Greg Lasley Nature Photography
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North American Dragonflies and Damselflies
(Including Mexico)

Below will be a collection of dragonfly and damselfly photos from North America, including Mexico. Go to my African Odonate page as well. Though I've photographed birds for 30 years, the Odonata are all new subjects for me. Be patient as I add more species. Thanks! My sincere thanks to John Abbott, Bob Behrstock, Sid Dunkle, Ted Eubanks, Dennis Paulson, Chuck Sexton, Martin Reid and John Ingram for helping me learn more about the Odonates and for coaching me through many field identifications during the time when I was just getting started with these fascinating bugs. The majority of the below photos are from Texas as of February, 2006, but I am adding many out-of-state images of odonates as I travel. The reader should visit the Odonata Central web site maintained by Dr. John Abbott at the University of Texas at Austin. This site contains information on all the odonata of the U.S. with an emphasis on the south-central United States. Many links to other web sites of interest can be found there as well.

Most of the photos displayed here are of wild bugs which were photographed totally free. There are a few exceptions, which were taken of a dragonfly "in hand" to show close-up detail of the thorax, etc. Any "in hand" shot will be obvious. Some odonate species seldom perch for photographs. On some occasions I have photographed "posed" dragonflies. Posed dragonflies are netted and are to be saved as specimens, but are arranged in a natural position for photographs before being collected. I have done this only for species which are almost impossible to photograph naturally and when the insect was to be collected anyway. Such photos will be labeled as "posed" in all cases.

Note: Within each family group of odonates below, the insects are arranged alphabetically by genus and species.
 
Broad-winged Damsel Family (Calopterygidae)
River Jewelwing (Calopteryx aequabilis)
Sparkling Jewelwing (Calopteryx dimidiata)
Ebony Jewelwing (Calopteryx maculata)
American Rubyspot (Hetaerina americana)
Smoky Rubyspot (Hetaerina titia)
Canyon Rubyspot (Hetaerina vulnerata)

Spreadwing Damsel Family (Lestidae)
Great Spreadwing (Archilestes grandis)
Plateau Spreadwing (Lestes alacer)
Southern Spreadwing (Lestes australis)
Northern Spreadwing (Lestes disjunctus)
Emerald Spreadwing (Lestes dryas)
Amber-winged Spreadwing (Lestes eurinus)
Rainpool Spreadwing (Lestes forficula)
Slender Spreadwing (Lestes rectangularis)
Chalky Spreadwing (Lestes sigma)
Lyre-tipped Spreadwing (Lestes unguiculatus)
Swamp Spreadwing (Lestes vigilax)

Threadtail Family (Protoneuridae)
Coral-fronted Threadtail (Neoneura aaroni)
Amelia's Threadtail (Neoneura amelia)
Orange-striped Threadtail (Protoneura cara)

Narrow-winged (or Pond) Damsel Family (Coenagrionidae)
Mexican Wedgetail (Acanthagrion quadratum)
Blue-fronted Dancer (Argia apicalis)
Comanche Dancer (Argia barretti)
Seepage Dancer (Argia bipunctulata)
Coppery Dancer (Argia cuprea)
Variable Dancer (Argia fumipennis)
Lavender Dancer (Argia hinei)
Kiowa Dancer (Argia immunda)
Leonora's Dancer (Argia leonorae)
Sooty Dancer (Argia lugens)
Powdered Dancer (Argia moesta)
Apache Dancer (Argia munda)
Aztec Dancer (Argia nahuana)
Fiery-eyed Dancer (Argia oenea)
Amethyst Dancer (Argia pallens)
Springwater Dancer (Argia plana)
Golden-winged Dancer (Argia rhoadsi)
Blue-ringed Dancer (Argia sedula)
Blue-tipped Dancer (Argia tibialis)
Dusky Dancer (Argia translata)
River Bluet (Enallagma anna)
Northern Bluet (Enallagma annexum) formerly E. cyathigerum
Rainbow Bluet (Enallagma antennatum)
Azure Bluet (Enallagma aspersum)
Double-striped Bluet (Enallagma basidens)
Alkali Bluet (Enallagma clausum)
Familiar Bluet (Enallagma civile)
Turquoise Bluet (Enallagma divagans)
Stream Bluet (Enallagma exsulans)
Skimming Bluet (Enallagma geminatum)
Hagan's Bluet (Enallagma hageni)
Neotropical Bluet (Enallagma novaehispaniae)
Arroyo Bluet (Enallagma praevarum)
Orange Bluet (Enallagma signatum)
Painted Damsel (Hesperagrion heterodoxum)
Desert Forktail (Ischnura barberi)
Plains Forktail (Ischnura damula)
Mexican Forktail (Ischnura demorsa)
Black-fronted Forktail (Ischnura denticollis)
Citrine Forktail (Ischnura hastata)
Lilypad Forktail (Ischnura kellicotti)
Western Forktail (Ischnura perparva)
Fragile Forktail (Ischnura posita)
Rambur's Forktail (Ischnura ramburii)
Eastern Forktail (Ischnura verticalis)
Southern Sprite (Nehalennia integricollis)
Sedge Sprite (Nehalennia irene)
Caribbean Yellowface (Neoerythromma cultellatum)
Desert Firetail (Telebasis salva)
Striped Firetail (Telebasis filiola)

Petaltail Family (Petaluridae)
Gray Petaltail (Tachopteryx thoreyi)

Darner Family (Aeshnidae)
Canada Darner (Aeshna canadensis)
Lake Darner (Aeshna eremita)
Shadow Darner (Aeshna umbrosa)
Common Green Darner (Anax junius)
Comet Darner (Anax longipes)
Springtime Darner (Basiaeschna janata)
Fawn Darner (Boyeria vinosa)
Giant Darner (Anax walsinghami)
Blue-faced Darner (Coryphaeschna adnexa)
Regal Darner (Coryphaeschna ingens)
Swamp Darner (Epiaeschna heros)
Harlequin Darner (Gomphaeschna furcillata)
Bar-sided Darner (Gynacantha mexicana)
Arroyo Darner (Rhionaeschna dugesi)
Blue-eyed Darner (Rhionaeschna multicolor)
Turquoise-tipped Darner (Rhionaeschna psilus)

Anax concolor (new U.S. record discovered by Dennis Paulson 5 June 2005)

Clubtail Family (Gomphidae)
Broad-striped Forceptail (Aphylla angustifolia)
Narrow-striped Forceptail (Aphylla protracta)
Two-striped Forceptail (Aphylla williamsoni)
Stillwater Clubtail (Arigomphus lentulus)
Jade Clubtail (Arigomphus submedianus)
Southeastern Spinyleg (Dromogomphus armatus)
Black-shouldered Spinyleg (Dromogomphus spinosus)
Flag-tailed Spinyleg (Dromogomphus spoliatus)
Eastern Ringtail (Erpetogomphus designatus)
Blue-faced Ringtail (Erpetogomphus eutainia)
Moustached Clubtail (Gomphus adelphus)
Banner Clubtail (Gomphus apomyius)
Lancet Clubtail (Gomphus exilis)
Plains Clubtail (Gomphus externus)
Pronghorn Clubtail (Gomphus graslinellus)
Cocoa Clubtail (Gomphus hybridus)
Ashy Clubtail (Gomphus lividus)
Sulphur-tipped Clubtail (Gomphus militaris)
Oklahoma Clubtail (Gomphus oklahomensis)
Cobra Clubtail (Gomphus vastus)
Dragonhunter (Hagenius brevistylus)
Boreal Snaketail (Ophiogomphus colubrinus)
Rusty Snaketail (Ophiogomphus rupinsulensis)
Five-striped Leaftail (Phyllogomphoides albrighti)
Four-striped Leaftail (Phyllogomphoides stigmatus)
(comparison page of the two leaftails; field identification)
Gray Sanddragon (Progomphus borealis)
Common Sanddragon (Progomphus obscurus)
Eastern Least Clubtail (Stylogomphus albistylus)
Riverine Clubtail (Stylurus amnicola)
Russet-tipped Clubtail (Stylurus plagiatus)
Zebra Clubtail (Stylurus scudderi)

Spiketail Family (Cordulegastridae)
Arrowhead Spiketail (Cordulegaster obliqua)

Cruiser Family (Macromiidae)
Stream Cruiser (Didympos transversa)
Bronzed River Cruiser (Macromia annulata)
Swift River Cruiser (Macromia illinoiensis) AKA Illinois River Cruiser and Georgia River Cruiser
Royal River Cruiser (Macromia taeniolata)

Emerald Family (Corduliidae)
Racket-tailed Emerald (Dorocordulia libera)
Broad-tailed Shadowdragon (Neurocordulia michaeli)
Prince Baskettail (Epitheca [Epicordulia] princeps)
Slender Baskettail (Epitheca [Tetragoneuria] costalis)
Common Baskettail (Epitheca [Tetragoneuria] cynosura)
Dot-winged Baskettail (Epitheca [Tetragoneuria] petechialis)
Mantled Baskettail (Epitheca [Tetragoneuria] semiaquea)
Robust Baskettail (Epitheca [Tetragoneuria] spinosa)
Unknown Baskettail (Epitheca [Tetragoneuria] species?)
Selys' Sundragon (Helocordulia selysii)
Mocha Emerald (Somatochlora linearis)
Clamp-tipped Emerald (Somatochlora tenebrosa)

Skimmer Family (Libellulidae)
Red-tailed Pennant (Brachymesia furcata)
Four-spotted Pennant (Brachymesia gravida)
Pale-faced Clubskimmer (Brechmorhoga mendax)
Gray-waisted Skimmer (Cannaphila insularis)
Amanda's Pennant (Celithemis amanda)
Calico Pennant (Celithemis elisa)
Halloween Pennant (Celithemis eponina)
Banded Pennant (Celithemis fasciata)
Scarlet Skimmer (Crocothemis servilia)
Checkered Setwing (Dythemis fugax)
Mayan Setwing (Dythemis maya)
Black Setwing (Dythemis nigrescens)
Swift Setwing (Dythemis velox)
Black Pondhawk (Erythemis attala)
Western Pondhawk (Erythemis collocata)
Pin-tailed Pondhawk (Erythemis plebja)
Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis)
Great Pondhawk (Erythemis vesiculosa)
Plateau Dragonlet (Erythrodiplax basifusca)
Seaside Dragonlet (Erythrodiplax berenice)
Little Blue Dragonlet (Erythrodiplax minuscula)
Band-winged Dragonlet (Erythrodiplax umbrata)
Blue Corporal (Ladona deplanata)
Chalk-fronted Corporal (Ladona julia)
Frosted Whiteface (Leucorrhinia frigida)
Crimson-ringed Whiteface (Leucorrhinia glacialis)
Dot-tailed Whiteface (Leucorrhinia intacta)
Belted Whiteface (Leucorrhinia proxima)
Golden-winged Skimmer (Libellula auripennis)
Comanche Skimmer (Libellula comanche)
Neon Skimmer (Libellula croceipennis)
Spangled Skimmer (Libellula cyanea)
Yellow-sided Skimmer (Libellula flavida)
Slaty Skimmer (Libellula incesta)
Widow Skimmer (Libellula luctuosa)
Needham's Skimmer (Libellula needhami)
Twelve-spotted Skimmer (Libellula pulchella)
Four-spotted Skimmer (Libellula quadrimaculata)
Flame Skimmer (Libellula saturata)
Painted Skimmer (Libellula semifasciata)
Great Blue Skimmer (Libellula vibrans)
Marl Pennant (Macrodiplax balteata)
Ivory-striped Sylph (Macrothemis imitans)
Straw-colored Sylph (Macrothemis inacuta)
Jade-striped Sylph (Macrothemis inequiunguis)
Hyacinth Glider (Miathyria marcella)
Spot-tailed Dasher (Micrathyria aequalis)
Thornbush Dasher (Micrathyria hagenii)
Orange-bellied Skimmer (Orthemis discolor)
(also known as Carmine Skimmer)
Roseate Skimmer (Orthemis ferruginea)
Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis)
Red Rock Skimmer (Paltothemis lineatipes)
Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens)
Spot-winged Glider (Pantala hymenaea)
Slough Amberwing (Perithemis domitia)
Eastern Amberwing (Perithemis tenera)
Common Whitetail (Plathemis lydia)
Filigree Skimmer (Pseudoleon superbus)
Blue-faced Meadowhawk (Sympetrum ambiguum)
Variegated Meadowhawk (Sympetrum corruptum)
Saffron-winged Meadowhawk (Sympetrum costiferum)
Cardinal Meadowhawk (Sympetrum illotum)
White-faced Meadowhawk (Sympetrum obtrusum)
Ruby Meadowhawk (Sympetrum rubicundulum)
Autumn Meadowhawk (Sympetrum vicinum)
Striped Saddlebags (Tramea calverti)
Antillean Saddlebags (Tramea insularis)
Black Saddlebags (Tramea lacerata)
Red Saddlebags (Tramea onusta)

Other Shots

Dragonfly Predators: Some shots of some other creatures who prey on dragons.
Unknown dragonfly from the Galapagos Islands
Unknown damselfly from Chiapas, Mexico
Unknown Baskettail (Epitheca [Tetragoneuria] species?)