Odonata
Guides
Cordulegastridae
Spiketails, biddie, flying adder
Cordulegastridae, commonly known as spiketails, is a family of dragonflies (Anisoptera) distributed across the Holarctic region. The family contains approximately 51 species in three to four genera, including Cordulegaster, Anotogaster, Neallogaster, and the recently restored Thecagaster and Zoraena. Adults are characterized by large black or brown bodies with yellow markings, blue-green eyes that meet at a single point, and a slow flight pattern 30–70 cm above water. Nymphs are specialized ambush predators that conceal themselves in sand or silt substrates of clean, flowing streams.
Corduliidae
emeralds, emerald dragonflies, green-eyed skimmers, baskettails, sundragons, shadowdragons, boghaunters
Corduliidae is a family of dragonflies commonly known as emeralds or emerald dragonflies, characterized by metallic green or yellow coloration and large emerald-green eyes. The family includes diverse genera such as baskettails (Epitheca), sundragons (Helocordulia), shadowdragons (Neurocordulia), and boghaunters (Williamsonia). Adults are typically black or dark brown with metallic markings, while larvae are black, hairy-looking, and semiaquatic. The family has a nearly worldwide distribution.
Coryphaeschna
Pilot Darners
Coryphaeschna is a genus of large dragonflies commonly known as pilot darners, comprising approximately 10 described species within the family Aeshnidae. The genus occurs primarily in the Neotropical region, with species ranging from the southern United States through Central America and into South America. Members of this genus are aerial predators typical of the darner group, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented for many species.
Coryphaeschna ingens
Regal Darner
Coryphaeschna ingens, commonly known as the regal darner, is a species of large dragonfly in the family Aeshnidae. It occurs across the Caribbean and North America, with a stable population and no immediate conservation concerns. The species is recognized by its substantial size and distinctive coloration typical of the genus Coryphaeschna.
Crocothemis
Scarlet Skimmers
Crocothemis is a genus of dragonflies in the family Libellulidae, subfamily Sympetrinae. Species occur across southern Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Southwest Pacific. These are small to medium-sized dragonflies known for bright coloration in males, ranging from vivid red to rich blue, while females are typically dull brown or orange. They are aerial predators that perch on vegetation near water and fly out to capture prey.
Dromogomphus
Spinylegs, Spiny-legged Clubtails
Dromogomphus is a genus of dragonflies in the family Gomphidae, commonly known as spinylegs. The common name refers to the prominent spines on their legs, which function in prey capture. The genus includes three North American species: southeastern spinyleg, black-shouldered spinyleg, and flag-tailed spinyleg. These dragonflies are medium to large-sized clubtails with distinctive morphological features.
Dromogomphus armatus
Southeastern Spinyleg
Dromogomphus armatus, commonly known as the southeastern spinyleg, is a species of clubtail dragonfly in the family Gomphidae. It is found in North America. The species has been assessed by the IUCN as Least Concern with a stable population and no immediate threats to its survival.
Dromogomphus spoliatus
Flag-tailed Spinyleg
Dromogomphus spoliatus, commonly known as the flag-tailed spinyleg, is a species of clubtail dragonfly in the family Gomphidae. It is native to North America. The species has been assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a stable population and no immediate threats to its survival.
Dythemis
Setwings
Dythemis is a Neotropical genus of dragonflies in the family Libellulidae, commonly known as Setwings. The genus contains seven species. A 2011 taxonomic revision proposed that D. multipunctata be reclassified as a subspecies of D. sterilis, with mainland populations previously identified as D. multipunctata reassigned to D. nigra.
Dythemis maya
Mayan Setwing
Dythemis maya, commonly known as the Mayan Setwing, is a species of skimmer dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. It occurs in 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; this status was last reviewed in 2017.
Dythemis nigrescens
Black Setwing
Dythemis nigrescens, commonly known as the black setwing, is a dragonfly species in the family Libellulidae. It occurs across Central America and North America, with documented observations concentrated in the southwestern United States and Mexico. The species holds a least concern conservation status with stable populations. The common name refers to its dark wing coloration, a distinctive feature among setwings in the genus Dythemis.
Enallagma anna
River Bluet
Enallagma anna, the river bluet, is a species of narrow-winged damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. The species was described by Williamson in 1900. It is found in North America, specifically in southern Canada and the western and northeastern United States. The IUCN lists it as Least Concern with a stable population.
Enallagma annexum
Northern Bluet
Enallagma annexum, the northern bluet, is a small damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It was formerly considered conspecific with Enallagma cyathigerum but is now recognized as a distinct species. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism in coloration, with males displaying blue thoracic and abdominal coloration and females showing greenish-yellow to brown tones.
Enallagma basidens
Double-striped Bluet
Enallagma basidens, commonly known as the Double-striped Bluet, is a species of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. Adults measure 21–28 mm in length. The species is distinguished by a unique black shoulder stripe divided by a thin blue line, a feature found in no other damselfly. It occurs across North America and Middle America.
Enallagma cardenium
purple bluet
Enallagma cardenium, commonly known as the purple bluet, is a narrow-winged damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It occurs in the Caribbean and North America. The species holds a Least Concern conservation status with stable populations.
Enallagma clausum
alkali bluet
Enallagma clausum, the alkali bluet, is a narrow-winged damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It is native to North America with a documented range expansion westward in western Canada. The species has been studied for parasite-host dynamics involving water mites and gregarines. Its IUCN conservation status is Least Concern with a stable population.
Enallagma concisum
Cherry Bluet
Enallagma concisum, commonly known as the cherry bluet, is a narrow-winged damselfly species in the family Coenagrionidae. It is endemic to the Eastern United States, where it inhabits freshwater habitats. The species is currently classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a stable population and no immediate threats to its survival. As a member of the genus Enallagma, it belongs to one of the most species-rich damselfly genera in North America.
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 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 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 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 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.
Epitheca canis
Beaverpond Baskettail
Epitheca canis, commonly known as the Beaverpond Baskettail, is a species of emerald dragonfly in the family Corduliidae. It is native to North America and belongs to a genus characterized by distinctive egg-laying behaviors. Like other baskettails, it possesses brilliant green eyes as an adult. The species inhabits wetland environments, particularly beaver ponds, from which its common name derives.
Epitheca costalis
Slender Baskettail, Stripe-winged Baskettail
Epitheca costalis is an emerald dragonfly in the family Corduliidae, commonly known as the slender baskettail or stripe-winged baskettail. It is found in North America and is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a stable population and no immediate threats to survival. The species is part of the baskettail genus, named for the distinctive egg-laying behavior where females carry eggs in a basket-like structure before trailing them in gelatinous strings across water surfaces.
Epitheca stella
Florida baskettail
Epitheca stella, the Florida baskettail, is a species of emerald dragonfly in the family Corduliidae. It is found in North America. The species is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a stable population and no immediate threats to survival; this status was reviewed in 2017.
Erpetogomphus designatus
Eastern Ringtail
Erpetogomphus designatus, commonly known as the eastern ringtail, is a species of clubtail dragonfly in the family Gomphidae. It is found in Central America and North America. The species was described by Hagen in 1858. The IUCN lists it as Least Concern with a stable population, last reviewed in 2017.
Erpetogomphus eutainia
blue-faced ringtail
Erpetogomphus eutainia, commonly known as the blue-faced ringtail, is a species of clubtail dragonfly in the family Gomphidae. It is found in Central America and North America. The species is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, indicating no immediate threat to its survival. As a member of the genus Erpetogomphus, it shares the characteristic ringtail morphology with related species.
Erythrodiplax
Dragonlets
Erythrodiplax is a large Neotropical genus of small to medium-sized dragonflies in the family Libellulidae, commonly known as dragonlets. The genus contains numerous species distributed across the Americas, with some members exhibiting unique ecological adaptations. Erythrodiplax berenice, the Seaside Dragonlet, is the only odonate known to develop in saline water, tolerating salinities up to 48%. Species within this genus display diverse reproductive behaviors, with males exhibiting territorial or satellite strategies and engaging in mate guarding during oviposition.
Erythrodiplax basifusca
plateau dragonlet
Erythrodiplax basifusca, commonly known as the plateau dragonlet, is a species of skimmer dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. It is found in Central America and North America, with distribution records from regions including Oaxaca. The species has been observed in at least 2002 iNaturalist records. The IUCN lists this species as Least Concern (LC) with a stable population, a status reviewed in 2017.
Erythrodiplax berenice
Seaside Dragonlet
Erythrodiplax berenice, the seaside dragonlet, is a small dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. It is the only dragonfly in the western hemisphere capable of breeding in seawater, with nymphs tolerating salinities up to 260% of normal seawater concentration. The species inhabits coastal salt marshes, mangrove swamps, and alkaline lakes along the Atlantic coast of North America.
Gomphaeschna furcillata
Harlequin Darner
Gomphaeschna furcillata, commonly known as the Harlequin Darner, is a small dragonfly in the family Aeshnidae. It belongs to the genus Gomphaeschna, commonly called 'pygmy darners' due to their relatively small size compared to other darners. The species is found across North America in Canada and the continental United States. It holds a 'least concern' conservation status with a stable population.
Gomphidae
Clubtails, Club-tailed Dragonflies
Gomphidae is a family of dragonflies commonly known as clubtails, containing approximately 90 genera and 900 species worldwide. The family name derives from the Greek 'gomphos' meaning 'bolt' or 'nail,' referring to the club-like widening of abdominal segments 7-9, though this feature is reduced in females and absent in some species. Clubtails are distinguished from other dragonfly families by their small, widely separated compound eyes—a trait shared only with Petaluridae and damselflies. The family is the sole member of the superfamily Gomphoidea and has a global distribution across North and South America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Africa.
Gomphurus crassus
Handsome Clubtail
Gomphurus crassus, commonly known as the Handsome Clubtail, is a species of dragonfly in the family Gomphidae. It is a member of the genus Gomphurus, which was historically treated as a subgenus of Gomphus but has been elevated to full generic status based on molecular and morphological evidence. The species is characterized by its robust body form and distinctive clubbed abdomen typical of the family. As an odonate predator, it occupies freshwater habitats where it hunts smaller insects.
Gomphurus gonzalezi
Tamaulipan Clubtail
Gomphurus gonzalezi, commonly known as the Tamaulipan clubtail, is a dragonfly species in the family Gomphidae. It is restricted to a narrow geographic range along the lower Rio Grande, occurring in Texas, USA and San Luis Potosí, Mexico. The species was originally described by Dunkle in 1992. The genus Gomphurus was elevated from subgenus to genus rank in 2017, reclassifying this species from Gomphus.
Gomphurus hybridus
Cocoa Clubtail
A medium-sized clubtail dragonfly endemic to eastern North America. Adults are active in late spring through mid-summer, with peak emergence typically in June. The species is named for the cocoa-brown coloration of mature males. Larvae develop in streams and rivers, requiring clean, flowing water with sandy or gravelly substrates. Like other gomphids, it is a predator both as aquatic nymph and aerial adult.
Gomphurus modestus
Gulf Coast Clubtail
Gomphurus modestus, commonly known as the Gulf Coast Clubtail, is a dragonfly species in the family Gomphidae. It was transferred from the genus Gomphus to Gomphurus in 2017 when the latter was elevated from subgenus to full genus status. The species is endemic to the southeastern United States, where it inhabits medium to large slow-flowing rivers. The IUCN lists it as Least Concern with a stable population.
Gomphurus septima
Septima's Clubtail
Septima's Clubtail is a species of dragonfly in the family Gomphidae, distinguished by its club-shaped abdomen tip. The species was transferred from genus Gomphus to Gomphurus in 2017 when Gomphurus was elevated from subgenus to full genus rank. It is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN with a stable population.
Gomphurus ventricosus
Skillet Clubtail
Gomphurus ventricosus, commonly known as the Skillet Clubtail, is a species of dragonfly in the family Gomphidae. It belongs to the order Odonata and is classified within the suborder Anisoptera, which encompasses the dragonflies. The species was first described by Walsh in 1863 and is currently accepted as a valid species in taxonomic databases.
Hagenius
dragonhunter
Hagenius is a monotypic genus of clubtail dragonflies (family Gomphidae) containing the single species Hagenius brevistylus, commonly known as the dragonhunter. This large, aggressive dragonfly inhabits riverine systems of eastern North America and is notable for its exceptional predatory behavior, including the habit of capturing and consuming other dragonflies and damselflies. The genus name honors Hermann August Hagen, a prominent 19th-century entomologist specializing in Odonata.
Hagenius brevistylus
Dragonhunter, Black Dragon
Hagenius brevistylus, commonly known as the dragonhunter, is a large, distinctive clubtail dragonfly (family Gomphidae) native to eastern North America. Adults are notable aerial predators with a documented propensity for hunting other Odonata, including other dragonflies and damselflies. The species has been observed using postural adjustments for behavioral thermoregulation. Larvae develop in aquatic habitats and possess specialized adaptations for predation.
Helocordulia uhleri
Uhler's Sundragon
Helocordulia uhleri, commonly known as Uhler's sundragon, is a species of emerald dragonfly in the family Corduliidae. It is found in North America, with records from the United States including Vermont. The species has been assessed by the IUCN as Least Concern (LC) with a stable population and no immediate threats to its survival. It belongs to a small genus of North American emerald dragonflies.
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.
Hylogomphus
clubtails
Hylogomphus is a genus of clubtail dragonflies (family Gomphidae) comprising six described species native to eastern North America. The genus was elevated from subgenus status within Gomphus in 2000, reflecting distinct morphological and phylogenetic characteristics. Species within this genus are associated with lotic freshwater habitats and exhibit conservative body plans typical of gomphid dragonflies.
Hylogomphus apomyius
Banner Clubtail
Hylogomphus apomyius, commonly known as the Banner Clubtail, is a dragonfly species in the family Gomphidae. It is one of several small clubtail species within the genus Hylogomphus, characterized by relatively modest abdominal clubbing compared to larger gomphids. The species was described by Donnelly in 1966 and occurs in eastern North America. It is associated with riverine habitats and is considered uncommon throughout its range.