Offline access enabled

Dragonflies and Damselflies of Alabama

This guide is a reference for identifying all species dragonflies and damselflies reported from Alabama. If you have additions or corrections please send them to jpfriel@ua.edu.

All 180

Cordulegaster maculata (Twin-spotted Spiketail) ¹
Cordulegaster maculata

Arrowhead Spiketail ²
Cordulegaster obliqua

Epitheca costalis (Slender Baskettail) ³
Epitheca costalis

Epitheca cynosura (Common Baskettail) ⁴
Epitheca cynosura

Epitheca princeps (Prince Baskettail) ⁵
Epitheca princeps

Epitheca sepia (Sepia Baskettail)
Epitheca sepia

Epitheca spinosa (Robust Baskettail) ⁶
Epitheca spinosa

Helocordulia selysii (Selys' Sundragon) ⁷
Helocordulia selysii

Helocordulia uhleri (Uhler's Sundragon) ⁸
Helocordulia uhleri

Neurocordulia alabamensis (Alabama Shadowdragon)
Neurocordulia alabamensis

Neurocordulia molesta (Smoky Shadowdragon)
Neurocordulia molesta

Neurocordulia obsoleta (Umber Shadowdragon) ⁹
Neurocordulia obsoleta

Neurocordulia virginiensis (Cinnamon Shadowdragon) ⁶
Neurocordulia virginiensis

Neurocordulia yamaskanensis (Stygian Shadowdragon)
Neurocordulia yamaskanensis

Somatochlora calverti (Calvert's Emerald)
Somatochlora calverti

Somatochlora filosa (Fine-lined Emerald) ⁷
Somatochlora filosa

Somatochlora hineana (Hine's Emerald) ⁶
Somatochlora hineana

Somatochlora linearis (Mocha Emerald) ³
Somatochlora linearis

Somatochlora provocans (Treetop Emerald)
Somatochlora provocans

Somatochlora tenebrosa (Clamp-tipped Emerald) ⁶
Somatochlora tenebrosa

Tachopteryx thoreyi (Gray Petaltail) ¹⁰
Tachopteryx thoreyi

Macromia alleghaniensis (Allegheny River Cruiser) ¹¹
Macromia alleghaniensis

Macromia illinoiensis (Swift River Cruiser) ⁶
Macromia illinoiensis

Macromia margarita (Mountain River Cruiser) ⁸
Macromia margarita

Royal River Cruiser ¹²
Macromia taeniolata

Didymops floridensis (Florida Cruiser) ¹³
Didymops floridensis

Stream Cruiser ¹⁴
Didymops transversa

Blue-fronted Dancer ¹⁵
Argia apicalis

Seepage Dancer ⁴
Argia bipunctulata

Variable Dancer ¹⁶
Argia fumipennis

Smoky-winged Dancer ⁸
Argia fumipennis fumipennis

Violet Dancer ¹⁷
Argia fumipennis violacea

Powdered Dancer ¹⁸
Argia moesta

Blue-ringed Dancer ⁶
Argia sedula

Blue-tipped Dancer ¹⁹
Argia tibialis

Dusky Dancer ²⁰
Argia translata

Azure Bluet ⁴
Enallagma aspersum

Double-striped Bluet ²
Enallagma basidens

Purple Bluet ⁵
Enallagma cardenium

Enallagma civile (Familiar Bluet) ²¹
Enallagma civile

Cherry Bluet ²²
Enallagma concisum

Attenuated Bluet ²³
Enallagma daeckii

Sandhill Bluet ⁸
Enallagma davisi

Turquoise Bluet ²⁴
Enallagma divagans

Atlantic Bluet ²⁵
Enallagma doubledayi

Burgundy Bluet ⁸
Enallagma dubium

Big Bluet ²⁶
Enallagma durum

Stream Bluet ¹⁵
Enallagma exsulans

Skimming Bluet ²
Enallagma geminatum

Pale Bluet ²⁷
Enallagma pallidum

Florida Bluet ⁵
Enallagma pollutum

Orange Bluet ²⁸
Enallagma signatum

Golden Bluet ²⁷
Enallagma sulcatum

Enallagma traviatum (Slender Bluet) ¹⁸
Enallagma traviatum

Enallagma vesperum (Vesper Bluet) ²⁹
Enallagma vesperum

Blackwater Bluet ⁶
Enallagma weewa

Citrine Forktail ¹⁶
Ischnura hastata

Lilypad Forktail ⁶
Ischnura kellicotti

Fragile Forktail ³⁰
Ischnura posita

Furtive Forktail ²⁷
Ischnura prognata

Rambur's Forktail ⁶
Ischnura ramburii

Eastern Forktail ³¹
Ischnura verticalis

Eastern Red Damsel ²⁴
Amphiagrion saucium

Chromagrion conditum (Aurora Damsel) ⁸
Chromagrion conditum

Sphagnum Sprite ⁷
Nehalennia gracilis

Nehalennia integricollis (Southern Sprite) ⁷
Nehalennia integricollis

Telebasis byersi (Duckweed Firetail) ¹⁰
Telebasis byersi

Hetaerina americana (American Rubyspot) ⁹
Hetaerina americana

Hetaerina titia (Smoky Rubyspot) ⁶
Hetaerina titia

Calopteryx angustipennis (Appalachian Jewelwing) ²²
Calopteryx angustipennis

Calopteryx dimidiata (Sparkling Jewelwing) ²²
Calopteryx dimidiata

Ebony Jewelwing ³²
Calopteryx maculata

Great Spreadwing ³³
Archilestes grandis

Lestes australis (Southern Spreadwing) ⁴
Lestes australis

Lestes congener (Spotted Spreadwing) ³⁴
Lestes congener

Lestes forcipatus (Sweetflag Spreadwing) ³¹
Lestes forcipatus

Lestes inaequalis (Elegant Spreadwing) ³⁵
Lestes inaequalis

Lestes rectangularis (Slender Spreadwing) ³¹
Lestes rectangularis

Lestes vidua (Carolina Spreadwing) ¹¹
Lestes vidua

Lestes vigilax (Swamp Spreadwing) ⁹
Lestes vigilax

Edited by John P Friel, John Abbott, and Kendra Abbott, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

Photo Credits

1. (c) Phil Myers, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)
2. (c) summerazure, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)
3. (c) Douglas Mills, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND)
4. (c) Anthony Zukoff, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)
5. (c) Dan Irizarry, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)
6. (c) Greg Lasley, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Greg Lasley
7. (c) Mike Ostrowski, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
8. (c) Jim Johnson, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), uploaded by Jim Johnson
9. (c) Patrick Coin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)
10. (c) Eric Haley, some rights reserved (CC BY)
11. (c) Jessica Louton, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)
12. (c) pondhawk, some rights reserved (CC BY)
13. (c) Paul Bedell, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Paul Bedell
14. (c) Drew Marold, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
15. (c) Lisa Brown, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
16. (c) Kent Miller, some rights reserved (CC BY-ND), uploaded by Kent Miller
17. (c) Lorena, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Lorena
18. (c) Vicki DeLoach, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND)
19. (c) 116916927065934112165, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by 116916927065934112165
20. (c) Andres Hernandez, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)
21. (c) Darrin OBrien, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)
22. (c) Paul Bedell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)
23. (c) Eric Isley, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
24. (c) kestrel360, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND)
25. (c) Elissa Malcohn, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)
26. (c) Larry Meade, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)
27. (c) Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Entomology, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)
28. (c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ken-ichi Ueda
29. (c) Anita363, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), uploaded by Anita363
30. (c) Roger Shaw, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)
31. (c) Dan Mullen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND)
32. (c) Anita, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)
33. (c) David Hofmann, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND)
34. (c) J. N. Stuart, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND)
35. (c) Jason Forbes, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND)

Dragonflies and Damselflies of Alabama

Cordulegaster maculata (Twin-spotted Spiketail) 1 Cordulegaster maculata

Arrowhead Spiketail 2 Cordulegaster obliqua

Epitheca costalis (Slender Baskettail) 3 Epitheca costalis

Epitheca cynosura (Common Baskettail) 4 Epitheca cynosura

Epitheca princeps (Prince Baskettail) 5 Epitheca princeps

Epitheca sepia (Sepia Baskettail) Epitheca sepia

Epitheca spinosa (Robust Baskettail) 6 Epitheca spinosa

Helocordulia selysii (Selys' Sundragon) 7 Helocordulia selysii

Helocordulia uhleri (Uhler's Sundragon) 8 Helocordulia uhleri

Neurocordulia alabamensis (Alabama Shadowdragon) Neurocordulia alabamensis

Neurocordulia molesta (Smoky Shadowdragon) Neurocordulia molesta

Neurocordulia obsoleta (Umber Shadowdragon) 9 Neurocordulia obsoleta

Neurocordulia virginiensis (Cinnamon Shadowdragon) 6 Neurocordulia virginiensis

Neurocordulia yamaskanensis (Stygian Shadowdragon) Neurocordulia yamaskanensis

Somatochlora calverti (Calvert's Emerald) Somatochlora calverti

Somatochlora filosa (Fine-lined Emerald) 7 Somatochlora filosa

Somatochlora hineana (Hine's Emerald) 6 Somatochlora hineana

Somatochlora linearis (Mocha Emerald) 3 Somatochlora linearis

Somatochlora provocans (Treetop Emerald) Somatochlora provocans

Somatochlora tenebrosa (Clamp-tipped Emerald) 6 Somatochlora tenebrosa

Tachopteryx thoreyi (Gray Petaltail) 10 Tachopteryx thoreyi

Macromia alleghaniensis (Allegheny River Cruiser) 11 Macromia alleghaniensis

Macromia illinoiensis (Swift River Cruiser) 6 Macromia illinoiensis

Macromia margarita (Mountain River Cruiser) 8 Macromia margarita

Royal River Cruiser 12 Macromia taeniolata

Didymops floridensis (Florida Cruiser) 13 Didymops floridensis

Stream Cruiser 14 Didymops transversa

Blue-fronted Dancer 15 Argia apicalis

Seepage Dancer 4 Argia bipunctulata

Variable Dancer 16 Argia fumipennis

Smoky-winged Dancer 8 Argia fumipennis fumipennis

Violet Dancer 17 Argia fumipennis violacea

Powdered Dancer 18 Argia moesta

Blue-ringed Dancer 6 Argia sedula

Blue-tipped Dancer 19 Argia tibialis

Dusky Dancer 20 Argia translata

Azure Bluet 4 Enallagma aspersum

Double-striped Bluet 2 Enallagma basidens

Purple Bluet 5 Enallagma cardenium

Enallagma civile (Familiar Bluet) 21 Enallagma civile

Cherry Bluet 22 Enallagma concisum

Attenuated Bluet 23 Enallagma daeckii

Sandhill Bluet 8 Enallagma davisi

Turquoise Bluet 24 Enallagma divagans

Atlantic Bluet 25 Enallagma doubledayi

Burgundy Bluet 8 Enallagma dubium

Big Bluet 26 Enallagma durum

Stream Bluet 15 Enallagma exsulans

Skimming Bluet 2 Enallagma geminatum

Pale Bluet 27 Enallagma pallidum

Florida Bluet 5 Enallagma pollutum

Orange Bluet 28 Enallagma signatum

Golden Bluet 27 Enallagma sulcatum

Enallagma traviatum (Slender Bluet) 18 Enallagma traviatum

Enallagma vesperum (Vesper Bluet) 29 Enallagma vesperum

Blackwater Bluet 6 Enallagma weewa

Citrine Forktail 16 Ischnura hastata

Lilypad Forktail 6 Ischnura kellicotti

Fragile Forktail 30 Ischnura posita

Furtive Forktail 27 Ischnura prognata

Rambur's Forktail 6 Ischnura ramburii

Eastern Forktail 31 Ischnura verticalis

Eastern Red Damsel 24 Amphiagrion saucium

Chromagrion conditum (Aurora Damsel) 8 Chromagrion conditum

Sphagnum Sprite 7 Nehalennia gracilis

Nehalennia integricollis (Southern Sprite) 7 Nehalennia integricollis

Telebasis byersi (Duckweed Firetail) 10 Telebasis byersi

Hetaerina americana (American Rubyspot) 9 Hetaerina americana

Hetaerina titia (Smoky Rubyspot) 6 Hetaerina titia

Calopteryx angustipennis (Appalachian Jewelwing) 22 Calopteryx angustipennis

Calopteryx dimidiata (Sparkling Jewelwing) 22 Calopteryx dimidiata

Ebony Jewelwing 32 Calopteryx maculata

Great Spreadwing 33 Archilestes grandis

Lestes australis (Southern Spreadwing) 4 Lestes australis

Lestes congener (Spotted Spreadwing) 34 Lestes congener

Lestes forcipatus (Sweetflag Spreadwing) 31 Lestes forcipatus

Lestes inaequalis (Elegant Spreadwing) 35 Lestes inaequalis

Lestes rectangularis (Slender Spreadwing) 31 Lestes rectangularis

Lestes vidua (Carolina Spreadwing) 11 Lestes vidua