Dragonflies and Damselflies

Order Odonata

The Dragonflies and Damselflies (Order Odonata) includes 510 species across 18 families and 97 genera in our directory.

About Dragonflies and Damselflies

Odonata includes ~6,000 described species of dragonflies and damselflies. Dragonflies are among the fastest flying insects, reaching 36 mph (58 km/h). They can fly in any direction including backward, and hover in place - each wing operates independently.

Economic Impact

Dragonflies are voracious predators that consume hundreds of mosquitoes daily, providing natural pest control worth millions in reduced mosquito-borne disease risk. A single dragonfly can eat 30 to hundreds of mosquitoes per day.

Ecological Role

Dragonflies predate dinosaurs by nearly 100 million years - fossils date to 325 million years ago. The largest dragonfly ancestor, Meganeuropsis permiana (285 mya), had a 75cm wingspan, enabled by atmospheric oxygen levels of 31-35% compared to today's 21%. Dragonflies have a 95% hunting success rate - the highest of any predator.

Families in Odonata (18)

Species in Odonata (510)

Oklahoma Clubtail

Phanogomphus oklahomensis

Gomphidae

Considered by Oklahoma to be a "Species of Greatest Conservation Need" (SGCN) The author of the species, A. Earl Pritchard, was from Stillwater, Oklahoma, and he would have been just 20 years old when he described this species (Essig Museum, Pritchar

Orange Bluet

Enallagma signatum

Coenagrionidae

Identification: Orange and black, medium-sized. Note that segment 9 is all orange and orange eyespots connected, forming a bar . Very similar to Florida Bluet, Enallagma pollutum --can be distinguished by details of male cerci, see:

Orange-striped Threadtail

Protoneura cara

Protoneuridae

Identification: Eyes red-orange on the upper half; face bright orange with a black central spot; top of head black; thorax is black with a metallic lustre, with a thin dorsal stripe and shoulder stripe, both orange, and a lower lateral pale stripe; S

Pacific Forktail

Ischnura cervula

Coenagrionidae

Identification: abdomen blue only on segments 8 & 9 -- blue on top and bottom touch along sides. Four tiny blue dots on top of thorax. teneral: See California Dragonflies and Damselflies or Dennis Paulson Andromorphic females will have a blue 8th abd

Painted Skimmer

Libellula semifasciata

Libellulidae

Identification: Resembles a Halloween Pennant with very faint pattern, but this is distinctive, once seen. A subtly beautiful skimmer.

Pale Bluet

Enallagma pallidum

Coenagrionidae

Identification: Very similar to Attenuated (E. daeckii) and Slender (E. traviatum) bluets. Very pale, and very faintly marked with black. Abdominal segment 7 black in males, partly blue in male Attenuated Bluets. Abdominal segment 2 has full-length b

Pin-tailed Pondhawk

Erythemis plebeja

Libellulidae

Identification: Mature males with abdominal segments 1 - 3 black and very swollen, while 4 - 10 are very slender. Possibly introduced to Florida by human activities . Texas populations more likely natural.

Plains Forktail

Ischnura damula

Coenagrionidae

Identification: Ischnura damula and I. cervula are very similar and we may not be able to separate them when examining images here on BugGuide. At present all images from the areas where their ranges overlap (Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, and

Powdered Dancer

Argia moesta

Coenagrionidae

Identification: Identification reference, Dunkle, Damselflies of Florida (Scientific Publishers, 1990), figure 59. Guide TBA--PC

Prince Baskettail

Epitheca princeps

Corduliidae

Identification: Flies constantly. Wing pattern resembles that of some skimmer, but narrow body shape is distinctive. Wings held in a slight dihedral (V) while flying. Larger in south, up to 8 cm, as large as a Darner. Typically seen as a male patroll

Pronghorn Clubtail

Phanogomphus graslinellus

Gomphidae

Identification: face greenish-yellow, scarcely marked with brown; thorax green with well-defined dorsal and lateral stripes; middorsal thoracic stripe parallel-sided; antehumeral stripe largely fused with humeral stripe, but diverging at upper end an

Purple Skimmer

Libellula jesseana

Libellulidae

Identification: Males have a purplish body and orange wings. Some females are similar, others are virtually identical to Golden-winged Skimmers ( L. auripennis ).

Rambur's Forktail

Ischnura ramburii

Coenagrionidae

Identification: The completely blue abdominal segment 8 (A8) in males appears to be diagnostic. Male-like female with blue (A8) is also diagnostic. The two other female forms are not readily separable from other species. The females do have a strong

Red-eyed Damselfly

Erythromma najas

Coenagrionidae

This species is quite a large and robust damselfly, with distinctive 'bug-eyed' look. Adult males have blood-red eyes and tend to rest on floating vegetation. They are very territorial and chase off any other encroaching male. When newly emerged they

Red-mantled Dragonlet

Erythrodiplax fervida

Libellulidae

First US record taken at the National Butterfly Center in Mission, TX. -- Rick Nirschl on 19 December, 2012

Red-veined Darter

Sympetrum fonscolombii

Libellulidae

Length: 38 to 40 mm.The bright red males and clear yellow-brown females are attractive. The eyes are brown above and blue below and the wing bases are yellow. The pterostigma is yellow to orange strongly outlined in black. The males become a deep red

Ruby Meadowhawk

Sympetrum rubicundulum

Libellulidae

Identification: Males may be recognizable by shape of hamuli, but see comments by Steve here . rubicundulum and internum may be conspecific; see HERE

Ruddy Darter

Sympetrum sanguineum

Libellulidae

A medium-sized dragonfly. Males are crimson red, females are ochre. The abdomen is slightly 'waisted'. Both sexes have all black legs (other red darters have a yellow stripe). The Ruddy Darter is slightly smaller than the Common Darter with a 'waiste

Russet-tipped Clubtail

Stylurus plagiatus

Gomphidae

Identification: Greenish thorax, rusty club, green eyes. See print references for discussion, note geographic variation.

Rusty Snaketail

Ophiogomphus rupinsulensis

Gomphidae

Identification: Mostly brownish abdomen with sparse thoracic striping. Thorax looks entirely green from a distance. Male Female

Sarracenia Spiketail

Zoraena sarracenia

Cordulegastridae

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

Scarce Chaser

Libellula fulva

Libellulidae

Length: 40 to 49mm. The abdomen of the mature male Scarce Chaser is pale blue. Its eyes are also blue. However, prior to maturity the male and female look very similar having deep orange colouration, black triangular shaped markings on the upper surf

Seaside Dragonlet

Erythrodiplax berenice

Libellulidae

Identification: Dragonlet found in salt-marsh habitats. Mature male is very dark. Female has much more yellow, but also has "male-like form". Habitat is distinctive. The only dragonfly (Western Hemisphere) restricted to salt-marsh habitats.

Sedge Sprite

Nehalennia irene

Coenagrionidae

Identification: Thicker than sphagnum sprite. Metallic green body with blue tip and yellow thorax. See Ed Lam page 88

Slender Bluet

Enallagma traviatum

Coenagrionidae

Identification: Abdominal segments 8 and 9 blue. Male has abdominal segment 10 black, with long appendages. Female has segment 10 blue. Middle segments black with blue rings. Large blue eyespots connected by narrow bar. Black shoulder stripes narrow.

Slender Spreadwing

Lestes rectangularis

Lestidae

Identification: Wide gray shoulder stripe on female, abdomen dark with tan along sides. Male has very long dark abdomen, about twice as long as wings, usually lacks pruinosity at tip.

Slough Amberwing

Perithemis domitia

Libellulidae

Identification: Distinguished from the much more common and widespread Eastern Amberwing ( P. tenera ) by the dorsal abdominal pattern, where the dashes on each segment line up to form a straight dashed line (rather than the chevrons or triangles of

Small Red-eyed Damselfly

Erythromma viridulum

Coenagrionidae

Length: 29mm. A small damselfly with a dark abdomen and a blue tip in the male. The eyes of the male are brownish red and the thorax in both sexes is bronze black on top. The female has complete, thin green or blue ante-humeral lines. Very similar to

Smoky Rubyspot

Hetaerina titia

Calopterygidae

Identification: Dark damselfly, males typically with some red in wings, though it could be obscured by darker infuscation. Females have varying amounts of color in the wings. Normal male Lightly marked male Female

Sooty Dancer

Argia lugens

Coenagrionidae

Identification: detailed description in females: blue form and brown form

Southern Hawker

Aeshna cyanea

Aeshnidae

This is a large hawker. Usually males are black with large apple green spots on the abdomen and with blue markings on the last two segments and along the sides of the abdomen. Thorax sides are largely bright green, as is the face, with blue eyes. Fem

Sparkling Jewelwing

Calopteryx dimidiata

Calopterygidae

Identification: Male has dark wingtips. Female usually has clear wings with white spot, though that is sometimes absent. Female sometimes has dark wingtips as well. Male Female

Spatterdock Darner

Rhionaeschna mutata

Aeshnidae

"Females oviposit on the undersides of spatterdock leaves, in other aquatic and emergent vegetation, and in shoreline mud."

Spine-tipped Dancer

Argia extranea

Coenagrionidae

Identification: Male has distinctive saddle-shaped black mark on side of abdominal segment 2.

Spiny Baskettail

Epitheca spinigera

Corduliidae

Identification: · See Also Representative Images Classification Kingdom Animalia (Animals) Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods) Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods) Class Insecta (Insects) Order Odonata (Dragonflies and Damselfl

Spot-tailed Dasher

Micrathyria aequalis

Libellulidae

Identification: All blue darkening on the last 4 or 5 segments, spot on the sides of segment 7 See Dunkle

Spotted Spreadwing

Lestes congener

Lestidae

Identification: Two black spots on the ventrolateral surface of the thorax are diagnostic and give the species its common name; thorax black dorsally.

Springtime Darner

Basiaeschna janata

Aeshnidae

Identification: Males have brown thorax with two relatively straight yellow lateral thoracic stripes. Eyes generally blue. Abdomen spotted with blue. Female similar but abdominal spots may be blue or green.

St. Croix Snaketail

Ophiogomphus susbehcha

Gomphidae

Discovered on the upper St. Croix River in Wisconsin in 1989 by William A. Smith, a zoologist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Natural Heritage Inventory Program (Brody, 1997; Seitz, 2020).

Stillwater Clubtail

Arigomphus lentulus

Gomphidae

Identification: The two brown shoulder stripes are about the same size. Thorax is a muted yellowish green. From abdominal segements 3 to 6 there are pale rings, and this part of the abdomen looks unusually pale at first glance. Segments 7 to 9 are a

Straw-Colored Sylph

Macrothemis inacuta

Libellulidae

Identification: Largest of three sylphs in North America. Brown with eyes becoming blue in adult males. Thoracic stripes are pale, incomplete--those of others in genus more prominent. Wings washed with amber .

Stream Cruiser

Macromia transversa

Macromiidae

Identification: Nymph : Flattened wide nymphs with very long legs. Sides of head bulging behind eyes. Triangular frontal projection. Prementum cupped with rounded ‘teeth’ in the vertical plane, 3 or 5 long palpal setae. Posterolateral spines on S8 s

Stygian Shadowdragon

Neurocordulia yamaskanensis

Corduliidae

Interestingly, to me, that the image in Dunkle is from New Brunswick a few miles SW of the Shogomoc Stream specimen (image 88338)

Sulphur-tipped Clubtail

Phanogomphus militaris

Gomphidae

Identification: Blue eyes with yellow face; thorax and abdomen with a lot of yellow markings; T1-2 well-developed and narrowly separated; T3-4 narrower and widely separated; hind femur marked with yellow; abdomen black with yellow spear points from S

Superb Jewelwing

Calopteryx amata

Calopterygidae

Identification: Males bright green with brown wingtips Females are duller and lack the brown wingtips. They have a white stigma

Swamp Darner

Epiaeschna heros

Aeshnidae

Identification: Large, dark brown with blue eyes. Compare Regal and Cyrano Darners. An impressive dragonfly of southern wetlands. Christopher Hadin journal entry -- "August 22, 2005 This evening at dusk there was a steady migration of what appeared t

Swamp Spreadwing

Lestes vigilax

Lestidae

Identification: Large, metallic colored, male has brilliant blue eyes, female brown eyes. Compare Common Spreadwing, L. disjunctus, and Sweetflag Spreadwing, L. forcipatus. Southern populations of this speces are dark, less emerald green than norther

Sweetflag Spreadwing

Lestes forcipatus

Lestidae

Identification: Dark, male has variable shoulder stripes. Female has very large ovipositor, rather distinctive.

Taiga Bluet

Coenagrion resolutum

Coenagrionidae

Identification: Back half of segment 5 and all of segments 6 and 7 are all black, with greenish sides on thorax.

Tamaulipan Clubtail

Gomphurus gonzalezi

Gomphidae

This is a TPWD Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) It's also on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

Tawny Pennant

Brachymesia herbida

Libellulidae

Identification: Similar to female or immature B. gravida, but face is tan rather than dark, and stigmata are tan rather than white, and wing spots are much more diffuse. A vagrant in the US, though may have bred in the Florida Keys in 1997.

Texas Emerald

Somatochlora margarita

Corduliidae

considered by LA and TX to be a "Species of Greatest Conservation Need" (SGCN)

Three-striped Dasher

Micrathyria didyma

Libellulidae

Identification: Each side of the thorax has three parallel, vertical, straight black stripes. This distinguishes it from the very similar Thornbush Dasher (M. hagenii), in which the center stripe forks into a "Y". Also, the two white tail-spots are t

Tonto Dancer

Argia tonto

Coenagrionidae

Identification: Adult: overall violet color; humeral stripe dark, not forked, widest anteriorly, narrowing posteriorly to form a thin line

Tule Bluet

Enallagma carunculatum

Coenagrionidae

Identification: Most abdominal segments half or more black above.

Turquoise Bluet

Enallagma divagans

Coenagrionidae

Identification: Males have turquoise blue sides of thorax, abdomen mostly black, segments 8 and 9 are blue. Guide TBA--PC (more on id--details from Lam)

Twin-Spotted Spiketail

Zoraena maculata

Cordulegastridae

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

Two-striped Forceptail

Aphylla williamsoni

Gomphidae

Identification: Note two broad, yellow thoracic stripes. Females sometimes have a very narrow stripe in between these two . The author of this species is Leonora Katherine Doll Gloyd (29 August 1902 near Larned, Kansas - 2 June 1993). She married How

Umber Shadowdragon

Neurocordulia obsoleta

Corduliidae

Identification: Brown body, basal brown spot on each wing. Compare Common Baskettail, which has yellow stripes on abdomen. Lovely up close.

Variable Damselfly

Coenagrion pulchellum

Coenagrionidae

A medium-small damselfly, very similar to the Azure Damselfly. Great care is needed to identify this species. In the male, the thoracic stripes are usually broken to form an exclamation mark (but not in females). Also on males, the black U-shaped mar

Variable Dancer

Argia fumipennis

Coenagrionidae

As the name suggests, this is a variable species. The variation has led to the describing of three subspecies. The Violet Dancer ( A. f. violacea ) to the north has clear wings, the Smoky-winged Dancer ( A. f. fumipennis ) of the southeast has brown

Vesper Bluet

Enallagma vesperum

Coenagrionidae

Identification: Male: Bright yellow thorax. Black lateral thoracic stripe is quite thin or may barely be present at all. The abdomen is tipped in blue. Specifically, abdominal segment 10 is blue on the sides, while segment 9 is completely blue.

Western Forktail

Ischnura perparva

Coenagrionidae

Identification: blue on segments 8-9/10 only -- black stripes on sides of segments 8-10 See California Dragonflies and Damselflies or Dennis Paulson Males: Orange females, orange on 2, 3, and 4: Mature females:

White-legged Damselfly

Platycnemis pennipes

Platycnemididae

As well as the diagnostic broad, 'feathery' white legs, it generally has a paler blue body to help distinguish it from the other blue damselflies. The pale chestnut wing spots are also characteristic. Immature males and females are mostly creamy whit

Willow Emerald Damselfly

Chalcolestes viridis

Lestidae

Length: 39 to 48 mm. Hindwing span: 23 to 48 mm. A dark metallic green damselfly with pale brown wing markings (pterostigma). Similar in appearance to the Emerald Damselfly. Willow Emerald Damselfly is longer than Emerald Damselfly, appears thinner a