About Leucorrhinia hudsonica (Selys, 1850)
The Hudsonian whiteface (Leucorrhinia hudsonica) is a dragonfly species in the family Libellulidae. Its common name derives from its occurrence near Hudson Bay. This species is distributed across a range from Alaska to Labrador, and from Hudson Bay down to northern West Virginia. It typically inhabits vegetated ponds, sloughs, sand-bottom lakes, bogs, and fens, with the bogs it occupies located at higher elevations. The naiads of the Hudsonian whiteface live in submerged vegetation. Instead of actively chasing prey, they wait for prey to pass by; this ambush strategy also protects them from other predators. Naiads emerge as adults at night. Records of this species are sparse, but adult flight is believed to occur from late May to mid-August, with flight timing varying across populations. This species hunts from shoreline vegetation, where it perches. Specimens collected from Idaho tend to be larger than specimens found further north within the species' range. In the northern portion of its range, Hudsonian whitefaces are known to swarm over sphagnum bogs. After mating, the male guards the female to prevent other males from mating with her. He guards her by flying above her while she lays eggs, driving away other potential mates and sometimes even dragonflies of other species. The female lays her eggs by dipping the tip of her abdomen into the water while hovering above the water surface.
