Odonata of the Anacostia River Watershed

Widow Skimmer

Widow Skimmer (Libellula luctuosa) is one of the group of dragonflies known as king skimmers. The nymphs live in the water, molting and growing until they are ready to emerge from the water and then molting a final time to reveal their wings.

Blue-fronted Dancer

The blue-fronted dancer (Argia apicalis) is a species of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae, native to parts of North America. It was first described by the American zoologist Thomas Say in 1840. It is a common species with a wide range and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern".

Halloween Pennant

The Halloween pennant (Celithemis eponina) is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. It is native to eastern North America, including Ontario in Canada and the United States as far west as Colorado.

Vesper Bluet

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Spot-winged Glider

Pantala hymenaea (spot-winged glider) is a dragonfly of the family Libellulidae. It looks very much like the wandering glider with the addition of a basal spot on the hindwing....

Black Saddlebags

The black saddlebags (Tramea lacerata) is a species of skimmer dragonfly found throughout North America. It has distinctive wings with characteristic black blotches at their proximal ends, which make the dragonfly look as though it is wearing saddlebags.

Blue Dasher

The blue dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) is a dragonfly of the skimmer family. It is the only species in the genus Pachydiplax. It is very common and widely distributed through North America and into the Bahamas.

Eastern Amberwing

The eastern amberwing (Perithemis tenera) is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. It is very small, reaching a total length of no more than 25 mm. The males have orange or amber wings. Both genders have a red pterostigma. The eastern amberwing dragonfly is one of the only types of dragonfly that actively mimics a wasp. The yellow and brown stripes on its abdomen ...more ↓

Eastern Pondhawk

Erythemis simplicicollis, the eastern pondhawk, also known as the common pondhawk, is a dragonfly of the family Libellulidae, native to the eastern two-thirds of the United States and southern Ontario and Quebec, Canada. It is a dragonfly of ponds and still waters. The species is distinguished in that the female is bright green with a banded abdomen and the mature ...more ↓

Calico Pennant

The calico pennant (Celithemis elisa) is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. It is native to eastern Canada and eastern United States.

Shadow Darner

The shadow darner (Aeshna umbrosa) is a species of dragonfly in the family Aeshnidae. It is found in almost all of Canada and most states in the United States.

Common Green Darner

The green darner or common green darner (Anax junius), after its resemblance to a darning-needle, is a species of dragonfly in the family Aeshnidae. One of the most common and abundant species throughout North America, it also ranges south to Panama. It is well known for its great migration distance from the northern United States south into Texas and Mexico. It also occurs in ...more ↓

Autumn Meadowhawk

Sympetrum vicinum, the yellow-legged meadowhawk or autumn meadowhawk, is a member of the Libellulidae family and grows to 26–35 mm long.

Carolina Saddlebags

Tramea carolina, the Carolina saddlebags, is a species of dragonfly native to eastern North America.

Needham's Skimmer

Libellula needhami, or Needham's skimmer, is a species of skimmer in the family of dragonflies known as Libellulidae. It is found in the Caribbean, Central America, and North America.

Rambur's Forktail

Rambur's forktail (Ischnura ramburii) is a member of the damselfly family Coenagrionidae. Males are green with blue on abdominal segments 8 and 9. Females are orange-red, olive green, or similar to males in coloration. This is the most widespread New World Ischnura, occurring throughout the Americas from the United States to Chile, as well as Hawaii and the Antilles.

Twelve-spotted Skimmer

The twelve-spotted skimmer (Libellula pulchella) is a common North American skimmer dragonfly, found in southern Canada and in all 48 of the contiguous U.S. states.

Ebony Jewelwing

The ebony jewelwing (Calopteryx maculata) is a species of broad-winged damselfly. It is one of about 170 species of Odonata, found in the eastern U.S. and southeastern Canada, ranging west to the Great Plains. Other common names include black-winged damselfly.

Common Whitetail

The common whitetail or long-tailed skimmer (Plathemis lydia) is a common dragonfly across much of North America, with a striking and unusual appearance. The male's chunky white body (about 5 cm or 2 inches long), combined with the brownish-black bands on its otherwise translucent wings, give it a checkered look. Females have a brown body and a different pattern of wing ...more ↓

Eastern Forktail

Eastern forktail (Ischnura verticalis) is a member of the damselfly family Coenagrionidae.

Comet Darner

The comet darner (Anax longipes) is a common species of dragonfly of the family Aeshnidae.

Great Spreadwing

The great spreadwing (Archilestes grandis) is a damselfly in the family Lestidae. When great spreadwings are startled they often return to the same perch or a perch nearby.

Seepage Dancer

Argia bipunctulata, the seepage dancer, is a species of narrow-winged damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It is found in North America.

Variable Dancer

The variable dancer (Argia fumipennis) is a damselfly of the family Coenagrionidae. It is native to North America, where it is widespread throughout the east and present in the interior western United States.

Powdered Dancer

The powdered dancer (Argia moesta) is a damselfly of the family Coenagrionidae. It is native to North America. It may be seen year-round in at least some of its range.

Blue-tipped Dancer

Argia tibialis, the blue-tipped dancer, is a species of narrow-winged damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It is found in Central America and North America.

Unicorn Clubtail

Arigomphus villosipes, the unicorn clubtail, is a species of clubtail in the family of dragonflies known as Gomphidae. It is found in North America.

Banded Pennant

Celithemis fasciata (banded pennant) is a dragonfly in the skimmer family. It is native to the United States, where it is found in the south-central, southeastern, and eastern regions.

Stream Cruiser

Didymops transversa, the stream cruiser, is a species of cruiser in the family of dragonflies known as Corduliidae. It is found in North America.

Black-shouldered Spinyleg

Black-shouldered spinyleg (Dromogomphus spinosus) is a species of dragonflies in the family Gomphidae.

Azure Bluet

Enallagma aspersum, the azure bluet, is a species of narrow-winged damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It is found in North America.

Familiar Bluet

The familiar bluet (Enallagma civile) is a damselfly of the family Coenagrionidae, native to much of the United States and southern Canada.

Big Bluet

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Stream Bluet

The stream bluet (Enallagma exsulans) is a species of American bluet damselflies in the family Coenagrionidae. Its length is 29–37 mm. Many bluet species prefer ponds and lakes; the stream bluet as its name implies is most at home along moving waters. It can be found along small to medium-sized rivers. It is occasionally found at lakes too. In many species of damselflies the ...more ↓

Skimming Bluet

Enallagma geminatum, the skimming bluet, is a species of narrow-winged damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It is found in North America.

Orange Bluet

The orange bluet (Enallagma signatum) is a species of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae.

Slender Bluet

Enallagma traviatum is a species of small damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It is commonly known as the slender bluet. The slender is small about 29–32 mm in length.

Swamp Darner

Epiaeschna heros, the swamp darner, is a species of darner in the dragonfly family Aeshnidae. It is found in the Caribbean Sea and North America.

Common Baskettail

The common baskettail (Epitheca cynosura) is a dragonfly of the Corduliidae family. The thorax is brown and hairy. Some specimens have a triangular spot at the base of the hindwing. Individuals are difficult to distinguish from the other species in this genus. The caudal appendages (structures at the tip of the abdomen) differ between the species and can be compared with known ...more ↓

Prince Baskettail

Epitheca princeps, the prince baskettail, is a species of emerald dragonfly in the family Corduliidae. It is found in North America.

Dragonhunter

The dragonhunter (Hagenius brevistylus) is a clubtail dragonfly of the eastern United States and southeastern Canada.

Citrine Forktail

The citrine forktail (Ischnura hastata) is a damselfly of the family Coenagrionidae.

Lilypad Forktail

Ischnura kellicotti, the lilypad forktail, is a species of narrow-winged damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It is found in North America.

Fragile Forktail

Ischnura posita, the fragile forktail, is a species of damselfly in the genus Ischnura. It is 21 to 29 mm long. It is native to most all of eastern North America.

Blue Corporal

The blue corporal (Ladona deplanata), also known as little corporal, is a dragonfly in the Libellulidae, or skimmer family. First described as Libellula deplanata by Jules Pierre Rambur in 1842, it is common across much of the eastern United States.

Elegant Spreadwing

Lestes inaequalis is a species of damselfly in the family Lestidae, the spreadwings. This species is known commonly as the elegant spreadwing. It is native to eastern North America, including eastern Canada and the United States.

Slender Spreadwing

Lestes rectangularis is a species of damselfly in the family Lestidae, the spreadwings. It is known by the common name slender spreadwing. It is native to eastern North America, including eastern Canada and the United States.

Golden-winged Skimmer

Libellula auripennis, the golden-winged skimmer, is a species of skimmer in the family Libellulidae. It is found in North America.

Spangled Skimmer

Libellula cyanea, the spangled skimmer, is a species of dragonfly in the Libellula genus, native to the United States of America. Males have blue a throax and admomen.

Slaty Skimmer

Libellula incesta, the slaty skimmer, is a dragonfly of the skimmer family, native to eastern United States and southern Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick. Adults are 5.28 cm (2.08 in) long. Mature males are dark blue with black heads. Females and juveniles have brown abdomens with a darker stripe down their backs. Adults fly from June to August.

Painted Skimmer

Libellula semifasciata, the painted skimmer, is an uncommon eastern North American skimmer dragonfly, found from New Brunswick, Canada as far south as Texas and Florida.

Great Blue Skimmer

The great blue skimmer (Libellula vibrans) is a dragonfly of the skimmer family. With a total length of 50 to 63 mm, it is one of the largest skimmers. The immature forms of the skimmer are brown in color and mature forms are blue-hued. This species is found near lakes, ponds, and slow streams in the eastern United States and rarely in southern Ontario.

Cyrano Darner

Wandering Glider

Pantala flavescens, the globe skimmer, globe wanderer or wandering glider, is a wide-ranging dragonfly of the family Libellulidae. This species and Pantala hymenaea, the "spot-winged glider", are the only members of the genus Pantala from the subfamily Pantalinae. It was first described by Fabricius in 1798. It is considered to be the most ...more ↓