Emeralds
Family Corduliidae
Genus Epitheca
Prince Baskettail (Epitheca princeps)



Similar species – female and immature male Twelve-spotted Skimmer (Libellula pulchella), female Common Whitetail (Plathemis lydia).


Flight season: late May to mid-August.

Population: common. Also encountered along the Moira River at Collin's Point, Drag Lake (west of Tweed), and can often be seen cruising high in the air above the trans-Canada Trail

Length: about 65 mm to 70 mm, males are similar to females. The wing patterns of female and immature male Twelve-spotted Skimmers and female Common Whitetails are superficially similar, however, these two species are shorter and much more robust than the Prince Baskettail.


Vanderwater Conservation Area: Moira River, rock-bottomed with fast flowing water, rapids and emergent rocks, but also quiet pools and backwaters. The shoreline vegetation consists of wooded areas and clearings supporting tall grasses and wildflowers.
Female Prince Baskettail (Epitheca princeps)
June 15, 2014

Female Prince Baskettail (Epitheca princeps), subgenital plates
June 15, 2014


East of Tweed, Ontario, along the trans-Canada Trail: gneiss outcrops with shallow pockets of soil, near a marsh supporting Cattails and sedges, bordered by alder and willow swamp.
Teneral female Prince Baskettail (Epitheca princeps)
May 29, 2015


East of Tweed, Ontario, along the trans-Canada Trail: a large gneiss outcrop, exposed rock, some areas covered with thin soil supporting low drought tolerant grasses, Blueberry, a few Oaks and White Pines.
Immature male Prince Baskettail (Epitheca princeps) – the eyes will turn blue-green with increasing age (June 04, 2015).


Tweed, Ontario, about ½ km west of town, a marsh bordering the trans-Canada Trail: typical local marsh with Cattails, sedges and other emergent vegetation, various small willows, alders, dogwoods and some Tamarack.
Mature male Prince Baskettail (Epitheca princeps)
June 30, 2016


Tweed, Ontario, the north shore Stoco Lake, east of the boat pier: marshy shoreline, relatively shallow water with mud bottom supporting sedges and rushes, pondweeds, Fragrant Water Lily, Blue Flag, Sagittaria spp and Pickerelweed.
Images of a male Prince Baskettail (Epitheca princeps) patrolling its territory (July 06, 2017).



Link to images of Prince Baskettail (Epitheca princeps) exuviae (June 08, 2014).