list)

A female Common Pondhawk with damselfly prey in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (5/28/2022). (c) Lindsay D. Loyd, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Lindsay D. Loyd via iNaturalist. (MBP list)


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