Diet

• Erythrodiplax funerea is a predatory dragonfly. Adults capture small flying insects, generally making short flights from low perches to intercept prey.

• The aquatic larvae are also predators, feeding on small aquatic invertebrates and insect larvae.

Range

• The Black-winged Dragonlet ranges from the southern United States through Mexico and Central America to Colombia and Ecuador. It is widespread in Mexico, with records from Guerrero, Jalisco, Colima, Oaxaca and numerous other states.

• Erythrodiplax funerea is also recorded in the Zihuatanejo area, where it is associated with the local wetlands and seasonally abundant during the rainy season.

Habitat

• It favours quiet or slow-moving freshwater, including temporary ponds, permanent ponds, marshes, pools and small streams. It is particularly associated with emergent and waterside vegetation.

• Adults commonly perch on the tips of grasses and low stems around pools and other wetlands, often holding their wings noticeably open. They may also move away from the water to forage in surrounding fields and vegetation.

• Around Zihuatanejo, suitable habitat includes seasonal pools, ponds, marshes, lagoons and wet areas associated with tropical dry forest and coastal vegetation.

Description

• Erythrodiplax funerea is a small to medium-sized dragonfly with a dark body. Mature males are generally dark grey to black, often developing a brownish pruinescent coating, while females are usually brown.

• The most distinctive feature is the extensive dark brown to black colouring of the wings. In males, the dark area extends from the wing base to approximately halfway between the nodus and the pterostigma; females are more variable and may have less extensive wing markings.

• Young individuals can be considerably lighter and may be confused with other Erythrodiplax. With maturity, males become progressively darker and develop the characteristic wing pattern.

• The species is readily recognised in the field by its dark body, strongly marked wings and habit of perching on low vegetation around freshwater.