Zygoptera
Guides
Apanisagrion
A monotypic genus of damselflies in the family Coenagrionidae, containing the single species Apanisagrion lais. The genus is characterized by its distinctive black-and-white coloration and is restricted to the Neotropical region.
Apanisagrion lais
Black-and-white Damsel
Apanisagrion lais is a damselfly species in the family Coenagrionidae, commonly known as the Black-and-white Damsel. It is the sole species in its genus and is recognized by its distinctive black-and-white coloration. The species occurs in Middle America and North America, with observations documented across its range.
Argia anceps
Cerulean Dancer
Argia anceps, commonly known as the cerulean dancer, is a narrow-winged damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. The species was described by Rosser Garrison in 1996 and is found in Central America. Its IUCN conservation status is Least Concern with a stable population.
Argia apicalis
Blue-fronted Dancer
Argia apicalis, commonly known as the Blue-fronted Dancer, is a species of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae native to North America. First described by Thomas Say in 1840, it is a common and widespread species assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN. The species exhibits notable color polymorphism, with males occurring in bright blue and gray-black phases and females in brown, turquoise, and gray-black phases. Color changes are multi-directional and not tied to age or mating status. Males use thoracic color patterns for sex recognition, with brown females eliciting the strongest sexual response. The species shows distinctive geographical variation in thoracic stripe patterns, with broad-striped forms in the southeastern United States and typical forms elsewhere.
Argia bipunctulata
seepage dancer
Argia bipunctulata, commonly known as the seepage dancer, is a species of narrow-winged damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It is native to North America and holds a conservation status of Least Concern (LC) according to the IUCN, with a stable population and no immediate threats to its survival. As a member of the genus Argia—the largest genus in the subfamily Argiinae—this species exhibits the characteristic "dancing" flight pattern typical of its congeners.
Argia cuprea
Coppery Dancer
Argia cuprea, commonly known as the coppery dancer, is a species of narrow-winged damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. The species is widely distributed across the Americas, occurring in Central America, North America, and South America. It was first described by Hagen in 1861. The IUCN lists this species as Least Concern with a stable population, last assessed in 2018.
Argia fumipennis
Variable Dancer
Argia fumipennis, commonly known as the Variable Dancer, is a damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae native to North America. The species exhibits notable geographic variation in coloration, with eastern populations typically displaying violet thoracic coloration while western populations tend toward blue. It is a widespread and frequently observed species, with nearly 30,000 documented observations on iNaturalist.
Argia funebris
Springwater Dancer
Argia funebris, commonly known as the Springwater Dancer, is a species of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. The genus Argia is speciose and widely distributed in the New World tropics and subtropics. As a member of the suborder Zygoptera, this species exhibits the characteristic slender body and wings folded together over the abdomen when at rest. The species has been documented across Middle America and has a global presence according to distribution records. Taxonomic revisions of the genus Argia have been conducted by leading odonate specialists including Rosser Garrison, who has published multiple revisions of this complex genus.
Argia hinei
Lavender Dancer
Argia hinei, commonly known as the Lavender Dancer, is a damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It is native to the western United States and adjacent northern Mexico. The species belongs to the speciose genus Argia, which has been subject to extensive taxonomic revision by Rosser Garrison and colleagues.
Argia immunda
Kiowa Dancer
Argia immunda, the Kiowa dancer, is a species of narrow-winged damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It occurs in Central America and North America. The IUCN lists it as Least Concern with a stable population. Like other members of the genus Argia, it is commonly referred to as a 'dancer' due to its distinctive flight pattern.
Argia lacrimans
Sierra Madre Dancer
Argia lacrimans, commonly known as the Sierra Madre Dancer, is a species of narrow-winged damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It is found in Central America and North America. The IUCN lists this species as Least Concern (LC) with a stable population and no immediate threats to its survival. As a member of the genus Argia, it belongs to the largest genus in the subfamily Argiinae, which is characterized by distinctive jerky flight patterns that contrast with the direct flight of other damselfly groups.
Argia lugens
Sooty Dancer
Argia lugens, commonly known as the sooty dancer, is a narrow-winged damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. The species occurs across Central America and North America. It is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a stable population and no immediate threats to survival. The genus Argia is speciose and has been subject to extensive taxonomic revision by leading Odonata specialists.
Argia munda
Apache Dancer
Argia munda, commonly known as the Apache Dancer, is a species of narrow-winged damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It was described by Calvert in 1902 and is distributed across Central America and North America. The species holds a Least Concern (LC) conservation status from the IUCN, with a stable population and no immediate threats to its survival.
Argia nahuana
Aztec Dancer
Argia nahuana, commonly known as the Aztec Dancer, is a damselfly species in the family Coenagrionidae. It is a member of the diverse genus Argia, which contains approximately 114 species in the Western Hemisphere. The species exhibits distinctive morphological features including a forked dark stripe on the side of the thorax and blue postocular spots.
Argia rhoadsi
golden-winged dancer
Argia rhoadsi, commonly known as the golden-winged dancer, is a species of narrow-winged damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It was described by Calvert in 1902. The species is found in Central America and North America. Its IUCN conservation status is Least Concern (LC) with a stable population and no immediate threats to survival.
Argia tezpi
Tezpi Dancer
Argia tezpi, commonly known as the Tezpi Dancer, is a species of narrow-winged damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It belongs to the speciose genus Argia, which contains approximately 114 species in the Western Hemisphere. The species is currently classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a stable population and no immediate threats to its survival.
Argia tonto
Tonto Dancer
Argia tonto, commonly known as the Tonto Dancer, is a species of narrow-winged damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It is found in Central America and North America. The IUCN lists this species as Least Concern with a stable population and no immediate threats to its survival.
Coenagrion
Eurasian Bluets, Northern Bluets
Coenagrion is a genus of damselflies in the family Coenagrionidae, commonly called Eurasian Bluets or Northern Bluets. Species are generally medium-sized with bright coloration. While predominantly Eurasian in distribution, three species occur in North America: C. angulatum, C. interrogatum, and C. resolutum. The genus exhibits phenotypic plasticity in thermal adaptation, with high-latitude populations showing significant thermal adaptation capacity.
Coenagrion resolutum
taiga bluet
Coenagrion resolutum, commonly known as the taiga bluet, is a damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. Males exhibit blue coloration with black dorsal markings on abdominal segments 3–5, while females appear greenish-blue to yellowish-green with nearly contiguous black dorsal markings. The species has been studied for its larval growth ecology, showing slower development compared to sympatric species like Lestes disjunctus.
Coenagrionidae
Narrow-winged Damselflies, Pond Damselflies
Coenagrionidae is the largest family of damselflies, comprising over 1,300 species across more than 110 genera. Members are commonly known as narrow-winged or pond damselflies. They are distinguished from other damselfly families by wing venation characters, including two antenodal cross veins and the position of vein M3 relative to the nodus and arculus. The family has a worldwide distribution and is divided into six subfamilies: Agriocnemidinae, Argiinae, Coenagrioninae, Ischnurinae, Leptobasinae, and Pseudagrioninae.
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 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 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 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.
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.
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 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.
Lestidae
spreadwings, spread-winged damselflies
Lestidae is a cosmopolitan family of damselflies distinguished by their characteristic wing posture at rest. Most species hold their wings partially or fully spread rather than folded together over the abdomen. The family includes two subfamilies: Lestinae, which rest with wings partly open, and Sympecmatinae (reedlings, ringtails, and winter damselflies), which rest with wings folded. The family contains nine currently recognized genera. Fossil records extend to the Late Eocene.
Nehalennia irene
Sedge Sprite
Nehalennia irene, commonly known as the sedge sprite, is a small damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. The species exhibits female-limited color polymorphism, with two distinct female morphs: an androchrome morph that resembles males in coloration and pattern, and a gynochrome morph that is dissimilar to males. Research indicates complex behavioral interactions between these morphs and males, with differential patterns of attraction, harassment, and refusal displays. The species is found in North America, particularly in association with sedge-dominated wetlands.
Neoerythromma
Yellow-faced Damselflies
Neoerythromma is a small genus of damselflies in the family Coenagrionidae, commonly called yellow-faced damselflies. The genus contains two described species: Neoerythromma cultellatum (Caribbean yellowface) and Neoerythromma gladiolatum. These damselflies are distinguished by yellow markings on the face, a trait referenced in both the common and scientific names. The genus was established by Kennedy in 1920.
Telebasis digiticollis
marsh firetail
Telebasis digiticollis, commonly known as the marsh firetail, is a narrow-winged damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It was described by Calvert in 1902 and is endemic to Central America. The species holds a Least Concern conservation status from the IUCN, indicating stable populations with no immediate threats to survival.
Zoniagrion
exclamation damsel
Zoniagrion is a monotypic genus of damselflies in the family Coenagrionidae, containing a single species, Z. exclamationis. The genus was established by Kennedy in 1917. These are narrow-winged damselflies, placing them within the suborder Zygoptera.
Zoniagrion exclamationis
Exclamation Damsel
Zoniagrion exclamationis, commonly known as the Exclamation Damsel, is a species of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It is the sole species in its genus and is endemic to western North America. The species was first described by Selys in 1876 and is recognized by its distinctive coloration and patterning. It is a relatively well-documented damselfly with over 300 observations recorded on citizen science platforms.