University of Alberta Museums Search

Males have white faces and a single yellow dorsal dot on the 7th segment of the abdomen. The immature has a yellow marking on the thorax. The female has yellow markings on the abdomen with the same prominent, square dorsal spot on the 7th segment, which is often truncated into a trapezoid. The body varies from 1.1 to 1.3 inches in length. Larvae possess conspicuous epi-cranial protuberances on the frons or vertex.

The immatures live in submerged vegetation. They do not actively pursue prey but wait for it to pass by, a protection strategy. Adults generally fly from early June to early August and emerge at night. This species prefers warmer habitats than most Whitefaces, and is often found sitting on lily pads in heavily vegetated ponds. It hunts from perches on shoreline vegetation. After mating, a male will actively guard a female with whom he has mated by flying above her while she lays her eggs to prevent others from mating her. The female lays her eggs by dipping the tip of her abdomen in the water while hovering just above its surface.Females will oviposit preferentially in shallow water areas above vegetation, to increase the egg-hatching rate.