CALIFORNIA DRAGONFLIES

CALIFORNIA DRAGONFLIES
aka CALIFORNIA ANISOPTERA
Checklists originally provided by Ron Lyons
with COMMON (English) NAMES OF DRAGONFLIES
as originally adopted by the Dragonfly Society of the Americas
(Argia, vol.8, no.2, 1 August 1996)
with all current revisions.
Information for this site has been collected and edited Kathy Biggs who assumes full responsibility.

New links &/or information was added to this page or at least one of the pages of
CA Dragonflies in
2008
TWO new species were added to CA records 10-2006; and one in 2007

The CA distribution maps were last updated 2006.
Click here to access distribution in nearby states
Request an Excel chart of CA Dragonfly distribution by county by emailing Kathy

A California Dragonfly Discussion Group, the CalOdes group at Yahoo! Groups, was formed in January 2002.
To learn more about &/or join the CalOdes group, please visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CalOdes.
Click here to go to a list of programs and field trips being given about CA's Dragonflies
shortcut to Skimmers, or to Emeralds, or to Darners, or to Clubtails or to Spiketail, or to Cruiser, or to Petaltail, or to Damselflies
I began this site in 1997 due to my frustrations in trying to identify the dragonflies that came to visit our garden pond. I found there were no identification guides for the species found in California. Therefore I began searching the Internet, libraries and museums for checklists, photographs and information. I want to especially thank Ron Lyons who made available the original Checklist of CA Species and who was a great beginning `tutor' in all things Odonata. I'd also like to thank Dennis Paulson of Washington, who along with Rosser Garrison of Los Angeles, did the research in the 1970s that was used to create Ron's California species list. All three of them have been invaluable tutors to me in learning about these fascinating insects. I especially consider Dennis Paulson to be my mentor as he has answered my questions over the past years via email no matter how trivial. Also of great encouragement and help have been these other experts, any of which I'm certain would also be willing to help you if you have questions: Andy Rehn, the staff at the California Academy of Science's Department of Entomology, Roy Beckemeyer of Kansas, Bob Barber of New Jersey and Mark O'Brien of Michigan, and our original dragonfly 'buddy', Tim Manolis.
I want to also thank, of course, all the photographers who have shared their pictures and/or allowed me to link to their sites in the web sites photo column. These photos have made learning to identify dragonflies and damselflies possible.
Distribution Maps are based on information originally collected by Dennis Paulson and updated by confirmed sightings or specimens found in musuem &/or private collections. If you find a species in a new county please contact Kathy and/or Tim.
The links in the first column are for images not available on other websites. To find out more about where and /or when any of the pictures were taken, please contact the photographer directly (their emails are at the bottom of the 'sightings' page).

Species from all 7 American dragonfly families occur in California. Click on a family name &/or image below to go to a `web page' which lists and describes each genus and species present in California and which includes descriptions, links to photographs, scannings and sketches.
Hopefully the small photographs/scannings on this `front page' of the family album will be useful in helping you to determine more about the appearance of specific families. Thank you to Dennis Paulson, Blair Nikula and others for allowing me to use their fine quality pictures and scans on this family and on the genus pages. I hope you find this website helpful. I'm always open to suggestions and contributions! Please inform me if you have any problems with this site or its contents Kathy Biggs

References to pictures/drawings/scans are as follows:
CA Dragonflies = Common Dragonflies of California, A Beginner's Pocket Guide by Kathy Biggs 2000
CA Dragons&Damsels = Dragonflies and Damselflies of California by Tim Manolis. UCPress. April 2003
CA+SW Dragonflies = Dragonflies of California and Common Dragonflies of the Southwest, A Beginner's Pocket Guide by Kathy Biggs 2006
SW Dragonflies = Common Dragonflies the Southwest, A Beginner's Pocket Guide by Kathy Biggs 2004 - includes CA
Dragonflies N.A. = Dragonflies of North America by James G. Needham, Minter J. Westfall, Jr., Michael L. May 2000
Dragonflies through Binoculars = Dragonflies through Binoculars, A Field Guide to Dragonflies of North America by Sidney W. Dunkle 2000
LA Insects = Insects of the Los Angeles Basin by Charles Hogue
Dragonflies of Washington = Dragonflies of Washington by Dennis Paulson, Seattle Audubon Society 1999
Stokes Guide = Beginner's Guide to Dragonflies by Blair Nikula, Jackie Sones. A Stokes Guide. May 2002
CA Insects = California Insects by Jerry Powell and Charles Hogue
Audubon Guide = Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Insects and Spiders
* = link to photograph/scanning(s) available to see at this Internet website

Scientific Name
Common Name
Descriptions
Habitat/Flight Dates
Picture in book
*Photo/scan at website

ANISOPTERA
DRAGONFLIES
large and heavy-bodied; ordinarily larger than damselflies
wings usually held open and mostly flat when perched
eyes close together, often touching and forming a seam
strong fliers; a few are even migratory
males have a bump under their second abdominal segment and three terminal abdominal appendages
all females have only two terminal abdominal appendages; in some families they also have an ovipositor
most dragonflies lay their eggs directly into the water
California has more than 60 species representing all seven American dragonfly families

Sketch by Barbara Chasteen
CA Dragonflies p. 12
CA Dragons&Damsels p. 4, 6-9
CA+SW & SW Dragonflies p. 10
Dragonflies through Binoculars p. 6
Dragonflies N.A. p. 1-54, 94
Stokes Guide - inside back cover
*Dragonflies of the Southwest

FAMILY Libellulidae
Skimmers
New links
&/or information
was added at this site
in 2008
Two new species added to CA records 10-2006!
aka: Common Skimmers
15 CA genera with 41 species as of 10-2006
sizes: quite variable; lengths 21 - 61 mm
the most common of the families
males: showy non-metallic colors;
some have patterned wings;
bodies shorter than wingspans (30 -102 mm);
some males develop a pruinose covering over their abdomens &/or thorax as they mature
females: usually less colorful than males;
most different colored than males - often brown & yellow;
usually having similar wing markings to the male of the species
habitats: still waters
behaviors: perch horizontally and fly out to hawk prey;
glide while flying;
most females oviposit by scattering eggs on water's surface
1 Whitefaces -small; mostly black; dark eyes and bright white faces; found in the mountains
2 King Skimmers -common; showy; hold wings out flat; some have patterned wings
3 Dasher & Pondhawk - males are blue; females green or plaid; perch with wings held forward
4 Gliders - strong flyers; often seen after change in weather; perch by hanging
5 Meadowhawks - small; most reddish; perch with wings held forward: most abundant in the fall
6 Saddlebags -dark areas at hind wing base; strong flyers
7 other genera - several other genera with only one species; found mostly in the deserts
nymph are short, wide, sprawl

1
2
2
3
4
5
6
7 and other genera
Photos by Kathy Biggs
CA Dragonflies p. 13
CA Dragons&Damsels p. 123
CA+SW & SW Dragonflies p. 11
Dragonflies through Binoculars p. 168
Audubon Guide, naiad pl. 42
Dragonflies N.A. key p.95-100, 612-842
Stokes Guide - inside front cover; p. 39
*Skimmers of the Southwest

FAMILY Corduliidae
Emeralds
New links &/or information
were added at this site
in 2007
aka Green-eyed Skimmers
3 CA genera; 5 species
sizes: medium - large with length of 42 - 52 mm
males: often dark having brilliant metallic tones;
some, however, have bodies that are patterned;
all have emerald green eyes and abdomens that are expanded at the midpoint
females: like the males except their bodies are more stout with a more even shape
habitats: wooded ponds and streams in the mountains
behaviors: they emergence in mass;
perch by hanging;
strong, fast and erratic flyers;
often fly for only short periods during day
Baskettails: - 2 species - non-metallic colors; brown and yellow patterned; hairy thoraxes;
found at lower elevations than others; often fly at waist height along trails and paths in sunlit areas
American Emerald: 1 species - metallic green with divergent forked appendages
Striped Emeralds: 2 species - metallic green; high flyers
they look like the American but the appendages are pointed inwards and longer
nymph: hairy, dark colored

Scans by Kathy Biggs
CA Dragonflies p. 38
CA Dragons&Damsels p. 123
CA+SW & SW Dragonflies p. 54
Dragonflies through Binoculars p. 135 text
Dragonflies N.A. key p.95-100, p. 81-82
sketches 494-500, 508-573 text
Stokes Guide - inside front cover; p. 38
*Emeralds of the Southwest

FAMILY Aeshnidae
Darners
New links &/or information
were added at this site in 2007
A new species added to CA records 9-2007!
3 CA genera:
1. Mosaic Darners, Aeshna - 5 CA species
2. Tropical Darners, Rhionaeschna - 3 CA species (9/07)
3. Green Darners, Anax - 2 CA species
sizes: large, robust and fast; lengths 57 - 110 mm with wingspans to 150 mm
both sexes: large eyes meet center of head and form a seam
males: brilliant blues, greens or browns with clear wings
females: 2 or more color forms; usually with green and/or brown and/or purple where males are blue; less common form is colored similarly to the males
habitats: lakes, creeks, rivers; fields
behaviors: usually seen in flight;
patrol waterways but also often seen catching insects over fields;
perch by hanging vertically;
some swarm; some migrate
females oviposit into floating vegetation
Mosaic Darners - 5 species; large eyes; quite similar; stripes on thorax; mosaic pattern on abdomen
view appendages through hand-lens to determine species
Tropical Darners - (recently split from the Aeshna genus): Similar to the Mosaic Darners, but with a small bump under the 1st segment of both males and females
Green Darners - 2 species; both very similar except for Giant Darner's very large size; thorax solid colored;
the Common Green Darner is known to be a mass migrant in California
1&2.
3.
Scans by Kathy Biggs
CA Dragonflies p. 42, 47
CA Dragons&Damsels p. 92
CA+SW & SW Dragonflies p. 58
Dragonflies through Binoculars p. 132 text
Audubon Guide - naiad pl. 43
Dragonflies N.A. key p.95-100, p. 54-59
sketches 110-166
Stokes Guide - inside front cover; p. 34
*Darners of the Southwest

FAMILY Gomphidae
Clubtails
New links
&/or information
was added at this site
in 2007
aka Club-tails
6 CA genera: totaling 12 species
sizes: large, lengths 41 - 67 mm
males: many have an enlarged area at the end of the abdomen;
black, brown, green and/or yellow patterned;
clear wings with wide stigmas;
small eyes that are widely separated;
sprawling legs;
well camouflaged
females: like the males or yellow where the males are green
habitats: rivers and streams
behaviors: males perch on the ground or on rocks on the beach in sunlit areas;
females are more often found perching out on nearby vegetation
Grappletail: 1 CA species - top of abdomen is less patterned than the others
Sanddragon: 1 CA species - the only Clubtail with gray thorax sides
Ringtails: 2 CA species - have ringed appearance to abdomens
Clubtails: 2 CA Genera, 4 species - all have narrow pale triangles down the top of black or brown abdomen;
some occur at ponds and lakes
Snaketails: 4 very similar species - found in mostly arid lands
nymph sketch

Scans by Kathy Biggs
CA Dragonflies p. 48
CA Dragons&Damsels p. 106
CA+SW & SW Dragonflies p. 72
Dragonflies through Binoculars p. 60 text
Dragonflies N.A. key p.95-100, p. 62-75
sketches 299, 358-454
Stokes Guide - inside front cover; p. 35
*Clubtails of the Southwest
* nymph - D. Mason at U. Oregon Bugs

FAMILY Cordulegastridae
Spiketails
New links &/or information
were added to this site in 2007
aka Biddies & Flying Adders
1 CA genera/species
size: very large, length 70 - 85 mm, wingspan 86 - 105
male: bold yellow marks on black background;
tear-shaped blue eyes barely touch each other above pale face;
dark thorax has two wide yellow stripes on the top and on each side;
the abdomen is dark with yellow spots on at least segments 2 - 9
female: similar to male; long spike-like ovipositor
behavior: both sexes perch by hanging;
powerful, strong flyer;
females oviposit into the substrate
habitat: small wooded streams; wide ranging especially in foothills
nymph hairy; live 3-4 yrs in streams, buried in the mud

Photo by Dave Biggs
CA Dragons&Damsels p. 127
CA+SW & SW Dragonflies p. 86
Dragonflies through Binoculars p. 125 text
Dragonflies N.A. key p.95-100, p. 76-77
sketches 455-467
Stokes Guide - inside front cover; p. 36
*Spiketails of the Southwest

FAMILY Macromiidae
Cruisers
New links &/or information was added at this site in 2007
1 CA genera/species
size: large, length 69 - 74 mm, wingspan 86 - 100
male: pale face with dull gray eyes that touch each other;
dark thorax has a single yellow side stripe;
the abdomen is black with square-ish yellow bands down the top;
the last spot is the largest
female: like male but abdomen not clubbed
habitat: streams and rivers in lowlands
found at lower elevations than the Black Petaltail, usually <4,000'
behavior: active, robust
fly relentlessly, patrol territories
females oviposit by dragging abdomen tip in the water while flying
nymph: almost circular abdomen;
has an erect horn at the front of the head!

Scan by Kathy Biggs
CA Dragons&Damsels p. 123
CA+SW & SW Dragonflies p. 86
Dragonflies through Binoculars p. 129 text
Dragonflies N.A. key p.95-100, 478-494
Stokes Guide - inside front cover; p. 37
*Cruisers of the Southwest

FAMILY Petaluridae
Petaltails
New links
&/or information
was added at this site
in 2007
1 CA genera/species - somewhat rare
size: smaller than Spiketail or River Cruiser
male: black and yellow with dark eyes that don't touch;
the thorax top and sides have broken stripes;
the abdomen has a flared appearance with yellow spots on the tops of segments 2 - 7 only
habitat: found in meadows with seeps; bogs
behavior: oviposit in wet leaves/mud in spring seeps

Scan by Kathy Biggs
CA Dragons&Damsels p. 90
CA+SW & SW Dragonflies p. 86
Dragonflies through Binoculars p. 31 text
Dragonflies N.A. key p.95-100, 107-110
Stokes Guide - inside front cover; p. 33
*Petaltail at Southwest Dragonflies

DRAGONFLIES of California and
Common DRAGONFLIES of the Southwest
A Beginner's Pocket Guide

by Kathy Biggs
(includes damselflies)

A coloring book -
Dragonflies of North America
A Color and Learn Book
with Activities
May 2007 Click here for more information

by Kathy Biggs and Tim Manolis
For children, grandchildren & your inner child!

For help in identifying CA Odonata, go to "FIELD KEY TO ADULT CALIFORNIA DRAGONFLIES (ODONATA) " .
This is a BETA version key and it includes damselflies. It needs field testing. (There is also an OLD key using wing venation and sexual appendages in "Aquatic Insects of California" by Unsinger, but this has been out of print for several years. The California Library system should have copies of Unsinger's book available for in-library reference work).
To learn more about these fascinating insects go to Ron Lyon's informative site:
Damsels and Dragons - the Insect Order Odonata.

For more Odonata (Dragonfly) links go to ODONATA LINKS ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB

To encourage dragonflies and damselflies, build a pond "and they will come!"
Read Kathy's article The Pleasures of Wildlife Ponding by clicking here.
or
Click here to go to the Biggs's Wildlife Pond
or
here to go to the Biggs's Pond Wildlife Sightings List with links to photos of some of our visitors
or
Click here to see pictures of the Biggs's pond and its development.

If you have any corrections or additions to this site please send e-mail to Kathy Biggs


*Scientific Name* Common Name	Descriptions Habitat/Flight Dates	Picture in book *Photo/scan at website

ANISOPTERA DRAGONFLIES	large and heavy-bodied; ordinarily larger than damselflies wings usually held open and mostly flat when perched eyes close together, often touching and forming a seam strong fliers; a few are even migratory males have a bump under their second abdominal segment and three terminal abdominal appendages all females have only two terminal abdominal appendages; in some families they also have an ovipositor most dragonflies lay their eggs directly into the water California has more than 60 species representing all seven American dragonfly families	Sketch by Barbara Chasteen CA Dragonflies p. 12 CA Dragons&Damsels p. 4, 6-9 CA+SW & SW Dragonflies p. 10 Dragonflies through Binoculars p. 6 Dragonflies N.A. p. 1-54, 94 Stokes Guide - inside back cover *Dragonflies of the Southwest

FAMILY Libellulidae Skimmers New links &/or information was added at this site in 2008 Two new species added to CA records 10-2006!	aka: Common Skimmers 15 CA genera with 41 species as of 10-2006 sizes: quite variable; lengths 21 - 61 mm the most common of the families males: showy non-metallic colors; some have patterned wings; bodies shorter than wingspans (30 -102 mm); some males develop a pruinose covering over their abdomens &/or thorax as they mature females: usually less colorful than males; most different colored than males - often brown & yellow; usually having similar wing markings to the male of the species habitats: still waters behaviors: perch horizontally and fly out to hawk prey; glide while flying; most females oviposit by scattering eggs on water's surface 1 Whitefaces -small; mostly black; dark eyes and bright white faces; found in the mountains 2 King Skimmers -common; showy; hold wings out flat; some have patterned wings 3 Dasher & Pondhawk - males are blue; females green or plaid; perch with wings held forward 4 Gliders - strong flyers; often seen after change in weather; perch by hanging 5 Meadowhawks - small; most reddish; perch with wings held forward: most abundant in the fall 6 Saddlebags -dark areas at hind wing base; strong flyers 7 other genera - several other genera with only one species; found mostly in the deserts nymph are short, wide, sprawl	1 2 2 3 4 5 6 7 and other genera Photos by Kathy Biggs CA Dragonflies p. 13 CA Dragons&Damsels p. 123 CA+SW & SW Dragonflies p. 11 Dragonflies through Binoculars p. 168 Audubon Guide, naiad pl. 42 Dragonflies N.A. key p.95-100, 612-842 Stokes Guide - inside front cover; p. 39 *Skimmers of the Southwest

FAMILY Corduliidae Emeralds New links &/or information were added at this site in 2007	aka Green-eyed Skimmers 3 CA genera; 5 species sizes: medium - large with length of 42 - 52 mm males: often dark having brilliant metallic tones; some, however, have bodies that are patterned; all have emerald green eyes and abdomens that are expanded at the midpoint females: like the males except their bodies are more stout with a more even shape habitats: wooded ponds and streams in the mountains behaviors: they emergence in mass; perch by hanging; strong, fast and erratic flyers; often fly for only short periods during day Baskettails: - 2 species - non-metallic colors; brown and yellow patterned; hairy thoraxes; found at lower elevations than others; often fly at waist height along trails and paths in sunlit areas American Emerald: 1 species - metallic green with divergent forked appendages Striped Emeralds: 2 species - metallic green; high flyers they look like the American but the appendages are pointed inwards and longer nymph: hairy, dark colored	Scans by Kathy Biggs CA Dragonflies p. 38 CA Dragons&Damsels p. 123 CA+SW & SW Dragonflies p. 54 Dragonflies through Binoculars p. 135 text Dragonflies N.A. key p.95-100, p. 81-82 sketches 494-500, 508-573 text Stokes Guide - inside front cover; p. 38 *Emeralds of the Southwest

FAMILY Aeshnidae Darners New links &/or information were added at this site in 2007 A new species added to CA records 9-2007!	3 CA genera: 1. Mosaic Darners, Aeshna - 5 CA species 2. Tropical Darners, Rhionaeschna - 3 CA species (9/07) 3. Green Darners, Anax - 2 CA species sizes: large, robust and fast; lengths 57 - 110 mm with wingspans to 150 mm both sexes: large eyes meet center of head and form a seam males: brilliant blues, greens or browns with clear wings females: 2 or more color forms; usually with green and/or brown and/or purple where males are blue; less common form is colored similarly to the males habitats: lakes, creeks, rivers; fields behaviors: usually seen in flight; patrol waterways but also often seen catching insects over fields; perch by hanging vertically; some swarm; some migrate females oviposit into floating vegetation Mosaic Darners - 5 species; large eyes; quite similar; stripes on thorax; mosaic pattern on abdomen view appendages through hand-lens to determine species Tropical Darners - (recently split from the Aeshna genus): Similar to the Mosaic Darners, but with a small bump under the 1st segment of both males and females Green Darners - 2 species; both very similar except for Giant Darner's very large size; thorax solid colored; the Common Green Darner is known to be a mass migrant in California	1&2. 3. Scans by Kathy Biggs CA Dragonflies p. 42, 47 CA Dragons&Damsels p. 92 CA+SW & SW Dragonflies p. 58 Dragonflies through Binoculars p. 132 text Audubon Guide - naiad pl. 43 Dragonflies N.A. key p.95-100, p. 54-59 sketches 110-166 Stokes Guide - inside front cover; p. 34 *Darners of the Southwest

FAMILY Gomphidae Clubtails New links &/or information was added at this site in 2007	aka Club-tails 6 CA genera: totaling 12 species sizes: large, lengths 41 - 67 mm males: many have an enlarged area at the end of the abdomen; black, brown, green and/or yellow patterned; clear wings with wide stigmas; small eyes that are widely separated; sprawling legs; well camouflaged females: like the males or yellow where the males are green habitats: rivers and streams behaviors: males perch on the ground or on rocks on the beach in sunlit areas; females are more often found perching out on nearby vegetation Grappletail: 1 CA species - top of abdomen is less patterned than the others Sanddragon: 1 CA species - the only Clubtail with gray thorax sides Ringtails: 2 CA species - have ringed appearance to abdomens Clubtails: 2 CA Genera, 4 species - all have narrow pale triangles down the top of black or brown abdomen; some occur at ponds and lakes Snaketails: 4 very similar species - found in mostly arid lands nymph sketch	Scans by Kathy Biggs CA Dragonflies p. 48 CA Dragons&Damsels p. 106 CA+SW & SW Dragonflies p. 72 Dragonflies through Binoculars p. 60 text Dragonflies N.A. key p.95-100, p. 62-75 sketches 299, 358-454 Stokes Guide - inside front cover; p. 35 Clubtails of the Southwest nymph - D. Mason at U. Oregon Bugs

FAMILY Cordulegastridae Spiketails New links &/or information were added to this site in 2007	aka Biddies & Flying Adders 1 CA genera/species size: very large, length 70 - 85 mm, wingspan 86 - 105 male: bold yellow marks on black background; tear-shaped blue eyes barely touch each other above pale face; dark thorax has two wide yellow stripes on the top and on each side; the abdomen is dark with yellow spots on at least segments 2 - 9 female: similar to male; long spike-like ovipositor behavior: both sexes perch by hanging; powerful, strong flyer; females oviposit into the substrate habitat: small wooded streams; wide ranging especially in foothills nymph hairy; live 3-4 yrs in streams, buried in the mud	Photo by Dave Biggs CA Dragons&Damsels p. 127 CA+SW & SW Dragonflies p. 86 Dragonflies through Binoculars p. 125 text Dragonflies N.A. key p.95-100, p. 76-77 sketches 455-467 Stokes Guide - inside front cover; p. 36 *Spiketails of the Southwest

FAMILY Macromiidae Cruisers New links &/or information was added at this site in 2007	1 CA genera/species size: large, length 69 - 74 mm, wingspan 86 - 100 male: pale face with dull gray eyes that touch each other; dark thorax has a single yellow side stripe; the abdomen is black with square-ish yellow bands down the top; the last spot is the largest female: like male but abdomen not clubbed habitat: streams and rivers in lowlands found at lower elevations than the Black Petaltail, usually <4,000' behavior: active, robust fly relentlessly, patrol territories females oviposit by dragging abdomen tip in the water while flying nymph: almost circular abdomen; has an erect horn at the front of the head!	Scan by Kathy Biggs CA Dragons&Damsels p. 123 CA+SW & SW Dragonflies p. 86 Dragonflies through Binoculars p. 129 text Dragonflies N.A. key p.95-100, 478-494 Stokes Guide - inside front cover; p. 37 *Cruisers of the Southwest

FAMILY Petaluridae Petaltails New links &/or information was added at this site in 2007	1 CA genera/species - somewhat rare size: smaller than Spiketail or River Cruiser male: black and yellow with dark eyes that don't touch; the thorax top and sides have broken stripes; the abdomen has a flared appearance with yellow spots on the tops of segments 2 - 7 only habitat: found in meadows with seeps; bogs behavior: oviposit in wet leaves/mud in spring seeps	Scan by Kathy Biggs CA Dragons&Damsels p. 90 CA+SW & SW Dragonflies p. 86 Dragonflies through Binoculars p. 31 text Dragonflies N.A. key p.95-100, 107-110 Stokes Guide - inside front cover; p. 33 *Petaltail at Southwest Dragonflies