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)
Red Saddlebags
Tramea onusta
Red-faced Dragonlet
Erythrodiplax fusca
Red-mantled Skimmer
Libellula gaigei
Red-tailed Pennant
Brachymesia furcata
Red-tipped Swampdamsel
Leptobasis vacillans
Red-veined Meadowhawk
Sympetrum madidum
Red-veined Pennant
Celithemis bertha
Regal Darner
Coryphaeschna ingens
Remartinia secreta
Remartinia secreta
Riffle Darner
Oplonaeschna armata
Riffle Snaketail
Ophiogomphus carolus
Ringed Boghaunter
Williamsonia lintneri
Ringed Emerald
Somatochlora albicincta
Ringed Forceptail
Phyllocycla breviphylla
River Bluet
Enallagma anna
River Jewelwing
Calopteryx aequabilis
Riverine Clubtail
Stylurus amnicola
Robust Baskettail
Epitheca spinosa
Roseate Skimmer Dragonfly
Orthemis ferruginea
Royal River Cruiser
Macromia taeniolata
Sable Clubtail
Stenogomphurus rogersi
Saffron-winged Meadowhawk
Sympetrum costiferum
San Francisco Forktail
Ischnura gemina
Sandhill Bluet
Enallagma davisi
Sandhill Clubtail
Phanogomphus cavillaris
Say's Spiketail
Zoraena sayi
Scarlet Bluet
Enallagma pictum
Scarlet Skimmer
Crocothemis servilia
Seepage Dancer
Argia bipunctulata
Selys' Sundragon
Helocordulia selysii
Sepia Baskettail
Epitheca sepia
Septima's Clubtail
Gomphurus septima
Serpent Ringtail
Erpetogomphus lampropeltis
Shadow Darner
Aeshna umbrosa
Shining Clubtail
Stylurus ivae
Sierra Madre Dancer
Argia lacrimans
Sinuous Snaketail
Ophiogomphus occidentis
Sioux Snaketail
Ophiogomphus smithi
Ski-tipped Emerald
Somatochlora elongata
Skillet Clubtail
Gomphurus ventricosus
Skimming Bluet
Enallagma geminatum
Slaty Skimmer
Libellula incesta
Slender Baskettail
Epitheca costalis
Slender Clubskimmer
Brechmorhoga praecox
Slender Skimmer
Orthetrum sabina
Small Spreadwing
Lestes virens
Smoky Shadowdragon
Neurocordulia molesta
Southeastern Spinyleg
Dromogomphus armatus
Southern Pygmy Clubtail
Lanthus vernalis
Southern Snaketail
Ophiogomphus australis
Southern Spreadwing
Lestes australis
Southern Sprite
Nehalennia integricollis
Spangled Skimmer
Libellula cyanea
Sphagnum Sprite
Nehalennia gracilis
Spine-crowned Clubtail
Hylogomphus abbreviatus
Splendid Clubtail
Gomphurus lineatifrons
Splendid Cruiser
Macromia splendens
Spot-winged Glider
Pantala hymenaea
Spot-winged Meadowhawk
Sympetrum signiferum
Springwater Dancer
Argia funebris
Straight-tipped Ringtail
Erpetogomphus elaps
Stream Bluet
Enallagma exsulans
Stream Cruiser
Macromia cincta
Striped Meadowhawk
Sympetrum pallipes
Striped Saddlebags
Tramea darwini
Subarctic Bluet
Coenagrion interrogatum
Subarctic Darner
Aeshna subarctica
Sulfury Threadtail
Protoneura sulfurata
Swift Forktail
Ischnura erratica
Swift River Cruiser
Macromia illinoiensis
Swift Setwing
Dythemis velox
Taper-tailed Darner
Gomphaeschna antilope
Tarascan Dancer
Argia tarascana
Tawny Sanddragon
Progomphus alachuensis
Tezpi Dancer
Argia tezpi
Thornbush Dasher Dragonfly
Micrathyria hagenii
Tiger Spiketail
Zoraena erronea
Townes' Clubtail
Stylurus townesi
Treetop Emerald
Somatochlora provocans
Turkish Goldenring
Cordulegaster picta
Turquoise-tipped Darner
Rhionaeschna psilus
Twelve-spotted Skimmer
Libellula pulchella
Twilight Darner
Gynacantha nervosa
Uhler's Sundragon
Helocordulia uhleri
Unicorn Clubtail
Arigomphus villosipes
Variable Darner
Aeshna interrupta
Variegated Meadowhawk
Sympetrum corruptum
Vermilion Saddlebags
Tramea abdominalis
Vernal Bluet
Enallagma vernale
Vivid Dancer Damselfly
Argia vivida
Walker's Darner
Aeshna walkeri
Wandering Glider
Pantala flavescens
Western Demoiselle
Calopteryx xanthostoma
Western Flying Adder
Cordulegaster dorsalis
Western Pondhawk
Erythemis collocata
Western Red Damsel
Amphiagrion abbreviatum
Western River Cruiser
Macromia magnifica
Westfall's Clubtail
Phanogomphus westfalli
White Corporal
Ladona exusta
White Featherleg
Platycnemis latipes