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Have you seen any little red dragonflies around?![]()
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You’ll probably only see one type of dragonfly this late in the season, the autumn meadowhawk is unique in that way. These dragonflies start as naiads in spring, hatching from eggs laid in the water. It takes until July for them to complete their partial metamorphosis and become dragonflies, which is much later than most other dragonfly species. ![]()
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As young adults, autumn meadowhawks are yellow, they don’t achieve their iconic red coloration until they reach full maturity in August and September. They can be found late into the fall, up until the first hard freeze, thanks to the time they spend basking in the sun. Autumn meadowhawks sunbathe on warm, sunny days to collect heat that helps get them through colder fall days. Due to how late these dragonflies are active, they make a perfect snack for birds as they migrate south for the winter. ![]()
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Another unique aspect of the autumn meadowhawk is that they don’t spend nearly as much time around the water as other dragonflies. They enjoy wooded areas, spending much of their time away from the water until it's time to lay their eggs. Autumn meadowhawks aren’t territorial like other dragonflies, which often leads to multiple pairs laying their eggs at the same site.![]()
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The autumn meadowhawk has yellowish-brown legs, unlike most meadowhawks that have black legs. They used to be known as the yellow-legged meadowhawk until its name was changed in 2004. This change was made because the legs on mature adults appear more brown, causing confusion for many people trying to identify the species. ![]()
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What signs of fall do you see? Visit us for a hike or take a walk around your neighborhood looking for cyclical events influenced by seasonal changes. ![]()
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Photo: Stephanie Briand, Aldo Leopold Nature Center![]()
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