This week, our featured species is the Dot-tailed Whiteface! Pictured here, a male prominently shows off his eponymous white face and yellow dot, near the end of his abdomen. Like all dragonflies, Dot-tailed Whitefaces belong to the Order known as Odonata (Odonates in English) which includes Damselflies and means the “toothed ones” in Latin. Abundant throughout July and August, Dot-tailed Whitefaces are commonly found at Murphys Point, especially while conducting odonate surveys around bogs, marshes, ponds, and lakes with volunteer, Bev Edwards. As a member of the Skimmer (Libellulidae) family, they are often found perched on aquatic vegetation. Interestingly, after a pair of Dot-tailed Whitefaces mate, the male hovers above the female to protect her, ensuring that no other males have the opportunity to mate with her before she has laid his eggs. Come to the park some time to check out what other insects may be flying around!