Striped Meadowhawk

At the Darlin Creek Preserve south of Olympia on 11 August 2020, Erika and I saw a half dozen Striped Meadowhawks. This individual is a female, quite yellow unlike her scarlet mate. An older female’s abdomen may become bright red. This dragonfly is found across much of the western United States up into southwestern Canada. It is very common in the Pacific Northwest. We have seen many this July, including in Erika’s garden. In late July I photographed a bright male near our home.