DRAGONFLIES AND DAMSELFLIES OF FLORIDA (Order Odonata)

(last update 25 March 2021)

taxonomy follows Paulson & Dunkle (2012) A Checklist of North American Odonata

and Ware et. al. 2017, Phylogenetic relationships of North American Gomphidae and their close relatives.  Systematic Entomology 42: 347-358

FLORIDA DRAGONFLIES ( Suborder Anisoptera)


PETALURIDAE

 

Tachopteryx  Selys
    thoreyi
(Hagen in Selys) [Gray Petaltail]

 

AESHNIDAE

 

Anax  Leach
    amazili (Burmeister) [Amazon Darner]

    longipes Hagen [Comet Darner]

    junius (Drury) [Common Green Darner]

Basiaeschna  Selys
    janata (Say) [Springtime Darner]

Boyeria  McLachlan
    vinosa (Say) [Fawn Darner]

Coryphaeschna  Williamson
    adnexa (Hagen) [Blue-faced Darner]

    ingens (Rambur) [Regal Darner]

    viriditas Calvert [Mangrove Darner]

Epiaeschna  Hagen
    heros (Fabricius) [Swamp Darner]

Gomphaeschna Selys
    antilope
(Hagen) [Taper-tailed Darner]

    furcillata (Say) [Harlequin Darner]

Gynacantha  Rambur
    nervosa  Rambur [Twilight Darner]

Nasiaeschna  Selys
    pentacantha (Rambur) [Cyrano Darner]

Triacanthagyna  Selys
    septima (Selys in Sagra) [Pale-green Darner]

    trifida (Rambur) [Phantom Darner]

 

GOMPHIDAE

 

Aphylla  Selys
    williamsoni (Gloyd) [Two-striped Forceptail]

Arigomphus  Needham
    pallidus (Rambur) [Gray-green Clubtail]

Dromogomphus  Selys
    armatus Selys [Southeastern Spinyleg ]

    spinosus Selys [Black-shouldered Spinyleg]

Erpetogomphus  Selys
    designatus
Hagen in Selys [Eastern Ringtail]

Gomphurus  Needham
    dilatatus (Rambur) [Blackwater Clubtail]

    hybridus (Williamson) [Cocoa Clubtail] (recently found in W FL)

    modestus (Needham) [Gulf Coast Clubtail]

    vastus (Walsh) [Cobra Clubtail]

Hagenius  Selys

    brevistylus Selys [Dragonhunter]

Hylogomphus  Needham, Westfall & May

    (geminatus) Carle [Twin-striped Clubtail]

Ophiogomphus Selys
    australis  Carle [Southern Snaketail]

Phanogomphus Carle
    australis
(Needham) [Clearlake Clubtail]

    c. cavillaris (Needham) [Sandhill Clubtail]

    c. brimleyi (Muttkowski) [Sandhill Clubtail]

    exilis (Selys) [Lancet Clubtail]

    hodgesi (Needham) [Hodges' Clubtail]

    lividus (Selys) [Ashy Clubtail]

    minutus (Rambur) [Cypress Clubtail]

    westfalli (Carle & May) [Westfall's Clubtail]

Progomphus  Selys
    alachuensis
Byers [Tawny Sanddragon]

    bellei Knopf & Tennessen [Belle's Sanddragon]

    obscurus (Rambur) [Common Sanddragon]

Stylurus  Needham
    ivae Williamson [Shining Clubtail]

    laurae Williamson [Laura's Clubtail]

    plagiatus (Selys) [Russet-tipped Clubtail]

    potulentus (Needham) [Yellow-sided Clubtail]

    townesi (Gloyd) [Townes' Clubtail]

 

CORDULEGASTRIDAE

 

Cordulegaster  Leach
    maculata Selys [Twin-spotted Spiketail]

    obliqua fasciata Rambur [Arrowhead Spiketail]

Zoraena Kirby

     sayi Selys [Say's Spiketail]

 

CORDULIIDAE

 

Epitheca  Burmeister
  subgenus Epicordulia  
Selys (Epicordulia and Tetragoneuria are considered by some workers to be full genera)
    princeps
(Hagen) [Prince Baskettail] 

  subgenus Tetragoneuria  Hagen
    costalis (Selys) [Stripe-winged Baskettail]

    cynosura (Say) [Common Baskettail]

    semiaquea (Burmeister) [Mantled Baskettail]

    sepia Gloyd [Sepia Baskettail]

    spinosa (Hagen in Selys) [Robust Baskettail]

    stella Williamson in Muttkowski [Florida Baskettail]

Helocordulia   Needham
    selysii Hagen in Selys [Selys' Sundragon]

Neurocordulia  Selys
    alabamensis
Hodges in Needham & Westfall [Alabama Shadowdragon]

    molesta (Walsh) [Smoky Shadowdragon]

    obsoleta (Say) [Umber Shadowdragon]

    virginiensis Davis [Cinnamon Shadowdragon]

Somatochlora  Selys
    calverti
Williamson & Gloyd [Calvert's Emerald]

    filosa (Hagen) [Fine-lined Emerald]

    georgiana Walker [Coppery Emerald]

    linearis (Hagen) [Mocha Emerald]

    provocans Calvert [Treetop Emerald]

    tenebrosa (Say) [Clamp-tipped Emerald]

 

MACROMIIDAE

 

Didymops Rambur
    floridensis
Davis [Florida Cruiser]

    transversa (Say) [Stream Cruiser]

Macromia  Rambur
    illinoiensis georgina (Selys) [Illinois River Cruiser]

    taeniolata Rambur [Royal River Cruiser]

LIBELLULIDAE

 

Brachymesia  Kirby
    furcata
(Hagen) [Red-tailed Pennant]

    gravida (Calvert) [Four-spotted Pennant]

    herbida (Gundlach) [Tawny Pennant]

Celithemis  Hagen
    amanda (Hagen) [Amanda's Pennant]

    bertha Williamson [Red-veined Pennant]

    elisa (Hagen) [Calico Pennant]

    eponina (Drury) [Halloween Pennant]

    fasciata Kirby [Banded Pennant]

    ornata (Rambur) [Faded Pennant]

    verna Pritchard [Double-ringed Pennant]

Crocothemis  Brauer
    servilia (Drury) [Scarlet Skimmer]

Dythemis  Hagen
    velox Hagen [Swift Setwing]

Erythemis  Hagen
    plebeja
(Burmeister) [Pin-tailed Pondhawk]

    simplicicollis (Say) [Eastern Pondhawk]

    vesiculosa (Fabricius) [Great Pondhawk]

Erythrodiplax  Brauer
    b. berenice (Drury) [Seaside Dragonlet]

    b. naeva (Hagen) [Seaside Dragonlet]

    minuscula (Rambur) [Little Blue Dragonlet]

    umbrata (Linnaeus) [Band-winged Dragonlet]

Idiataphe  Cowley
    cubensis (Scudder) [Metallic Pennant]

Ladona  Needham
    deplanata (Rambur) [Blue Corporal] (considered by some workers to be a Libellula)

Libellula  Linnaeus
    auripennis Burmeister [Golden-winged Skimmer]

    axilena Westwood [Bar-winged Skimmer]

    flavida Rambur [Yellow-sided Skimmer]

    incesta Hagen [Slaty Skimmer]

    jesseana Williamson [Purple Skimmer]

    needhami Westfall [Needham's Skimmer]

    pulchella Drury [Twelve-spotted Skimmer]

    semifasciata Burmeister [Painted Skimmer]

    vibrans Fabricius [Great Blue Skimmer]

Macrodiplax  Brauer
    balteata (Hagen) [Marl Pennant]

Miathyria  Kirby
    marcella  (Selys in Sagra) [Hyacinth Glider]

Micrathyria  Kirby
    aequalis (Hagen) [Spot-tailed Dasher]

    didyma (Selys in Sagra) [Three-striped Dasher]

Nannothemis  Brauer
    bella (Uhler) [Elfin Skimmer]

Orthemis  Hagen
    ferruginea
(Fabricius) [Roseate Skimmer]

    * schmidti  Buchholz [Schmidt's Skimmer]
Pachydiplax  
Brauer
    longipennis (Burmeister) [Blue Dasher]

Pantala  Hagen
    flavescens
(Fabricius) [Wandering Glider]

    hymenaea (Say) [Spot-winged Glider]

Perithemis  Hagen
    tenera
 (Say)   [Eastern Amberwing]

Plathemis  Hagen
    lydia
(Drury) [Common Whitetail] (considered by some workers to be a Libellula)

Sympetrum  Newman
    ambiguum (Rambur) [Blue-faced Meadowhawk]

    corruptum (Hagen) [Variegated Meadowhawk]

    vicinum (Hagen) [Yellow-legged Meadowhawk]

Tauriphila  Kirby
    australis (Hagen) [Garnet Glider]
    azteca Calvert
[Aztec Glider]

Tholymis  Hagen
    citrina
Hagen [Evening Skimmer]

Tramea  Hagen
    abdominalis
(Rambur) [Vermilion Saddlebags]

    * binotata (Rambur) [Sooty Saddlebags] (extirpated from the FL keys)

    calverti Muttkowski [Striped Saddlebags]

    carolina (Linnaeus) [Carolina Saddlebags]

    insularis Hagen [Antillean Saddlebags]

    lacerata Hagen [Black Saddlebags]

    onusta Hagen [Red Saddlebags]

 

 

FLORIDA DAMSELFLIES (Suborder Zygoptera)

CALOPTERYGIDAE

 

Calopteryx  Leach
    dimidiata Burmeister [Sparkling Jewelwing]

    maculata (Beauvois) [Ebony Jewelwing]

Hetaerina  Hagen in Selys
    americana (Fabricius) [American Rubyspot]

    titia (Drury) [Smoky Rubyspot]

 

LESTIDAE

 

Lestes  Leach
    australis Walker [Common Spreadwing]

    forficula Rambur
    inaequalis
Walsh [Elegant Spreadwing]

    rectangularis Say [Slender Spreadwing]

    spumarius Hagen in Selys [Antillean Spreadwing]

    tenuatus Rambur [Blue-striped Spreadwing]

    vidua Hagen [Carolina Spreadwing]

    vigilax Hagen in Selys [Swamp Spreadwing]

 

COENAGRIONIDAE

 

Argia  Rambur
    apicalis (Say) [Blue-fronted Dancer]

    bipunctulata (Hagen) [Seepage Dancer]

    fumipennis atra Gloyd [Variable Dancer]

    f. fumipennis (Burmeister) [Variable Dancer]

    moesta (Hagen) [Powdered Dancer]

    sedula (Hagen) [Blue-ringed Dancer]

    tibialis (Rambur) [Blue-tipped Dancer]

Enallagma  Selys
    basidens Calvert [Double-striped Bluet]

    cardenium (Hagen in Selys)[also called E. coecum Hagen, but that is an Antillean species][Purple Bluet ]

    civile (Hagen) [Familiar Bluet]
   
concisum
Williamson [Cherry Bluet]

    daeckii (Calvert) [Attenuated Bluet]

    davisi Westfall [Sandhill Bluet]

    divagans Selys [Turquoise Bluet]

    doubledayi (Selys) [Atlantic Bluet]

    dubium Root [Burgundy Bluet]

    durum (Hagen) [Big Bluet]

    geminatum Kellicott [Skimming Bluet]

    pallidum Root [Pale Bluet]

    pollutum (Hagen) [Florida Bluet]

    signatum (Hagen) [Orange Bluet]

    sulcatum Williamson [Golden Bluet]

    vesperum Calvert [Vesper Bluet]

    weewa Byers [Blackwater Bluet]

Ischnura  Charpentier
    hastata (Say) [Citrine Forktail]

    kellicotti Williamson [Lilypad Forktail]

    posita (Hagen) [Fragile Forktail]

    prognata (Hagen) [Furtive Forktail]

    ramburii (Selys) [Rambur's Forktail]

    verticalis (Say) [Eastern Forktail]

Leptobasis Selys

    lucifer (Donnelly) [Tail-light Damsel]
Nehalennia  Selys
    gracilis Morse [Sphagnum Sprite]

    integricollis Calvert [Southern Sprite]

    * minuta (Selys in Sagra) [Tropical Sprite] (extirpated from the FL Keys)
    pallidula Calvert
[Everglades Sprite]

Neoerythromma  Kennedy
    cultellatum (Hagen in Selys) [Caribbean Yellowface]

Telebasis  Selys
    byersi Westfall [Duckweed Firetail]



NOTES
Macromia alleghaniensis Williamson [Allegheny River Cruiser] has been removed from the list (fide J. Daigle, the FL record was based on a misidentified larva)


DRAGONFLIES AND DAMSELFLIES (Odonata Information Network) website!

Incredibly useful books:


DRAGONFLIES AND DAMSELFLIES OF THE EAST
by Dennis Paulson, 2011 Princeton Field Guides. ISBN978-0-691-12283-0

DRAGONFLIES THROUGH BINOCULARS
by Sidney W. Dunkle, 2000. Oxford Univ. Press.  ISBN 0-19-511268-7

The following two books are more technical than the above and are what you really need to nail down that odonate identification!:

DRAGONFLIES OF NORTH AMERICA
by James G. Needham, Minter J. Westfall, Jr., & Michael L. May. 2000. xvi + 940 pp, 561 text figures, 24 color plates (7 x 10 in), cloth. Scientific Publishers, Gainesville FL ISBN 0-945417-94-2

DAMSELFLIES OF NORTH AMERICA
by Minter J. Westfall, Jr., and Michael L. May, July 1996. 650pp. Scientific Publishers, ISBN: 0-945417-94-4.

Many thanks to Jerrell Daigle for help in updating this list!! (xi-2007, ii-2019)

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