Dragonfly identification guide University of Houston Coastal Center

Scott Clark - June, 2015

Photography by Scott Clark © 2015, all rights reserved. Contact: scott.clark@gmail.com, 832.723.8339

Quick reference

Halloween pennant, p. 3

Calico pennant, p. 4

Needham’s skimmer, p. 5

Red-tailed pennant, p. 6

Eastern pondhawk, p. 7

Great Blue skimmer, p. 8

Blue dasher, p. 9

Seaside dragonlet, p. 10

Widow skimmer, p. 11

Common whitetail , p. 12

Four-spotted pennant, p. 13

Black saddlebags, p. 14

Swamp darner, p. 15

Marl pennant, p. 16

Eastern amberwing, p. 17

Broad-striped foreceptail, p. 18

Halloween pennant (male) Celithemis eponina Season: April - October Length: 36-42 mm Observation: June 11, 2015, 1:15 PM Location: Perched on rushes at pond Features: Alternating black and orange bands on wings; female same pattern but yellow Similar species: Banded and calico pennants

(female)

(mating pair)

3

Calico pennant (male) Celithemis elisa Season: April - September Length: 29-34 mm Observation: June 10, 2015, 12:45 PM Location: On forbs adjacent to pond Features: Checkerboard abdomen, spots on forewings, large patch on base of hind wing and black wing tips; female yellow. Similar species: Similar pennants either have clear wings or different markings

(female)

4

Needham’s skimmer (male) Libellula needhami Season: May – November Length: 53-56 mm Observation: June 10, 2015, 12:15 PM Location: Perched on sedge at pond Features: Red-orange with orange on front of wing, dark stripe on abdomen, brown legs; female same pattern but yellow with dark tips on wings Similar species: Golden-winged skimmer

(female)

(male)

(female) 5

Red-tailed pennant (juvenile male) Brachymesia furcata Season: May - November Length: 41-46 mm Observation: June 25, 2015, 9:45 AM Location: Perched on rush at pondside Features: Clear wings, orange abdomen with dark spots near end Similar species: Carmine skimmer, Needham’s skimmer

6

Eastern pondhawk (male) Erythemis simplicicollis Season: Year-round Length: 38-44 mm Observation: June 10, 2015, 12:45 PM Location: Perched on sedge at small pond Features: Clear wings, males powdery blue, females green with black/white stripes on abdomen. Similar species: Great pondhawk, Blue dasher

(juvenile male)

(female)

7

Great blue skimmer (male) Platythemis lydia Season: May - September Length: 56-63 mm Observation: June 23, 2015, 10:35 AM Location: In trees at edge of meadow Features: Large, clear wings; male with blue abdomen and thin, smoky tips on wings; female yellow or light blue abdomen with dark stripe, larger dark tips on wings Similar species: Bar-winged and Slaty skimmers

(female, older)

(female)

8

Blue dasher (male) Pachydiplax longipennis Season: March – November Length: 28-45 mm Observation: June 10, 2015, 1:15 PM Location: Edge of pond Features: Small skimmer, white face, striped thorax, abdomen turns blue in mature male; female black and orange stripes on abdomen Similar species: Eastern pondhawk

(female)

(male)

(juvenile female)

9

Seaside dragonlet (female) Platythemis lydia Season: May – November Length: 31-35 mm Observation: June 24, 2015, 2:15 PM Location: Among grass in meadow Features: Mature female with blue thorax, yellow abdomen with dark tip, clear wings; breeds in salt marshes Similar species: Double-ringed pennant

10

Widow skimmer (male) Libellula luctuosa Season: April - September Length: 43-50 mm Observation: June 10, 2015, 12:30 PM Location: Edge of pond Features: Large, dark basal patches on wings with powdery white bars and blue-white abdomen; females lack white spots and have yellow stripes on abdomen Similar species: Twelve-spotted skimmer

(female)

(male with L. needami)

11

Common whitetail (male) Platythemis lydia Season: March – November Length: 38-44 mm Observation: June 11, 2015, 12:30 PM Location: Edge of meadow near pond Features: Large black bands on wings, thick, powdery white abdomen in mature male; female brown abdomen Similar species: Twelve-spotted skimmer, Prince baskettail

(female)

(juvenile male)

12

Four-spotted pennant (female) Brachymesia gravida Season: April - October Length: 47-55 mm Observation: June 10, 2015, 1:15 PM Location: Perched on rushes at west pond Features: Dark brown smudge on all four swings, short, thin abdomen; female with yellow abdomen Similar species: Tawny pennant; Band-winged dragonlet

(male)

13

Black saddlebags (male) Tramea lacerata Season: April – November Length: 51-55 mm Observation: June 25, 2015, 10:15 AM Location: Vegetation across from pond Features: Blue-black thorax and abdomen with dark “saddlebags” on hind wings; female has yellow spots on abdomen Similar species: Sooty, Carolina and Red saddlebags

(female)

14

Swamp darner (male) Epiaeschna heros Season: March – October Length: 82-91 mm Observation: June 23, 2015, 1:30 PM Location: Perched in tree along roadside Features: Large, green/brown stripes on thorax and abdomen, blue eyes Similar species: Regal darner

15

Marl pennant (male) Macrodiplax balteata Season: May – November Length: 37-42 mm Observation: June 23, 2015, 1:30 PM Location: On forbs near west pond Features: Small, clear wings, dark patches on hind wings; dark male, female yellow with white face Similar species: Double-ringed pennant

(female)

(male)

16

Eastern amberwing (male) Perithemis tenera Season: March – November Length: 20-25 mm Observation: June 24, 2015, 1:15 PM Location: East meadow in high grass Features: Small, amber wings, pattern on thick abdomen distinctive; female with dark markings on wings Similar species: Mexican and Slough amberwing

(female)

17

Broad-striped forceptail (female) Aphylla angustifolia Season: May – October Length: 62-68 mm Observation: June 21, 2015, 12:30 PM Location: Among grass meadow Features: Long, thin abdomen with clubtail at the end; broad yellow stripes on brown thorax in female, dark bands on male abdomen Similar species: Narrow-striped forceptail

(male)

18