The prince baskettail (Epitheca princeps) patrols large rivers and lakes throughout eastern North America. As far as I can tell from limited research, it’s the largest species of emerald dragonfly (family Corduliidae) anywhere on earth!
This species rarely lands and is notoriously wary and difficult to catch, even compared to other large dragonflies with similar flight behavior. E. princeps is quite common, yet this is only the second specimen I’ve ever caught- I only got him because his flight path took him past some tall reeds where I could hide with my net and ambush him
The other one I captured years ago I approached by swimming with just my head above the water to avoid scaring him, and even then I only succeeded when he was distracted by an intense dogfight with a rival.
(Massachusetts, 8/14/25)
