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PALE-FACED
CLUBSKIMMER
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Brechmorhoga
mendax
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Pale-faced Clubskimmer is an
enigmatic cruiser over rapids and riffles in fast-flowing foothill
streams. It is currently known from Monterey County by a single record
(shown here).
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Manolis (2003) has a fine description of this
southwestern species: "These have been described as among the most
graceful of our dragonflies. In late morning, males cruise regular
beats low over streams, foraging, waiting for females, and chasing
intruders. They seem in continual motion, never stopping to sit on
sunny rocks as a clubtail would."
So far, Pale-faced Clubskimmer has been found only
once in the county: on 5 Aug 2006 over the Arroyo Seco River, adjacent
to Arroyo Seco Campground (Don Roberson, Rita Carratello). The photos
on this page are of that male as it patrolled a long territory over the
swift-flowing river. [It was no easy task obtaining these flight
shots!]
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(expanded abdominal segments 7 through 9), as do members of the family
Gomphidae. But gomphids (clubtails, ringtails, snaketails etc.) do not
have eyes that touch each other, as does this Clubskimmer, which is in
the skimmer family Libellulidae. It is a fast-moving clear-winged
dragonfly with a large white spot on segment 7, a gray thorax with two
white stripes, dark eyes, and a pale face. Females are similar but lack
the 'clubbed' tip to the abdomen. |
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 The map shows the only location currently
known for Pale-faced Clubskimmer: the Arroyo Seco River near Arroyo
Seco Campground.
The only MTY record to date was in early
August. Elsewhere in California, flight dates range from April to
October (Manolis 2003).
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Literature cited:
- Manolis, T. 2003. Dragonflies and Damselflies of
California. Univ. of
Calif.
Press, Berkeley.
Web resources:
Major identification web sites with much information on California
odes include:
For sites with excellent photos to compare for identification or to
simply
enjoy, see:
Many of these sites have links to other useful pages. Kathy Biggs's
site
is particularly useful in her selection of links. |
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All photos © Don Roberson 2007
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