Odonata14 species

Family Spiketails (Cordulegastridae)

Cordulegastridae is a family in the order Odonata. Browse 14 named species recorded in this family, or open an individual profile for its available identification and natural-history information.

Species in Cordulegastridae (14)

Brown Spiketail

Zoraena bilineata

Identification: Green eyes that nearly touch. Brown thorax and abdomen. Yellow triangles (bluntly pointed) on the abdomen. Two lateral thoracic stripes, in yellow, that are equal in width. Very similar to Delta-Spotted Spiketail, and some experts

Delta-spotted Spiketail

Zoraena diastatops

Identification: Green eyes that almost touch. Dark thorax with two or three yellow lateral thoracic stripes. Abdomen dark with yellow triangular spots.

Twin-Spotted Spiketail

Zoraena maculata

Identification: Adult Recognized by pairs of short yellow dorsal spots on abdomen. Upper face yellow in males, brown in females. Northern Form - North of VA has body black marked with bright yellow, and sea-green eyes. Southern Form - has body brown

Arrowhead Spiketail

Zoraena obliqua

Identification: A series of arrow shaped yellow marks dorsally, on a dark brown/black abdomen. Northern race has green eyes, and southern race has blue eyes. Can be found hunting in fields, or males can be found patrolling over streams.

Sarracenia Spiketail

Zoraena sarracenia

Identification: numerous close-up images and discussion - The Hibbitts Network considered by Louisiana to be a "Species of Greatest Conservation Need" (SGCN)