Dragonflies are fascinating insects that have been around for over 300 million years. Some species have striking color patterns on their wings that resemble those of tigers and other wild cats. In this article, we’ll explore dragonflies with tiger-like markings, discussing their appearance, habitats, and behavior.
The Tiger Dragonfly
One dragonfly species renowned for its tiger-like wings is the Tiger Dragonfly (Coenagrion bellona). This dragonfly is found in parts of Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The wings of the male Tiger Dragonfly have black stripes over a yellowish-orange background, closely resembling the pattern of a tiger. The stripes help camouflage the dragonfly against reedy backgrounds near the ponds and lakes it inhabits.
The female Tiger Dragonfly has a similar striped pattern, but her background wing color is olive green rather than orange. This provides camouflage when the female is perching on vegetation near water. Both the male and female have striking greenish-blue eyes and a metallic green thorax. The Tiger Dragonfly is a small to medium sized dragonfly, with adults reaching 1.5-2 inches (4-5 cm) in length.
The Halloween Pennant
Another dragonfly said to resemble a winged tiger is the Halloween Pennant (Celithemis eponina), found throughout much of North America. This dragonfly gets its name from its orange and black striped wings, resembling the colors of Halloween. The wing pattern provides excellent camouflage when the dragonfly is at rest among vegetation.
The Halloween Pennant perches with its wings outspread, allowing the striped pattern to blend in with the play of light and shadows. Groups of dozens or even hundreds of these dragonflies may gather near ponds in the fall, making an impressive sight when they all take flight together. Both the male and female have similar coloration. The Halloween Pennant grows up to 2 inches (5 cm) long.
The Red-veined Darter
The Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii) is a striking dragonfly found in parts of Europe and the Middle East. The male has bright crimson wing veins contrasting with black wing bases. This creates a barred effect somewhat reminiscent of a tiger’s stripes. The wing tips are clear. Females have brown rather than red wing veins.
Red-veined Darters frequent ponds, lakes, and slow streams, perching on vegetation near the water. The adults are medium-sized, reaching about 1.6 inches (4 cm) long. They are strong fliers and fiercely territorial, chasing away intruders from their preferred perches. The bold reddish wing veins of the male make this dragonfly very easy to identify.
The Striped Shadowdragon
Native to Australia, the Striped Shadowdragon (Pantala flavescens) is an aptly named species with striking tiger-striped wings. The thorax and abdomen are also striped black and yellow. The yellow stripes match the background color of the dragonfly’s wings. This pattern helps provide camouflage against swaying stems of vegetation when the Shadowdragon is perched.
The Striped Shadowdragon frequents lakes, ponds, and slow streams across much of Australia. Adults grow up to 2.4 inches (6 cm) in length. They are strong, agile fliers and migrate long distances across Australia in massive swarms. The migratory habits of this tiger-striped species are still not fully understood.
Tiger-striped Skimmers
Several species of skimmers in the dragonfly genus Orthetrum have wings that resemble faint tiger stripes. These include the Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma) from Africa, the Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria) from southern Europe, and the Black-shouldered Skimmer (Orthetrum melania) from Australia.
The stripes are formed by subtle brownish veins contrasting with pale yellow wing panels. The effect is subtler than in some other tiger-patterned dragonflies but creates a neat barred pattern when the wings are spread. As with other striped dragonflies, the patterning helps provide camouflage when the insects are perched among vegetation near water.
Advantages of Tiger-like Markings
The striking tiger-like stripes and patterns seen in these dragonflies serve an important purpose. When perched, the striped wings can blend into the similarly striped shadows and shifting patches of sunlight filtering through plants like reeds and grasses near water. This helps camouflage the dragonflies from potential predators.
If danger approaches, the stripes can also suddenly flash into visibility as a dragonfly takes flight, startling or confusing predators. Some dragonflies may also be mimicking the bold black and yellow/orange warning coloration of venomous or unpalatable insects like wasps and bees. Various studies suggest bird predators learn to avoid prey with this kind of coloration pattern.
Habitats
Dragonflies with tiger patterns occupy similar habitats. They frequent ponds, lakes, marshes, wetlands, and slow-moving streams that provide good perching vegetation like reeds near calm, sunny waters. Adults spend much of their time perched near water, sometimes gathering in large groups. But they periodically take flight to hunt small insects over the water or chase away intruders from their perch sites.
Mating may also take place on the wing over water bodies. Females later deposit their eggs directly into water, either alone or in tandem with a male. Once hatched, the aquatic nymph stages cling to underwater plants and hunt small prey as they grow, before eventually metamorphosing into the winged adult.
| Species | Locations | Size | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tiger Dragonfly | Europe, Asia, Middle East | 1.5-2 inches | Black and orange striped wings in male, green and black in female |
| Halloween Pennant | North America | Up to 2 inches | Orange and black striped wings |
| Red-veined Darter | Europe, Middle East | About 1.6 inches | Red and black wing veins in male |
| Striped Shadowdragon | Australia | Up to 2.4 inches | Black and yellow striped wings, thorax, and abdomen |
| Tiger-striped Skimmers | Africa, Europe, Australia | Varies by species | Faintly striped wings in brown and yellow |
Behavior
Dragonflies with tiger-like markings exhibit behavior typical of other dragonfly species. Adults are voracious aerial hunters despite their delicate appearance, catching mosquitoes, flies, and other small insects on the wing. They may migrate long distances in massive swarms (as seen in the Striped Shadowdragon).
Dragonflies with tiger patterning are strongly territorial. They will aggressively chase other dragonflies or animals away that approach their favored perch sites near water. However, they are harmless to humans and large animals, lacking the ability to sting or bite.
Males frequently clash together in intense aerial contests over desirable territories. The winner gets prime real estate for finding mates, while the loser is driven away. Females may be harassed by unwanted male suitors. Unreceptive females may take drastic evasive measures, even submerging underwater, to escape overenthusiastic males.
Life Stages
Like other dragonflies, tiger-patterned species undergo incomplete metamorphosis with distinct nymph and adult stages. Eggs are laid by adult females directly into water sources like ponds. Once hatched, nymphs live underwater, feeding on small aquatic prey like mosquito larvae.
Nymphs pass through a series of developmental stages over a period of months to years before finally metamorphosing into the adult dragonfly form. The winged adult then emerges from the water and takes up life in terrestrial habitats near water. After reaching sexual maturity in a few days or weeks, the brief adult stage focuses on reproduction before the dragonflies die after just several weeks or months of life.
Conclusion
While not as fearsome as their namesake tigers, dragonflies bearing tiger-like stripes and patterns are fascinating insects. Their wing markings serve as camouflage near water while also possibly warding off certain predators. These agile fliers occupy diverse ecosystems but share preferences for calm waters with good perches.
Though superficially delicate, they are voracious hunters with complex behaviors around territoriality and mating. Next time you spot a Halloween Pennant or Striped Shadowdragon patrolling the water’s edge, take a moment to appreciate its subtle tiger mimicking strategies!