![](https://www.tumblr.com/widgets/share/tool?posttype=photo&canonicalUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.photos.opusgroup.us%2Fcontent%2Fcommon%2F&content=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.photos.opusgroup.us%2Fstorage%2Fcache%2Fimages%2F001%2F262%2F200626-COVID-Spring-June-2020-027%2Flarge.1593988014.jpg&caption=%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%3Ca href="http%3A%2F%2Fwww.photos.opusgroup.us%2Fcontent%2Fcommon%2F" title="Common Whitetail Skimmer (Plathemis lydia)"%3ECommon Whitetail Skimmer (Plathemis lydia)%3C/a%3E%3C/strong%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EJuvenile+male+Common+White+Skimmer+males+develop+a+white+powdery+substance+on+the+abdomen+called+pruinosity+%E2%80%93+this+can+be+seen+on+other+dragonflies%2C+such+as+the+blue+substance+on+the+Blue+Dasher+in+these+photos.+The+long+abdomen+is+used+to+defend+territory+against+intruding+males.+Females+and+juvenile+males+have+a+brown+abdomen.+However%2C+the+females+can+be+differentiated+from+the+males+by+the+number+of+ark+areas+on+the+wings+%E2%80%93+two+in+males+and+three+in+females.+Eggs+are+laid+in+the+water+and+hatch+into+naiads+in+which+stage+they+may+spend+years+growing+before+they+molt+into+winged+adulthood+and+a+land-based+life.+An+interesting+factoid+-+male+dragonflies+have+extensive+flight+muscles+used+to+fight+off+other+males+in+order+to+be+more+successful+in+breeding+and+the+majority+of+male+Plathemis+lydia+body+mass+is+accounted+for+by+flight+muscle.+As+a+result%2C+they+have+one+of+the+highest+flight-muscle+mass%2Fbody+weight%29+among+animals.%3C/p%3E){kind=link}
Common Whitetail Skimmer (Plathemis lydia)
Juvenile male Common White Skimmer males develop a white powdery substance on the abdomen called pruinosity – this can be seen on other dragonflies, such as the blue substance on the Blue Dasher in these photos. The long abdomen is used to defend territory against intruding males. Females and juvenile males have a brown abdomen. However, the females can be differentiated from the males by the number of ark areas on the wings – two in males and three in females. Eggs are laid in the water and hatch into naiads in which stage they may spend years growing before they molt into winged adulthood and a land-based life. An interesting factoid - male dragonflies have extensive flight muscles used to fight off other males in order to be more successful in breeding and the majority of male Plathemis lydia body mass is accounted for by flight muscle. As a result, they have one of the highest flight-muscle mass/body weight) among animals.