Dragonflies and Damselflies
of Southeastern New York
Alan & Della Wells
Odonata
North America 511 species
New Jersey 182 species
New York 185 species
Damselflies (Zygoptera)
Dragonflies (Anisoptera)
Odonata• At rest, wings meeting above body or partly extended
• Front and hind wings similar in size and shape
• Eyes separated by more than their own width
• Generally, weak fliers
• At rest, wings held horizontally
• Hind wing considerably wider at base than front wing
• Eyes meeting mid-dorsally or closely spaced
• Generally, strong fliers
Damselflies
North America 161 species
New Jersey 54 species
New York 58 species
Broad-winged Damsels
Damselflies
Spreadwings
Pond Damsels
Broad-winged DamselsCalopterygidae
• Wings broad at base
• Wings held together at rest
• Wings with black, brown, amber or red
• 6 NY species
Ebony Jewelwing, Calopteryx maculata
Ebony Jewelwing, Calopteryx maculata
SpreadwingsLestidae
• Wings narrow at base
• Wings spread at rest
• Wings clear or slightly tinted
• Stigmas long, length > 2x width
• 11 NY species
Southern Spreadwing, Lestes australis
Slender Spreadwing, Lestes rectangularis
Sweetflag Spreadwing,
Lestes forcipatus
Swamp Spreadwing, Lestes vigilax
Amber-winged Spreadwing ???, Lestes eurinus
Pond DamselCoenagrionidae
• Wings narrow at base
• Wings usually held together at rest
• Wings clear or slightly tinted
• Stigmas short, length width
• 41 NY species
Pond DamselsCommon Name Genus NY
Bluets (American) Enallagma 24
Dancers Argia 6
Forktails Ischnura 6
Sprites Nehalennia 3
Aurora Damsel Chromagrion 1
Red Damsel Amphiagrion 1
Bluets (Eurasian) Coenagrion 1
How to tell Bluets from Dancers...
Look for,
Tech Note:
Variable (Violet) Dancer, Argia fumipennis
Variable (Violet) Dancer, Argia fumipennis
Powdered Dancer, Argia moesta
Powdered Dancer, Argia moesta
Blue-fronted Dancer, Argia apicalis
Dusky Dancer, Argia translata
Blue-tipped Dancer, Argia tibialis (S1)
Blue-tipped Dancer, Argia tibialis (Blue Form) (S1)
Distinquishing Bluets and related damsels...
From Nikula et al. 2003
Tech Note:
Skimming Bluet, Enallagma geminatum
Stream Bluet, Enallagma exsulans
Turquoise Bluet, Enallagma divagans
Northern Bluet, Enallagma cyathigerum
New England Bluet, Enallagma laterale
Azure Bluet, Enallagma aspersum
Marsh Bluet, Enallagma ebrium
Double-striped Bluet, Enallagma basidens
Familiar Bluet, Enallagma civile
Big Bluet, Enallagma durum
Orange Bluet, Enallagma signatum
Eastern Forktail, Ischnura verticalis
Fragile Forktail, Ischnura posita
Lilypad Forktail, Ischnura kellicotti
Sedge Sprite, Nehalennia irene
Sphagnum Sprite, Nehalennia gracilis
Aurora Damsel, Chromagrion conditum
Dragonflies
North America 350 species
New Jersey 127 species
New York 128 species
Dragonflies
Family NY
Petaltails Petaluridae 1
Darners Aeshnidae 19
Clubtails Gomphidae 34
Spiketails Cordulegastridae 4
Cruisers Macromiidae 2
Emeralds Corduliidae 25
Skimmers Libellulidae 42
PetaltailsPetaluridae
• Size: Large
• Wings: Clear
• Coloration: Gray and black
• Eyes: Dark, widely separated
• Perch: Hanging vertically on tree trunks, on ground
• Flight: Males may patrol up and down tree trunks
Gray Petaltail, Trachopteryx thoreyi
DarnersAeshnidae
• Size: Medium to large
• Wings: Most are clear
• Coloration: Multicolored (brown with blue, green, yellow
• Eyes: Large, meet broadly along a seam (often blue, green, or brown)
• Perch: Most hang vertically or obliquely
• Flight: Fliers, at low to high heights
Common Green Darner, Anax junius
Common Green Darner, Anax junius
Common Green Darner, Anax junius
Springtime Darner,
Basiaeschna janata
Swamp Darner,
Epiaeschna heros
Swamp Darner, Epiaeschna heros
Harlequin Darner, Gomphaeschna furcillata
Green-striped Darner, Aeschna verticalis
Shadow Darner, Aeshna umbrosa
Spatterdock Darner, Aeshna mutata
Tech Note:
How to tell Mosaic Darners apart...
From Nikula et al. 2003
Fawn Darner, Boyeria vinosa
ClubtailsGomphidae
• Size: Small to large
• Wings: Most are clear
• Coloration: Camouflaged color pattern; brown/black with yellow, green, or gray
• Eyes: Widely separated, often green or blue
• Perch: Horizontally on ground, rocks, etc. Often with arched abdomen
• Flight: Perchers; fly at low to medium heights
• Other Characteristics: Often with a flare (club) at end of abdomen
Least Clubtail, Stylogomphus albistylus
Dragonhunter, Hagenius brevistylus
Black-shouldered Spinyleg, Dromogomphus spinosus
Lancet Clubtail, Gomphus exilis
Lilypad Clubtail, Arigomphus furcifer
Unicorn Clubtail, Arigomphus villosipes
Ashy Clubtail, Gomphus lividus
Ashy Clubtail, Gomphus lividus
SpiketailsCordulagasteridae????
• Size: XXXX
• Wings: XXX
• Coloration: XXX
• Eyes: XXX
• Perch: XXX
• Flight: XXX
• Other Characteristics: Two yellow stripes on the side of the thorax
Arrowhead Spiketail, Cordulegaster obliqua
Delta-spotted Spiketail,
Cordulegaster diastatops
Twin-spotted Spiketail, Cordulegaster maculata
Tiger Spiketail, Cordulegaster erronea
CruisersMacromiidae
• Size: XXXX
• Wings: XXX
• Coloration: XXX
• Eyes: XXX
• Perch: XXX
• Flight: XXX
• Other Characteristics: Single yellow stripe on the side of the thorax
Stream Cruiser, Didymops transversa
EmeraldsCorduliidae
• Size: Medium to large
• Wings: Most are clear; club shaped anal loop
• Coloration: Mostly brown/black with yellow spots/stripes; often iridescent bronze/green
• Eyes: Meet broadly along seam; often brilliant green
• Perch: Most hang vertically or obliquely
• Flight: Fliers; fly at medium to high heights
• Other Characteristics: Males often with spindle-shaped abdomen
Emeralds
Skimmers
http://www.bio.georgiasouthern.edu/bio-home/Harvey/dragonkey.html
Technical Note:
Prince Baskettail,
http://www.dragonflies.org/
Prince Baskettail,
Common Baskettail, Epitheca cynosura (?)
Uhler’s Sundragon, Helocordulia uhleri
Clamp-tipped Emerald, Somatochlora tenebrosa
From Nikula et al. 2003
Tech Note:
How to tell Somatochlora apart...
Racket-tailed Emerald, Dorocordulia libera
Unidentified Emerald, Cordulidae
SkimmerLibellulidae
• Size: Small to large
• Wings: Often with conspicuous patterns; foot-shaped anal loop
• Coloration: Colorful, often sexually dichromatic
• Eyes: Meet broadly along seam
• Perch: Horizontally, vertically or obliquely
• Flight: Mostly perchers; fly at low to high heights
Eastern Amberwing, Perithemis tenera
Eastern Amberwing, Perithemis tenera
Blue Dasher, Pachydiplax longipennis
Blue Dasher, Pachydiplax longipennis
Blue Dasher, Pachydiplax longipennis
Eastern Pondhawk, Erythemis simplicollis
Eastern Pondhawk, Erythemis simplicollis
Halloween Pennant, Celithemis eponina
Calico Pennant, Celithemis elisa
Calico Pennant, Celithemis elisa
Banded Pennant, Celithemis fasciata
Painted Skimmer, Libellula semifasciata
Four-spotted Skimmer, Libellula quadrimaculata
Needham’s Skimmer, Libellula needhami (S2S3)
Needham’s Skimmer, Libellula needhami (S2S3)
Spangled Skimmer, Libellula cyanea
Spangled Skimmer, Libellula cyanea
Slaty Skimmer, Libellula incesta
Great Blue Skimmer, Libellula vibrans
Chalk-fronted Corporal, Ladona julia
White Corporal, Ladona exusta
Blue Corporal, Ladona deplanata
Common Whitetail, Plathemis lydia
Common Whitetail, Plathemis lydia
Twelve-spotted Skimmer, Libellula pulchella
Twelve-spotted Skimmer, Libellula pulchella
Widow Skimmer, Libellula luctuosa
Widow Skimmer, Libellula luctuosa
Dot-tailed Whiteface, Leucorrhinia intacta
Dot-tailed Whiteface, Leucorrhinia intacta
Frosted Whiteface, Leucorrhinia frigida
Hudsonian Whiteface, Leucorrhinia hudsonica
White-faced Meadowhawk, Sympetrum obtrusum
Ruby Meadowhawk, Sympetrum rubicundulum
Yellow-legged Meadowhawk, Sympetrum vicinum
Yellow-legged Meadowhawk, Sympetrum vicinum
Band-winged Meadowhawk, Sympetrum semicinctum
Wandering Glider, Pantala flavescens
Black Saddlebags, Tramea lacerata
Twelve-spotted Skimmer + Blue Dasher
Twelve-spotted Skimmer + Blue Dasher
Twelve-spotted Skimmer + Blue Dasher
Twelve-spotted Skimmer + Blue Dasher
Common Whitetail, Libellula (Plathemis) lydia
“I need another male like I need another hole in my head...”
Art Work: C. Berger 2004
Obelisking Meadowhawk, Sympetrum sp.
Reproduction
From: Manolis 2003
Common Whitetail, Libellula (Plathemis) lydia
Common Whitetail, Libellula (Plathemis) lydia
Common Whitetail, Libellula (Plathemis) lydia
Common Whitetail, Libellula (Plathemis) lydia
Great Blue Skimmer,
Libellula vibrans
Ebony Jewelwing, Calopteryx maculata
Dusky Dancer, Argia translata
Powdered Dancer, Argia moesta
Needham’s Skimmer, Libellula needhami
How to Study Dragonflies & Damselflies
Close-focus Binoculars
Field Guide
Dunkle 2000
Equipment, Supplies and Books
For Entomology and Related Sciences
2321 Gladwick Street
Rancho Dominguez, CA 90220, USA
Phone: (310) 667-8800 Fax: (310) 667-8808
Office Hours: 8:00AM - 5:00PM Pacific Time Mon. - Fri.
BioQuip e-mail Directory
http://www.bioquip.com/default.asp
Species MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
All Season Long
Common Green Darner
Spring
Common Baskettail
Common Whitetail
Eastern Forktail
Early Summer
Familiar Bluet
Ebony Jewelwing
Slaty Skimmer
Unicorn Clubtail
Mid Summer
Widow Skimmer
Twelve-spotted Skimmer
Blue Dasher
Eastern Pondhawk
Black Saddlebags
Calico Pennant
Halloween Pennant
Clamp-tailed Emerald
Late Summer
Wandering Glider
Shadow Darner
White-faced Meadowhawk
Ruby Meadowhawk
Cherry-faced Meadowhawk
Late Fall
Yellow-legged Meadowhawk
Flight Seasons
When?
Where? Arden Brook
Where? Ramapo River
Where? Lily Pond
Where? Cheesecote Mountain Pond
Where? Goose Pond Mountain
Dragonflies and Damselflies
of Southeastern New York
Broad-winged Damsels
North America 9 species
New Jersey 5 species
New York 6 species
Spreadwings
North America 19 species
New Jersey 11 species
New York 11 species
Pond Damsels
North America 116 species
New Jersey 38 species
New York 41 species