Four-spotted pennant

Appearance

While immatures and females have a brown thorax, in mature males the coloration is blue. Look not only for the four brown wing spots, but also for the white pterostigma on each wing. Legs in this species are black. The face of Brachymesia gravida is black and white; the white areas darken with age.

Naming

Synonym: Lepthemis gravida Calvert, 1890

Distribution

The species occurs in sixteen states in the United States of America (Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia).

Status

B. gravida is widespread and common throughout its range, including many protected areas, and there is no indication of any population decline.

Habitat

Preferred habitat is mostly lakes, often those with relatively low odonate diversity. Also at large coastal marshes in Texas and may be on large drainage canals and artificial lakes. Tolerates high alkalinity and perhaps some salinity.