Bug FAQLilypad Whiteface
Leucorrhinia caudalis · Order: Odonata · Family: Libellulidae
Also called: Dainty White-faced Darter
The lilypad whiteface is a large dragonfly with a broad clubtail and males have dark bodies with white on the face, abdomen and wing tips. It lives in swamps, lakes and other forest water bodies rich in water-lilies, ranging from central Siberia to western Europe. Larvae develop for up to three years in cold regions and adults are most common in June, flying from mid-May to early August.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
It is a large species that is easy to identify because of its broad clubtail.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It inhabits swamps, freshwater lakes and other aquatic sites in forests, such as ponds, pools, peat excavations and water bodies with abundant Nymphaea and Nuphar lilies.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Exuviae are left on vegetation near the water, and the larvae have large spines that let them survive in fish-rich waters.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Larval development can take up to three years in Scandinavia but usually only one year in warmer areas.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are on the wing from mid-May to early August, with peak numbers in June.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its Palearctic range stretches from central Siberia westward to Europe.
Source: Wikipedia
More photos
Questions people ask
When can I expect to see adult lilypad whitefaces?
Adults fly from mid-May through early August, most commonly in June.
Source: Wikipedia
How long do the larvae stay in the water?
Larval development may last up to three years in cold northern regions but typically only one year where it is warmer.
Source: Wikipedia
What habitats should I look in to find them?
Search swamps, lakes, ponds, pools and other forest water bodies that have abundant water-lilies.
Source: Wikipedia
What do the larvae look like in their environment?
Their shed skins (exuviae) are left on nearby vegetation, and the larvae have large spines that help them survive in fish-rich waters.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Libellulidae)
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leucorrhinia_caudalis
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-24 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-23.