General: Striped Meadowhawk Dragonflies (Sympetrum pallipes) are active daytime fliers. Males are recognized by the red abdomen, brown head and thorax, and three pale thoracic stripes on each side (this is the only meadowhawk with a top stripe). The face is white, the wings are clear, and stigma is bi-colored (darker in the center). The base of the wings is red, and there is a bit of black low on the sides of the abdomen. Females are similar, except yellow-orange where males are red.

These active creatures are harmless to humans, but they are voracious predators of small flying insects such as flies and mosquitoes. There are some good places for Watching Dragonflies Around Las Vegas.

Taxonomy: Order Odonata, Suborder Anisoptera, Family Libellulidae.

Where to find: Striped Meadowhawks are common in some areas around Las Vegas. Look for them in the fall at Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge and over in Arizona in the Mojave Desert portion of Grand Canyon - Parashant National Monument.