Common Baskettail vs Mantled Baskettail

Epitheca cynosura compared with Epitheca semiaquea

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common Baskettail	Mantled Baskettail
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Arthropoda (artrópodos)	Arthropoda (artrópodos)
Class same	Insecta (insecto)	Insecta (insecto)
Order same	Odonata (Odonata)	Odonata (Odonata)
Family same	Corduliidae	Corduliidae
Genus same	Epitheca	Epitheca
Species	Epitheca cynosura	Epitheca semiaquea

Evolutionary Relationship

Common Baskettail and Mantled Baskettail share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Epitheca.

Conservation Status

Common Baskettail

LC — Least Concern

Mantled Baskettail

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common Baskettail	Mantled Baskettail
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Common Baskettail

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Found in United States.

Mantled Baskettail

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Common Baskettail

The common baskettail (<em>Epitheca cynosura</em>) is a dragonfly found across terrestrial and freshwater habitats of the United States. It is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, reflecting a stable and widespread population within its native range. <em>Epitheca cynosura</em> belongs to the family Corduliidae and is typically associated with ponds, lakes, marshes, and slow-moving streams, where its aquatic larvae develop. Adults are often observed patrolling over open water and forest edges in search of prey and mates. The species is named for the basket-like egg mass that females carry at the tip of their abdomen before depositing eggs in water. Males often form feeding swarms, particularly in the morning hours, where they capture small flying insects. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.