East of Tweed, near a patch of wildflowers along Lakeview Lane (44.478429°, -77.301881°) – my third sighting of a Saffron-winged Meadowhawk this year (the other two were at Dry Lake, south of Marlbank). Sympetrum costiferum is larger – this individual measured 38 mm – and darker than the average Sympetrum apt to be encountered in our area, and it has a habit of perching on the ground.
As with other Sympetrum, the female Saffron-winged Meadowhawks is orange (compare to the red abdomen and brown thorax of the male).
The veins along the leading edges of the wings are saffron colored and the pterostigmata are long and pale orange.
Closeups of the face ...
... and its genital plate, a part of the dragonfly's anatomy that is unique and distinctive for each species.
