Cherry-faced Meadowhawk
Sympetrum internum Montgomery, 1943
Cherry-faced Meadowhawk: https://marylandbiodiversity.com/species/751
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Cherry-faced Meadowhawk (Sympetrum internum) is a widespread northern species, and a member of a very difficult complex of similar species (with Ruby Meadowhawk and White-faced Meadowhawk) showing black legs and with lateral black triangular abdominal markings. Mature males, and older females show a crimson color to the abdomen. More western populations of internum are generally distinct, with a red face, and pale basal wings veins, while the ones in the east often have reduced pale wing veins, and a brownish or tan face. Hamule shape of the males, or subgenital plate shape on females, is one of the more reliable ways to distinguish the species. There is some evidence that hybridization may occur between species in this complex in some regions, and intermediate individuals are sometimes encountered. Northeastern populations with subtly different hamule shape and tan faces are called "Jane's Meadowhawk" (Sympetrum janae) by some odonatologists, but it is widely held these are an eastern form of internum, or represent character introgression or hybridization with rubicundulum. The situation is complex, and has not been resolved (Paulson, 2011). Richard Orr (The Dragonflies and Damselflies of Maryland and the District of Columbia) considers internum to be historic in Montgomery Co., and individuals fitting description of 'janae' are known from a handful of valley-and-ridge and piedmont counties.

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Source: Wikipedia

Sympetrum internum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Infraorder: Anisoptera
Family: Libellulidae
Genus: Sympetrum
Species:
S. internum
Binomial name
Sympetrum internum
Montgomery, 1943

Sympetrum internum, the cherry-faced meadowhawk, is a dragonfly of the genus Sympetrum. It is found across northern and central United States and most of Canada, including southern portions of the Yukon and Northwest Territories. Its abdomen is brown, turning dark red at maturity in both sexes. The sides of the abdomen are marked with black triangles and the legs are black.[2][page needed] Some females have amber in basal areas of their wings. As their name suggests, faces are dark red when mature.[3][page needed] Size: 21–36 mm (0.83–1.42 in).[4] This species overlaps with and is difficult to distinguish from the ruby, saffron-winged, and white-faced meadowhawks.[3]

Similar species

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References

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  1. ^ Paulson, D.R. (2017). "Sympetrum internum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T164978A65822899. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T164978A65822899.en. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  2. ^ Mead, Kurt (2009). Dragonflies of the North Woods, Second Edition. Duluth, MN:Kollath+Stensaas Publ. ISBN 978-0979200656
  3. ^ a b Dunkle, S.W., Dragonflies through Binoculars: A Field Guide to Dragonflies of North America. New York:Oxford University Press, 2000. ISBN 0195112687
  4. ^ Sympetrum internum (cherry-faced meadowhawk), Digital Atlas of Idaho
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