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Damselfly and Dragonfly Life List

Updated November 18, 2025

This is my list of all the dragonflies and damselflies I have photographed and attempted to identify.

Dragonflies and damselflies, the Odonata order, like birds and butterflies, exist just about everywhere, but appear inconsistently everywhere they inhabit. This makes them equally intriguing as a traveler's game in identification.

I am always amazed by the diversity of the odonata, and particularly the rich and vivid hues found on some species in areas where few other creatures are similarly exotically colored.

There is a growing number of resources for identifying and creating a life list of dragonflies and damselflies, but the interest and marketplace is still in its infancy. An iPhone app by the reliable Birdseye Apps, Dragonfly ID, shows promise for North American species, north of Mexico.

I've organized my Odonata sightings by suborder and family:

Dragonflies Darners Clubtails Skimmers Petaltails Unidentified dragonflies
Damselflies Jewelwings Spreadwings Pond damsels Helicopters Unidentified damselflies

Dragonfly Life List

Aeshnidae (Darners)

Lance-tipped Darner Aeshna constricta, photographed in Beaverton, Oregon

Lance-tipped Darner (Aeshna constricta) in Beaverton, Oregon—robust aeshnid perched

Pale Green Darner Triacanthagyna septima, photographed in the Tambopata region of Peru

Pale Green Darner (Triacanthagyna septima) from Peru's Tambopata—slim aeshnid with pale green tones

Blue-eyed Darner Aeshna multicolor, photographed at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington

Blue-eyed Darner (Aeshna multicolor) at Ridgefield NWR, Washington—broad aeshnid with striking blue eyes

Common Green Darner Anax junius, Boyscout Island, Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota. This female—carrying water mites—has just captured a damselfly.

Common Green Darner (Anax junius) female at Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota—water mites visible; prey is a damselfly

Libellulidae (Skimmers)

Mexican Amberwing Perithemis intensa (female), photographed in Henderson, Nevada

Mexican Amberwing (Perithemis intensa) female in Henderson, Nevada—tiny amber-winged skimmer perched on reeds

Flame Skimmer Libellula saturata, from Organ Pipe National Monument, Arizona

Flame Skimmer (Libellula saturata) from Organ Pipe National Monument, Arizona—brilliant orange male on perch

Eight-spotted Skimmer Libellula forensis, photographed in Beaverton, Oregon

Eight-spotted Skimmer (Libellula forensis) in Beaverton, Oregon—bold white and dark wing patches

Widow Skimmer Libellula luctuosa, photographed in Beaverton, Oregon

Widow Skimmer (Libellula luctuosa) in Beaverton, Oregon—wide dark basal wing patches characteristic of the species

Four-spotted Skimmer Libellula quadrimaculata, Crow-Hassan Park Reserve, Rogers, Minnesota

Four-spotted Skimmer (Libellula quadrimaculata) at Crow-Hassan Park Reserve, Minnesota—four distinct wing spots

Twelve-spotted Skimmer Libellula pulchella, from Central Minnesota (female)

Twelve-spotted Skimmer (Libellula pulchella) female in Central Minnesota—white bands alternating with dark spots

Twelve-spotted Skimmer Libellula pulchella, from Central Minnesota (male)

Twelve-spotted Skimmer (Libellula pulchella) male in Central Minnesota—conspicuous white wing patches

White-faced Meadowhawk Sympetrum obtrusum, photographed in Wright County, Minnesota

White-faced Meadowhawk (Sympetrum obtrusum) in Wright County, Minnesota—pale face contrasting with red abdomen

Variegated Meadowhawk Sympetrum corruptum, photographed in Tualatin, Oregon (adult female)

Variegated Meadowhawk (Sympetrum corruptum) adult female in Tualatin, Oregon—mottled thorax and banded abdomen

Western Pondhawk Erythemis collocata, from Sauvie Island, Oregon

Western Pondhawk (Erythemis collocata) from Sauvie Island, Oregon—stout skimmer of western wetlands

Pin-tailed Pondhawk Erythemis plebeja, photographed near Barranquilla, Colombia

Pin-tailed Pondhawk (Erythemis plebeja) near Barranquilla, Colombia—slender abdomen with narrow terminal segments

Red Pondhawk Erythemis haematogastra, photographed near the Tambopata River region of Peru

Red Pondhawk (Erythemis haematogastra) from the Tambopata region of Peru—deep red libellulid skimmer

Seaside Dragonlet Erythrodiplax berenice, from Playa Ancón, Cuba

Seaside Dragonlet (Erythrodiplax berenice) at Playa Ancón, Cuba—coastal saltmarsh specialist

Seaside Dragonlet (Photo 2) Erythrodiplax berenice, from Playa Ancón, Cuba

Seaside Dragonlet (Erythrodiplax berenice) second view at Playa Ancón, Cuba—perched coastal dragonlet

Band-winged Dragonlet Erythrodiplax umbrata, from Abaco, Bahamas

Band-winged Dragonlet (Erythrodiplax umbrata) on Abaco, Bahamas—dark basal wing band of adult male

Red-mantled Dragonlet Erythrodiplax fervida (female), photographed at Angostura Lagoon, Cartago Province, Costa Rica

Red-mantled Dragonlet (Erythrodiplax fervida) female at Angostura Lagoon, Cartago, Costa Rica—compact libellulid

Common Whitetail Plathemis lydia, from Tualatin, Oregon

Common Whitetail (Plathemis lydia) from Tualatin, Oregon—broad white abdomen of the male morph species

Carmine Skipper Orthemis discolor, photographed in the Soberanía jungle, Panama

Carmine Skipper (Orthemis discolor) in Panama's Soberanía—deep red Orthemis male on sunny perch

Blue Dasher Pachydiplax longipennis, photographed at Koll Wetlands, Oregon

Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) at Koll Wetlands, Oregon—common summer skimmer on emergent vegetation

Black Saddlebags Tramea lacerata, photographed at Koll Wetlands, Oregon

Black Saddlebags (Tramea lacerata) over Koll Wetlands, Oregon—broad dark 'saddles' at wing bases

Red-tailed Pennant Brachymesia furcata, photographed in Camarones, La Guajira, Colombia

Red-tailed Pennant (Brachymesia furcata) in Camarones, La Guajira—slender skimmer with reddish abdomen tip

Scarlet Skimmer Crocothemis servilia, photographed in Kauaʻi, Hawaii (male)

Scarlet Skimmer (Crocothemis servilia) male in Kauaʻi, Hawaii—vivid red abdomen and thorax

Scarlet Skimmer (female) Crocothemis servilia, photographed in Kauaʻi, Hawaii

Scarlet Skimmer (Crocothemis servilia) female in Kauaʻi, Hawaii—yellow-brown female morph

Silver-sided Skimmer Libellula herculea, from Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica

Silver-sided Skimmer (Libellula herculea) from Costa Rica's Osa Peninsula—hefty Libellula with pale lateral sides

Gomphidae (Clubtails)

Pronghorn Clubtail Phanogomphus graslinellus, Crow-Hassan Park Reserve, Rogers, Minnesota

Pronghorn Clubtail (Phanogomphus graslinellus) at Crow-Hassan Park Reserve, Minnesota—clubbed abdomen tip typical of gomphids

Pacific Clubtail Phanogomphus kurilis, Tualatin, Oregon

Pacific Clubtail (Phanogomphus kurilis) from Tualatin, Oregon—slender clubtail on riverside perch

Petaluridae (Petaltails)

Black Petaltail Tanypteryx hageni, photographed in the Jefferson Park Wilderness, Oregon

Black Petaltail (Tanypteryx hageni) in Oregon's Jefferson Park Wilderness—ancient petalurid lineage

Unidentified Dragonflies

Unidentified Dragonfly Koll Wetlands, Oregon

Unidentified dragonfly from Koll Wetlands, Oregon—perched skimmer awaiting confirmation

Unidentified Dragonfly Tambopata River, Peru

Unidentified dragonfly from the Tambopata River, Peru—tropical skimmer pending ID

Damselfly Life List

Calopterygidae (Jewelwings)

River Jewelwing Calopteryx aequabilis, from Southeastern Oregon

River Jewelwing (Calopteryx aequabilis) from SE Oregon—broad-winged jewelwing damselfly over moving water

Purplish Rubyspot Hetaerina occisa, photographed at Rancho Naturalista, Cartago Province, Costa Rica

Purplish Rubyspot (Hetaerina occisa) male from Rancho Naturalista, Cartago Province, Costa Rica—ruby basal wing patch with purplish iridescence, metallic bronze thorax, and delicate wings over a shaded stream.

Lestidae (Spreadwings)

California Spreadwing Archilestes californicus, photographed in Tualatin National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon

California Spreadwing (Archilestes californicus) at Tualatin NWR, Oregon—typical spreadwing posture with partly open wings

Spotted Spreadwing Lestes congener, photographed at Koll Wetlands, Oregon

Spotted Spreadwing (Lestes congener) at Koll Wetlands, Oregon—pale thoracic striping; wings held outspread at rest

Southern Spreadwing Lestes australis, photographed in Wright County, Minnesota

Southern Spreadwing (Lestes australis) in Wright County, Minnesota—long-bodied spreadwing on marsh vegetation

Coenagrionidae (Pond Damsels)

Amethyst Dancer Argia pallens, photographed at Patagonia Lake, Arizona

Amethyst Dancer (Argia pallens) at Patagonia Lake, Arizona—slender dancer damselfly on streamside perch

Pacific Forktail Ischnura cervula, from Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington

Pacific Forktail (Ischnura cervula) from Ridgefield NWR, Washington—small forktail with pale antehumeral stripes

Rambur's Forktail Ischnura ramburii, from Great Abaco Island, Bahamas

Rambur's Forktail (Ischnura ramburii) on Great Abaco Island, Bahamas—common coastal pond damselfly

Rambur's Forktail Ischnura ramburii, from Baja Sur, Mexico

Rambur's Forktail (Ischnura ramburii) from Baja Sur, Mexico—small forktail with blue and green patterning

Rambur's Forktail (female) Ischnura ramburii, female, from Baja Sur, Mexico

Rambur's Forktail (Ischnura ramburii) female from Baja Sur, Mexico—orange female morph

Rainbow Bluet Enallagma antennatum, from Boyscout Island, Minnetrista, Minnesota

Rainbow Bluet (Enallagma antennatum) at Boyscout Island, Minnesota—colorful bluet perched on grasses

Western Red Damsel Amphiagrion abbreviatum, from Sauvie Island, Oregon

Western Red Damsel (Amphiagrion abbreviatum) from Sauvie Island, Oregon—tiny red damselfly on emergent stems

Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum

Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum)—classic Eurasian bluet; close view of thoracic stripes

Pseudostigmatidae (Helicopters)

Helicopter Damselfly Microstigma rotundatum, photographed on the Napo River, Ecuador

Helicopter Damselfly (Microstigma rotundatum) on the Napo River, Ecuador—giant rainforest damselfly with long legs

Lemon-tipped Helicopter Mecistogaster ornata, photographed near Minca, Magdalena, Colombia

Lemon-tipped Helicopter (Mecistogaster ornata) near Minca, Colombia—extremely long abdomen of a 'helicopter' damselfly

Unidentified Damselflies

Unidentified Damselfly from the Tambopata River region of Peru

Unidentified damselfly from the Tambopata River region, Peru—slender zygopteran pending ID

Unidentified Damselfly from Koll Wetlands, Oregon

Unidentified damselfly from Koll Wetlands, Oregon—perched on sedges; awaiting confirmation

Unidentified Damselfly from Koll Wetlands, Oregon

Unidentified damselfly from Koll Wetlands, Oregon—close view of thorax; ID to come

Unidentified Damselfly from Boyscout Island, Minnetrista, Minnesota

Unidentified damselfly from Boyscout Island, Minnetrista, Minnesota—perched near shallow shoreline

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Bird Life List

A list of all the birds I've seen in my life, with illustrations.

Butterfly Life List

A list of all the butterflies I've identified in my life, with photographs.

Reptile Life List

A list of all the reptiles I've identfiied in my life, with illustrations.

Amphibian Life List

A list of all the amphibians I've seen in my life, with illustrations.

Dragonflies and Damselflies List

A list of all the Odonata insects I've seen in my life, with illustrations.

Mammal Life List

A list of all the mammals I've seen in my life.

Spider and Arachnid List

A collection of photographs of spiders and other arachnids I've seen while photographing for Notes from the Road.

Fishes Life List

Explore my list of fish species that I have identified.

Grateful Dead Jams

My list of extraordinary road-trip approved Grateful Dead jams.

Phish Jams

My list of the best Phish jams for traveling and road trips.

Alley Cats of the World

My gallery of feral, stray and wild country cats.