Dragonflies come in a variety of bright, metallic colors like blue, green, and orange. The most common orange dragonflies belong to the genus Libellula. There are several Libellula species that display shades of orange, ranging from a burnt orange hue to a bright neon orange.
The Common Whitetail
One of the most widespread and frequently seen orange dragonflies in North America is the common whitetail (Libellula lydia). As their name suggests, these dragonflies have white markings on their tails, in addition to orange and brown stripes on their wings. The orange color is especially vibrant in young males. Females tend to be a more muted shade of orange-brown.
Common whiteltails are a medium-sized dragonfly, with a wingspan of 2.5-3 inches. They can be found flying over ponds, lakes, and slow streams across most of North America. They are abundant dragonflies and excellent fliers, sometimes even migrating south in large swarms in the fall.
Halloween Pennant
Another orange dragonfly found widely in North America is the Halloween pennant (Celithemis eponina). These dragonflies get their festive name from their bright pumpkin-orange colors. They have brownish-orange wings with yellow veins, and a pale orange abdomen with black stripes. As their name suggests, they are most abundant in fall around Halloween.
Halloween pennants are a small to medium-sized dragonfly, with a wingspan around 2 inches. They can be seen hawking for insects over ponds and marshes in eastern and central North America. Their flight season stretches from mid-summer to late fall.
Orange Bluet
The orange bluet (Enallagma signatum) is a small North American damselfly that lives up to its name, displaying brilliant orange colors. Males are bright orange all over, with black markings on their abdomens. Females are less vibrant, with more of a brownish-orange hue.
Orange bluets are tiny damselflies, with slender bodies and a wingspan of only about 1 inch. They can be found resting on aquatic vegetation near lakes, ponds, and slow streams. Their range stretches across most of North America, except for some northwestern regions.
Neon Skimmer
The neon skimmer (Libellula croceipennis) definitely lives up to its vivid name. This large dragonfly sports day-glow orange stripes down its abdomen, along with orange wing patches. Its wings are primarily clear or lightly tinted amber.
The neon skimmer is one of the larger orange dragonflies, with a wingspan around 4 inches. Its habitat consists of warm ponds, lakes, and slow streams across the southern United States and down into Central America. The brightest individuals are young males.
Flame Skimmer
The aptly named flame skimmer (Libellula saturata) is found in the southernmost United States and throughout Central America. It earns its fiery moniker from the male’s brilliant orange-red wings and body. Females are a paler orange-brown in comparison.
Flame skimmers have stocky orange bodies and a wingspan around 3 inches. They live near warm ponds, lakes, and streams where they hunt smaller flying insects. Their flight season ranges from spring to fall in their tropical habitat.
Orange Shadowdragon
The orange shadowdragon (Neurocordulia yamaskanensis) is a striking orange dragonfly found in the southeastern United States. It has large bright orange patches at the bases of its wings, combined with brownish-orange wingtips.
True to their name, orange shadowdragons have shadowy habits, preferring to fly through shady forests. They live near clear running streams and rivers. With a wingspan up to 3.5 inches, they are a moderate-sized dragonfly.
Orange-striped Threadtail
Threadtails are a group of primitive damselflies in the family Calopterygidae. The orange-striped threadtail (Nososticta solida) is an Australian species marked with vivid orange stripes down its metallic green body.
Threadtails have long, slender damselfly bodies and hold their wings outstretched when at rest. The orange-striped threadtail has a wingspan around 2 inches and frequents streams and rivers in eastern Australia.
Orange-winged Dropwing
The orange-winged dropwing (Trithemis aurora) is a species found across much of sub-Saharan Africa. As its name indicates, it has bright orange patches at the base of its wings. The rest of the wings are clear with black veins.
This large dragonfly grows up to 3 inches long and hunts for small insects over marshes and ponds. The vivid orange wing patches are most prominent in mature males.
Factors Producing Orange Coloration
So what causes the vibrant orange shades seen in many of these dragonfly species? Dragonfly coloration comes from pigments like melanins, carotenoids, and pterins. Orange hues are often produced by pterin pigments called drosopterins.
Drosopterins are synthesized by dragonflies from dietary components. Dragonfly larvae obtain these orange pigment precursors from their aquatic prey, including small crustaceans and the larvae of other insects. This allows the dragonflies to develop their bright orange colors as they grow and mature.
Biological Functions of Orange Coloration
The orange shades displayed by many dragonflies and damselflies serve a variety of biological functions:
- Species recognition – Orange markings help dragonflies identify and select members of their own species.
- Sexual signaling – Orange coloration is often more intense in males and helps attract females.
- Territory defense – Bright colors advertise a dragonfly’s claim to a particular pond or mating territory.
- Predator avoidance – Striking color patterns may warn potential predators that the dragonfly could be toxic or distasteful.
Additionally, the pterin pigments that produce orange wings and bodies may play physiological roles unrelated to color, like enhancing immune function and inhibiting bacterial growth.
Conclusion
Orange coloration is common in a variety of dragonfly species, particularly those in the Libellula genus. Vivid orange hues are produced by pigments called drosopterins and play roles in species recognition, mating, territoriality, and predator avoidance.
Well-known orange dragonflies found in North America include the common whitetail, Halloween pennant, and neon skimmer. Orange threadtails, dropwings, and skimmers can also be found in Australia, Africa, and Central America. Next time you see a brilliant flash of orange near a pond or wetland, keep an eye out and see if you can spot one of these colorful dragonfly species.
