Many of the Baskettails (Epitheca sp) are notoriously difficult to identify, even in hand. Perhaps the most confusing area for the identification of these species is East Texas, where 5 confusingly similar species co-occur. Usually, the Mantled Baskettail (E. semiaquea) is mostly easily distinguished, with its distinctive hindwing maculation and stout abdomen. Robust Baskettails (E. spinosa) can be distinguished IF the terminal appendages can be seen clearly, as there is a dorsal spine on each. Next is the Common Baskettail (E. cynosura), which occurs in both clear-winged and maculated forms and has a relatively stout abdomen. The Slender Baskettail (E. costalis) is more slender, has no maculations in its wings, a slender abdomen, and relatively straight terminal appendages in males and long appendages in females. The Dot-winged Baskettail (E. petechialis), in its dot-winged form is easily distinguished by the dots on the leading edges of both wings. Unfortunately, it also occurs in a clear-winged form, which can only be distinguished in hand from the Slender Baskettail (E. costalis). In these pages, I have made my best effort to determine species, but this is not always possible with photographs - in fact, many experts would probably suggest that I'm being overly optimistic in some of the identifications presented here. For all individuals which I have been unable to determine species (or make an educated guess), I've created a page for unidentified Baskettails.
The maculated individuals are almost certainly Common Baskettails, as hindwing maculations are not described for baskettails other than Mantled and Commons. The unmaculated individuals from Texas and Louisiana have rather stout abdomens and are very likely Commons. All female specimens presented here have extremely short terminal appendages, characteristic of Common Baskettails.
LOUISIANA: Washington Parish; roadside stream on LA 438, 3.2 mi E jct LA LA 62 - male - April 2012
FLORIDA: Escambia Co; Perdido River at CR 196 near Barrineau Park - female - March 2012
ALABAMA: Baldwin Co; Perdido River near Barrineau Park (FL) - male - March 2012
TENNESSEE: Polk Co; Cherokee National Forest, Chilhowee Campground - female with egg mass - June 2011
TEXAS: Jasper Co; on CR 101, ca 1 mi NW jct FM 2799 - male - April 2010
FLORIDA: Liberty Co; Apalachicola National Forest, southern edge of forest east of New River - males - March 2010
FLORIDA: Liberty Co; Apalachicola National Forest, southern edge of forest east of New River - teneral female - March 2010
FLORIDA: Liberty Co; Apalachicola Bluffs Nature Conservancy Preserve, Garden of Eden Trail - male - March 2010
FLORIDA: Santa Rosa Co; Blackwater State Forest, Big Juniper Creek at CR 191 - male - March 2010
FLORIDA: Walton Co; Choctawhatchee River at FL 20 - females - March 2010
FLORIDA: Walton Co; Choctawhatchee River at FL 20 - teneral male - March 2010
FLORIDA: Santa Rosa Co; Blackwater State Forest, Ates Creek at Norman Riley Road - female - March 2010
LOUISIANA: Grant Parish; Kisatchie National Forest - males - March 2009 (posed)
LOUISIANA: Grant Parish; Kisatchie National Forest - female - March 2009 (posed)
TEXAS: Jasper Co; Angelina National Forest, Bouton Lake - male - March 2009 (posed)
TEXAS: Jasper Co; Angelina National Forest, Bouton Lake - female with egg strings - March 2009