It is a migratory species and is native to North, Central and South America, travelling widely and breeding in temporary water bodies.

The general body color is brown, and females and immatures have a diagonal white marking on the thorax.

[3] There is a small dark brown spot at the base of the hindwings which distinguishes this species from the otherwise similar wandering glider (Pantala flavescens).

[4] The spot-winged glider is a widespread and common species in the New World, occurring in North, Central and South America.

As it gets darker, predation decreases due to the importance of visual stimuli in the ability of P. hymenaea to detect its prey.