Damselfly
Guides
Enallagma daeckii
Attenuated Bluet
Enallagma daeckii, commonly known as the attenuated bluet, is a species of narrow-winged damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It is endemic to the Eastern United States. The species holds an IUCN conservation status of 'least concern' with a stable population and no immediate threats to survival identified.
Enallagma davisi
sandhill bluet
Enallagma davisi, commonly known as the sandhill bluet, is a species of narrow-winged damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. The species was described by Westfall in 1943. It holds a conservation status of Least Concern (LC) according to the IUCN, with a stable population and no immediate threats to its survival.
Enallagma divagans
Turquoise Bluet
Enallagma divagans, the turquoise bluet, is a narrow-winged damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It is endemic to the United States. The species is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a stable population and no immediate threats to its survival.
Enallagma doubledayi
Atlantic bluet
Enallagma doubledayi, the Atlantic bluet, is a narrow-winged damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It occurs in the Caribbean and North America. The species was described by Selys in 1850 and is currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a stable population as of the 2017 assessment.
Enallagma durum
big bluet
Enallagma durum, the big bluet, is a species of narrow-winged damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It occurs in northern Mexico and the southern and eastern United States. The IUCN lists it as Least Concern with a stable population. As a member of the genus Enallagma, it shares characteristics with other bluet damselflies, though specific ecological details for this species remain limited in published sources.
Enallagma ebrium
Marsh Bluet
Enallagma ebrium, commonly known as the marsh bluet, is a North American damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It is closely related to E. hageni, with which it forms a mosaic spatial distribution pattern across eastern North America. The species is known to host the water mite Limnochares americana, which can affect its survivorship and maturation. Research indicates that adult damselflies exhibit grooming behavior in response to mite parasitism, with responses varying by age, sex, and mite intensity.
Enallagma exsulans
Stream Bluet
Enallagma exsulans, commonly known as the Stream Bluet, is a species of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It is distinguished from many other bluet species by its strong association with flowing water rather than still ponds and lakes. The species ranges across much of eastern and central North America.
Enallagma geminatum
Skimming Bluet
Enallagma geminatum, commonly known as the skimming bluet, is a species of narrow-winged damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. The species is found across North America and is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a stable population. It belongs to the genus Enallagma, a speciose group of damselflies that has been the subject of extensive taxonomic research, including a 1984 revision by Rosser Garrison.
Enallagma hageni
Hagen's Bluet
Enallagma hageni is a narrow-winged damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae, native to North America. It is one of several Enallagma species that radiated during the Pleistocene and is closely related to E. ebrium, with which it forms a mosaic spatial distribution pattern. The species is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN with a stable population.
Enallagma minusculum
Little Bluet
Enallagma minusculum, commonly known as the little bluet, is a species of narrow-winged damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It was first described by American entomologist Albert Pitts Morse in 1895. The species is found in North America and holds a "Least Concern" conservation status according to the IUCN, with a stable population.
Enallagma novaehispaniae
Neotropical Bluet
Enallagma novaehispaniae, the Neotropical Bluet, is a narrow-winged damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It is distributed across Central America, North America, and South America. The species has been assessed by IUCN as Least Concern with a stable population, most recently reviewed in 2017.
Enallagma pallidum
Pale Bluet, Pallid Bluet
Enallagma pallidum is a narrow-winged damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae, commonly known as the pale bluet or pallid bluet. The species was described by Root in 1923. It is found in North America and holds a Least Concern conservation status according to the IUCN, with a stable population and no immediate threats to survival identified.
Enallagma pollutum
Florida bluet
Enallagma pollutum, the Florida bluet, is a narrow-winged damselfly endemic to the eastern United States. It belongs to the family Coenagrionidae, a large group of small to medium-sized damselflies commonly known as pond damselflies or bluets. The species is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a stable population and no immediate threats to its survival.
Enallagma recurvatum
Pine Barrens Bluet, Pale Barrens Bluet
Enallagma recurvatum is a small damselfly endemic to the United States. It inhabits freshwater lakes, particularly in pine barrens and similar sandy, acidic lake systems. The species is considered threatened due to habitat loss from development, water quality degradation, and shoreline alteration. Its restricted range and specialized habitat requirements make it vulnerable to environmental changes.
Enallagma semicirculare
Claw-tipped Bluet
Enallagma semicirculare, commonly known as the claw-tipped bluet, is a damselfly species in the family Coenagrionidae. It occurs primarily in Mexico and the southwestern United States, with documented records from Arizona, New Mexico, and southern Texas. The species was described by Edmond de Sélys Longchamps in 1876. Like other members of the genus Enallagma, it is a small, slender damselfly associated with freshwater habitats.
Enallagma signatum
Orange Bluet
The orange bluet (Enallagma signatum) is a species of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It is a small, slender odonate found across eastern North America. The species was first described by Hagen in 1861 and has been subject to taxonomic revision, including work by Rosser Garrison who published a revision of the genus Enallagma in 1984. Like other members of its genus, it is associated with freshwater habitats where it completes its aquatic larval development.
Enallagma sulcatum
Golden Bluet
Enallagma sulcatum, commonly known as the golden bluet, is a narrow-winged damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It is endemic to the Southeastern United States. The species is classified as "least concern" by the IUCN, with a stable population and no immediate threats to its survival.
Enallagma vernale
Vernal Bluet
Enallagma vernale, commonly known as the vernal bluet, is a narrow-winged damselfly species in the family Coenagrionidae. The species was described by Gloyd in 1943 and is found in North America. The IUCN lists it as Least Concern with a stable population and no immediate threats to survival. Like other members of the genus Enallagma, it belongs to a diverse group of damselflies that has been intensively studied for population dynamics and systematics.
Enallagma vesperum
vesper bluet
Enallagma vesperum, the vesper bluet, is a narrow-winged damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It occurs in southern Canada and the central and eastern United States. The IUCN lists the species as Least Concern with a stable population.
Hesperagrion
painted damsels
Hesperagrion is a genus of damselflies in the family Coenagrionidae, commonly known as painted damsels. The genus contains at least two described species, including the extant Hesperagrion heterodoxum and the extinct Hesperagrion praevolans. Males of H. heterodoxum are noted for their striking coloration. The genus was established by Calvert in 1902.
Hesperagrion heterodoxum
Painted Damsel
Hesperagrion heterodoxum, commonly known as the Painted Damsel, is a small damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. Males are notably colorful, with spectacular coloration that distinguishes them from other damselflies in their range. The species occurs in western North America and Middle America, where it inhabits streams and rivers with emergent vegetation. It has been observed in association with warm springs and vegetated waterways.
Hetaerina americana
American rubyspot
A damselfly species in the family Calopterygidae, commonly known as the American rubyspot. Males exhibit a lustrous red head and thorax with a brilliant green abdomen; females have a green abdomen with either green or copper thoracic markings. The species occupies riverine habitats in arid and semi-arid regions and demonstrates strong site fidelity, with adults rarely dispersing more than 100 meters from emergence sites. Research indicates sensitivity to urbanization, with documented declines in abundance, body condition, and reproductive success correlated with reduced riparian vegetation and increased wastewater discharge.
Hetaerina vulnerata
Canyon Rubyspot
Hetaerina vulnerata, the Canyon Rubyspot, is a broad-winged damselfly in the family Calopterygidae. It inhabits shaded mountain streams at elevations of 550-2000 meters from Colombia through the southwestern United States. The species shows limited dispersal capacity and strong habitat specificity, with populations genetically isolated by unsuitable terrain. Climate change projections suggest increasing habitat fragmentation for this stream-specialist insect.
Ischnura barberi
Desert Forktail
Ischnura barberi, commonly known as the desert forktail, is a species of narrow-winged damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It is found in North America and is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a stable population and no immediate threats to its survival.
Ischnura cervula
Pacific Forktail
Ischnura cervula, commonly known as the Pacific forktail, is a species of narrow-winged damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It is distributed across Central America and North America. The species has been assessed by the IUCN as Least Concern (LC) with a stable population, most recently reviewed in 2018. Like other forktails in the genus Ischnura, it belongs to a group of small damselflies characterized by distinctive abdominal appendages.
Ischnura damula
Plains Forktail
Ischnura damula, known as the plains forktail, is a narrow-winged damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It occurs in North America. The species has been assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a stable population and no immediate threats to its survival.
Ischnura demorsa
Mexican Forktail
Ischnura demorsa, commonly known as the Mexican Forktail, is a narrow-winged damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It is a small, slender species found in freshwater habitats across Central America and the southwestern United States. The species is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a stable population and no immediate threats to its survival. It is frequently observed in association with springs and rivers with emergent vegetation.
Ischnura denticollis
Black-fronted Forktail
Ischnura denticollis, commonly known as the Black-fronted Forktail, is a small damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It is a western North American species with an exceptionally long adult lifespan for a damselfly, persisting up to six weeks. The species is notable for its distinctive lack of pale thoracic markings, which separates it from most other forktails. It occupies a variety of aquatic habitats including springs, ponds with emergent vegetation, and slow-moving stream sections.
Ischnura erratica
Swift Forktail
Ischnura erratica, the swift forktail, is a robust damselfly native to the Pacific Northwest. Adults are 30–35 mm long with a wingspan of 35–40 mm. Males display distinctive blue and black coloration with a forked tail on abdominal segment 10, while females occur in two color phases. It is one of the earliest damselflies to emerge each year and breeds in clear waters across diverse aquatic habitats.
Ischnura gemina
San Francisco Forktail
Ischnura gemina is a small damselfly endemic to the San Francisco Bay Area of California, with a total range of less than 500 square miles. It is considered one of the rarest odonates in the United States. The species inhabits coastal wetland ecosystems and has been observed to have an unusually long adult lifespan for a damselfly, likely an adaptation to the region's foggy climate. Populations have declined due to urbanization and habitat destruction, though the species shows some resilience to certain forms of habitat degradation.
Ischnura hastata
Citrine Forktail
Ischnura hastata, the Citrine Forktail, is a small damselfly with remarkable reproductive diversity across its range. Native populations in North America exhibit typical sexual reproduction, while populations in the Azores archipelago represent the only known example of parthenogenesis in the order Odonata. A population in the Galápagos Islands has evolved monandry (single mating per female), driven by extremely short adult lifespans of 1–3 days. The species occupies diverse wetland habitats from temperate North America to oceanic islands.
Ischnura kellicotti
Lilypad Forktail
Ischnura kellicotti, the lilypad forktail, is a species of narrow-winged damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It is found in North America. The species has a stable population and is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN.
Ischnura posita
fragile forktail
Ischnura posita, commonly known as the fragile forktail, is a small damselfly species in the family Coenagrionidae. It measures 21–29 mm in body length and is native to most of eastern North America. The species is one of the more common damselflies along the east coast of the United States and is readily identified by distinctive exclamation mark-shaped shoulder stripes present in both sexes.
Ischnura prognata
Furtive Forktail
Ischnura prognata, known as the furtive forktail, is a species of narrow-winged damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It is found in North America. The species has been assessed by the IUCN as Least Concern (LC), with a stable population and no immediate threats to its survival.
Ischnura verticalis
Eastern Forktail
Ischnura verticalis, the Eastern Forktail, is a small damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. Larvae exhibit behavioral thermoregulation through depth selection in water columns, moving deeper at higher temperatures and shallower when cooler. Development is temperature- and prey-dependent, with faster development at higher temperatures and food availability. Males typically develop faster than females, with sexual differences in larval behavior and instar progression. Adults emerge over extended periods, with univoltine life cycles in temperate populations.
Leptobasis lucifer
Lucifer Swampdamsel
Leptobasis lucifer is a narrow-winged damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It is relatively long and slender compared to other damselflies. The species is found in swampy woodland habitats in Central America, southern Mexico, and locally in southern Florida. Males are distinguished by black striping on a green thorax and a bright red patch near the end of the abdomen. Females exhibit considerable color variation, ranging from dull greenish-brown to blue, reddish-orange, or green with a blue abdominal ring.
Leptobasis melinogaster
Cream-tipped Swampdamsel
Leptobasis melinogaster, known as the cream-tipped swampdamsel, is a damselfly species in the family Coenagrionidae. It was described by González-Soriano in 2002. The species occurs in Mexico and the United States, where it inhabits intermittent rivers and freshwater marshes.
Leptobasis vacillans
Red-tipped Swampdamsel
Leptobasis vacillans is a damselfly species in the family Coenagrionidae, commonly known as the Red-tipped Swampdamsel. It occurs across the Caribbean, Middle America, and South America, with records from Oaxaca and other regions. As a member of the genus Leptobasis, it is associated with swampy habitats. The species was described by Hagen in 1877.
Lestes
Pond Spreadwings, Spreadwings
Lestes is a genus of damselflies in the family Lestidae, commonly known as pond spreadwings. Members of this genus are distinguished from most other damselflies by their characteristic resting posture: they hold their wings spread at approximately 45 degrees to the body rather than folded together above the abdomen. The genus name derives from the Greek word λῃστής (lēistēs), meaning thief. Lestes species are found across diverse habitats and are among the most widely observed damselflies in temperate regions.
Lestes alacer
Plateau Spreadwing
Lestes alacer, commonly known as the Plateau Spreadwing, is a species of damselfly in the family Lestidae. It is distributed across Central America and North America. The species is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a stable population and no immediate threats to its survival. Like other spreadwings, it holds its wings at approximately 45 degrees to the body when at rest, distinguishing it from most other damselflies that hold wings parallel to the body.
Lestes australis
Southern Spreadwing
Lestes australis, the Southern Spreadwing, is a damselfly species in the family Lestidae. It is found in North America. The IUCN lists it as Least Concern with a stable population, last reviewed in 2017. The species holds its wings at approximately 45 degrees to the body when at rest, a characteristic trait of the spreadwing family.
Lestes disjunctus
Northern Spreadwing
Lestes disjunctus, commonly known as the Northern Spreadwing, is a damselfly species in the family Lestidae. It is widely distributed across North America and inhabits a variety of freshwater habitats including riverine wetlands, ponds, and marshes. The species exhibits a univoltine life cycle with egg diapause, requiring overwintering before hatching. Adults emerge in late June through July and remain active until late August. Larvae are predatory, feeding primarily on zooplankton and small aquatic invertebrates. The species holds its wings at approximately 45 degrees to the body when at rest, a characteristic posture of spreadwing damselflies.
Lestes dryas
emerald spreadwing, scarce emerald damselfly, robust spreadwing, turlough spreadwing
Lestes dryas is a Holarctic damselfly species in the family Lestidae, commonly known as the emerald spreadwing or scarce emerald damselfly. It is notable for being the only Lestes species that occurs in both Europe and North America. The species can tolerate extreme environmental conditions, including slightly brackish water, that few other odonates survive. It has experienced significant population declines in parts of its range, particularly in Britain and Ireland, where it was believed extinct before its rediscovery in 1983. Conservation efforts focus on maintaining ditch systems and shallow water habitats that support its aquatic life stages.
Lestes forcipatus
Sweetflag Spreadwing
A species of spreadwing damselfly native to eastern North America, particularly Canada and the United States. Females exhibit stronger melanotic encapsulation immune responses than males, suggesting higher immunocompetence. Sexual dimorphism is moderate, with mass at emergence influencing immune response patterns in males but not females.
Lestes inaequalis
Elegant Spreadwing
Lestes inaequalis, the elegant spreadwing, is a species of damselfly in the family Lestidae native to eastern North America. Like other spreadwings, it perches with its wings partially spread rather than folded together over the abdomen. It is one of the larger members of the genus Lestes and is associated with a variety of freshwater habitats.
Lestes rectangularis
slender spreadwing
Lestes rectangularis, commonly known as the slender spreadwing, is a damselfly species in the family Lestidae. It is native to eastern North America, ranging from eastern Canada through the eastern United States. The species is characterized by its elongated, slender body form and distinctive wing posture at rest, with wings held partially spread rather than folded together above the abdomen. It inhabits springs and temporary pond habitats, where it completes its aquatic larval development before emerging as a flying adult.
Lestes sigma
Chalky Spreadwing
Lestes sigma, commonly known as the chalky spreadwing, is a damselfly species in the family Lestidae. It is distributed across Central America and North America. The species holds its wings at approximately 45 degrees to the body when at rest, a characteristic trait of spreadwing damselflies that distinguishes them from most other damselflies. The IUCN lists the species as Least Concern with a stable population.
Lestes stultus
Black Spreadwing
Lestes stultus, commonly known as the Black Spreadwing, is a species of damselfly in the family Lestidae. It is found in North America and holds its wings at approximately 45 degrees to the body when at rest, a characteristic trait of spreadwing damselflies that distinguishes them from most other damselfly species. The IUCN lists this species as Least Concern with a stable population.
Lestes tenuatus
Blue-striped Spreadwing
Lestes tenuatus, commonly known as the blue-striped spreadwing, is a damselfly species in the family Lestidae. It has a broad distribution across the Caribbean, Central America, North America, and South America. The species is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN with a stable population. Like other spreadwings, it typically perches with its wings partially open rather than folded together over the abdomen.
Lestes unguiculatus
Lyre-tipped Spreadwing
Lestes unguiculatus, commonly known as the Lyre-tipped Spreadwing, is a species of damselfly in the family Lestidae. The species is native to North America and holds its wings at approximately 45 degrees to the body when at rest, a characteristic trait of the Lestidae family that distinguishes spreadwings from most other damselflies. The IUCN lists the species as Least Concern (LC) with a stable population, last reviewed in 2017.