Dragonflies
and
Damselflies
in
Arizona
and nearby
Sonora, Mexico
 
Including those seen during 
 Focus On Nature Tours



List compiled by Armas Hill


Photo at upper right: A NEON SKIMMER 
photographed during a FONT Arizona Tour in 2008
(photo by Doris Potter)
 

Codes:

AZ:  occurs in Arizona
SO: occurs in Sonora, Mexico 

Numbers noted as (D:xx) refer to plates with photos in "Dragonflies through Binoculars - A Field Guide to Dragonflies of North America", by Sidney Dunkle  

(ph): species with a photo in the FONT website


A fine book, as an introduction and beyond, in relation to the dragonflies in Arizona and Sonora is "Dragonflies & Damselflies of the Southwest" by Robert Behrstock, published in 2008. 

Other good books include "Common Dragonflies of the Southwest, A Beginner's Pocket Guide" by Kathy Biggs, updated in 2010, and the most-thorough of books relating to western dragonflies, "Dragonflies & Damselflies of the West", by Dennis Paulson, 2009.    


Links to Grouping in this List:

DRAGONFLIES     Darners     Clubtails     Spiketails     Cruisers     Skimmers

DAMSELFLIES     Broad-winged Damsels     Spreadwings     Shadowdamsels     Threadtails  
  
Pond Damsels     


Other Links:

Upcoming FONT Birding & Nature Tours in North America, including Arizona

FONT Past Tour Highlights

A List & Photo Gallery of Arizona Birds, in 2 parts

A List & Photo Gallery of Arizona Mammals 

Lists & Photo Galleries of Arizona Butterflies & Grasshoppers

A List & Photo Gallery of Arizona Amphibians & Reptiles

Dragonflies:

          Darners


          The following genus ANAX are the GREEN DARNERS:

1. Common Green Darner ______  AZ  SO  (D:1)  Flies in AZ: mid-Feb to late-Dec 
   Anax junius
   
   
2. Giant Darner  ______  AZ  SO  (D:1)  Flies in AZ: early-Apr to mid-Oct
   Anax walsinghami
   
   
   The following genus CORYPHAESCHNA are the PILOT DARNERS:  
   
   
3. Malachite Darner  ______  (D:2)  Flies in AZ: early-Jul to early-Nov
   Coryphaeschna lutelpennis
   
   
   The following genera AESHNA & RHIONAESCHNA are the MOSAIC DARNERS
   
   
4. Persephone's Darner  ______  AZ  (D:4)    Flies in AZ: late-July to mid-Nov  
   Aeshna persephone
   
   
5. Blue-eyed Darner  ______  AZ  SO  (D:5)  Flies in AZ: late-Feb to mid-Nov
   Aeshna (now Rhionaeschna) multicolor
   
   
6. Paddle-tailed Darner  ______  Flies in AZ: early-Jul to early-Oct
   Aeshna (now Rhionaeschna) palmata
   
   
7. Arroyo Darner  ______  (D:5)   Flies in AZ: mid-May to late-Oct 
   Aeshna (now Rhionaeschna) dugesi  
   
   
8. California Darner  ______ (D:5) 
   Aeshna californica
   
   
9. Variable Darner  ______  (D:5)   Flies in AZ: late-Jun to early-Oct
   Aeshna interrupta
   
   
10. Turquoise-tipped Darner  ______  (D:6)  Flies in AZ: mid-Apr to late-Oct
    Aeshna (now Rhionaeschna) psilus
    
    
    The following genus OPLONAESCHNA contains just 2 species, one of which is the RIFLE DARNER 
    
    
11. Rifle Darner  ______  (D:6)  Flies in AZ: late-May to mid-Oct 
    Oplonaeschna armata
    
    
    Clubtails
    
    
    The following genus STYLURUS are the HANGING CLUBTAILS: 
    
     
12. Brimstone Clubtail  ______  (D:12)  Flies in AZ: lat-Jun to mid-Oct
    Stylurus intricatus
    
    
13. Russet-tipped Clubtail  ______  (D:12)  Flies in AZ: late-Jun to mid-Nov
    Stylurus plagiatus
    
    
    The following genus PROGOMPHUS are the SANDRAGONS:
    
    
14. Gray Sanddragon  ______  AZ  SO  (D:15)  Flies in AZ: early-Apr to mid-Nov
    Progomphus obscurus
    
    
    The following genus OPHIOGOMPHUS are the SNAKETAILS:
    
    
15. Arizona Snaketail  ______  AZ  (D:16)  Flies in AZ: mid-Jun to early-Oct
    Ophiogomphus arizonicus
    
    
16. Pale Snaketail  ______  Flies in AZ: early to late-Aug
    Ophiogomphus severus
    
    
    The following genus ERPETOGOMPHUS are the RINGTAILS:
    
    
17. Yellow-legged Ringtail  ______  SO  (D:18)  (occurred in Arizona in the past)
    Erpetogomphus crotalinus
    
    
18. White-belted Ringtail  ______  AZ  SO  (D:18)  Flies in AZ: mid-Jun to mid-Nov
    Erpetogomphus compositus
    
    
19. Serpent Ringtail  ______  (D:18)  Flies in AZ: mid-May to mid-Oct 
    Erpetogomphus lampropeltis
    
    
    Spiketail
    
20. Apache Spiketail  ______  AZ  (D:20)  Flies in AZ: early-Apr to late-Oct 
    Cordulegaster diadema
    
    
    Cruiser
    
    
    The following genus MACROMIA are the RIVER CRUISERS:
    
    
21. Western River Cruiser  ______  AZ  SO  (D:21)  Flies in AZ: early-Jun to early-Aug
    Macromia magnifica
    
    
    Skimmers
    
    
    The following genus LIBELLULA are the KING SKIMMERS. PLATHEMIS are WHITETAILS. 
    
     
22. Widow Skimmer  ______  AZ  SO  (D:28)  Flies in AZ: early-May to early-Nov
    Libellula luctuosa
    
    
23. Common Whitetail  (ph)  ______  AZ  SO  (D:28)  Flies in AZ: late-Apr to early-Nov
    Libellula (or Plathemis) lydia
    
    
    
    Common Whitetail
    (photo by Howard Eskin)
    
    
24. Desert Whitetail  ______  AZ  SO  (D:28)  Flies in AZ: early-Apr to mid-Oct
    Libellula (or Plathemis) subornata
    
    
25. Twelve-spotted Skimmer  (ph)  ______  (D:29)  (occurs in northern Arizona)  Flies in AZ: late-Jun to early-Sep 
    Libellula pulchella
    
    The Twelve-spotted Skimmer has also been called the "Ten Spot" for the number of white spots in the wings of the male, rather than the number of brown spots. 
    
    
    
    Twelve-spotted Skimmer
    (photo by Kate Somerville) 
     
    
26. Eight-spotted Skimmer  ______  Flies in AZ: mid-Jun to late-Aug
    Libella forensis
    
    
27. Four-spotted Skimmer ______  AZ   (D:29)  Flies in AZ: early-Jun to early-Aug 
    Libellula quadrimaculata
    
    
28. Hoary Skimmer ______  (D:29)  Flies in AZ: mid-Jun to late-Aug
    Libellula nodisticta
    
    
29. Comanche Skimmer  ______  AZ  SO  (D:30)  Flies in AZ: late-May to early-Nov
    Libellula comanche
    
    
30. Flame Skimmer  (ph)  ______  AZ  SO  (D:32)  Flies in AZ: mid-Mar to mid-Nov
    Libellula saturata
    
    
    
    Flame Skimmer
    (photo by Doris Potter)
    
    
31. Neon Skimmer  (ph)  ______  AZ  SO  (D:32)  Flies in AZ: early-Jun to early-Nov
    Libellula croceipennis
    
    
    
    Neon Skimmer
    (photo by Doris Potter)
    
    
32. Bleached Skimmer  ______  (D:32)  Flies in AZ: late-Jun to early-Aug
    Libellula composita
    
    
    The following genus ORTHEMIS are the TROPICAL KING SKIMMERS: 
    
    
33. Carmine Skimmer  ______  Flies in AZ: late-Aug to early-Nov
    Orthemis discolor 
    
    
34. Roseate Skimmer  (ph)  ______  AZ  SO  (D:33)  Flies in AZ: all year
    Orthemis ferruginea
    
    
    
    Roseate Skimmer
    (photo by Howard Eskin)
    
    
    The following monotypic genus PSEUDOLEON is the FILIGREE SKIMMER: 
    
    
35. Filigree Skimmer  ______  AZ  SO  (D:33)  Flies in AZ: mid-Feb to mid-Nov
    Pseudoleon superbus
    
    
    The following genus PALTOTHEMIS are the ROCK SKIMMERS:
    
    
36. Red Rock Skimmer  ______  AZ  SO  (D:34)  Flies in AZ: late-Mar to mid-Nov
    Paltothemis lineatipes
    
    
    The following genus SYMPETRUM are the MEADOWHAWKS: 
    
    
37. Cardinal Meadowhawk  ______  (D:34)  Flies in AZ: mid-Apr to mid-Nov
    Sympetrum illotum
    
    
38. Western Meadowhawk  ______  Flies in AZ: Mid-Jun to early-Nov
    Sympetrum occidentalis
    
    
39. Variagated Meadowhawk  ______  (D:35)
    Sympetrum corruptum
    
    
40. Striped Meadowhawk    ______  (D:35)  Flies in AZ: early-Jun to early-Oct 
    Sympetrum pallipes
    
    
41. Yellow-legged Meadowhawk  ______  (D:35)
    Sympetrum vicinum
    
    
42. Spot-winged Meadowhawk  ______  AZ  SO  (D:35)  Flies in AZ: early-Aug to late-Nov
    Sympetrum signiferum
    
    
43. Band-winged Meadowhawk  ______  (D:36)  (in far-northern Arizona)
    Sympetrum semicinctum
    
    
    The following genus ERYTHRODIPLAX are the DRAGONLETS:
    
    
44. Black-winged Dragonlet  ______  AZ  SO  (D:36)  (stray to Arizona & Texas from Mexico)  Flies in AZ: late-Sep to mid-Oct
    Erythrodiplax funerea
    
    
45. Plateau Dragonlet  ______  AZ  SO  (D:37)  Flies in AZ: mid-March to mid-Nov 
    Erythrodiplax connata
    
    
46. Seaside Dragonlet  ______  SO   (in salt marshes along both coasts of the Gulf of California) 
    Erythrodiplax berenice
    
    
    The following genus PERITHEMIS are the AMBERWINGS:  
    
    
47. Mexican Amberwing  ______  AZ  SO  (D:38)  Flies in AZ: early-Apr to mid-Nov
    Perithemis intensa
    
    
48. Slough Amberwing  ______  (D:38)  Flies in AZ: mid-July to early-Oct
    Perithemis domita
    
    
49. Eastern Amberwing  ______  Flies in AZ: late-Mar to late-Oct
    Perithemis tenera
    
    
    The following genus ERYTHEMIS are the PONDHAWKS:
    
    
50. Eastern Pondhawk  (ph)  ______ (D:39)  
    Erythemis simplicicollis
    
    
    
    Eastern Pondhawk, a green female
    (photo by Howard Eskin)
    
    
51. Western Pondhawk  ______  AZ  SO  (D:39)  Flies in AZ: mid-Feb to mid-Nov
    Erythemis collocata
    
    
52. Pin-tailed Pondhawk  ______  SO  (recorded rarely in AZ, as of 2008 only once)  Flies in AZ: early-Sep  Flies perhaps all-year in SO (Sonora).
    Erythemis plebeja
    
    
53. Great Pondhawk  ______  AZ  SO  (D:39)  Flies in AZ: early-Aug to mid-Oct  Flies perhaps all-year in SO (Sonora).
    Erythemis vesiculosa
    
    
    The following monotypic genus is the BLUE DASHER: 
    
    
54. Blue Dasher ______  AZ  SO  (D:39)  Flies in AZ: early-Apr to mid-Nov
    Pachydiplax longipennis
    
    
    The following genus MICRATHYRIA are the THORNBUSH:
    
    
55. Thornbush Dasher  ______  Flies in AZ: mid to late-Sep
    Micrathyria hagenii
    
    
    The following genus TRAMEA are the SADDLEBAGS:
    
    
56. Black Saddlebags ______  AZ  SO  (D:40)  Flies in AZ: late-Mar to mid-Nov
    Tramea lacerata
    
    
57. Red Saddlebags  ______  AZ  SO  (D:41)  Flies in AZ: early Jan to mid-Nov
    Tramea anusta
    
    
58. Antillean Saddlebags  ______  Flies in AZ: late-Oct to mid-Nov
    Tramea insularis
    
    
    The following genus PANTALA are the RAINPOOL GLIDERS:
    
    
59. Wandering Glider  ______  AZ  SO  (D:40)  Flies in AZ: mid-Apr to late-Nov
    Pantala flavescens
    
    
60. Spot-winged Glider  ______  AZ  SO  (D:40)  Flies in AZ: mid-Mar to late-Oct
    Pantala hymenaea
    
    
    The following genus MACRODIPLAX are the MARL PENNANTS:
    
    
61. Marl Pennant  ______  (D:42)  Flies in AZ: mid-Jun to mid-Oct 
    Macrodiplax balteata
    
    
    The following genus BRACHYMESIA are the TROPICAL PENNANTS:
    
    
62. Red-tailed Pennant  ______  AZ  SO  (D:42)  Flies in AZ: mid-Jun to mid-Nov
    Brachymesia furcata
    
    
63. Four-spotted Pennant  ______  Flies in AZ: mid-July to early-Oct
    Brachymesia gravida 
    
    
    The following genus CELITHEMIS are the SMALL PENNANTS:
    
    
64. Halloween Pennant  (ph)   ______  AZ  Flies in AZ: mid-Sept
    Celithemis eponina
    
    The Halloween Pennant was first recorded in southeastern Arizona in 2006.
    
    
    
    Halloween Pennant
    (photo by Howard Eskin)
    
    
    The following genus DYTHEMIS are the SETWINGS:
    
    
65. Checkered Setwing  ______  (D:46)  Flies in AZ: early-May to early-Nov
    Dythemis fugax
    
    
66. Swift Setwing  ______  (D:46)  Flies in AZ: early-May to mid-Oct
    Dythemis velox
    
    
67. Black Setwing  ______  AZ  (D:46)  Flies in AZ: late-Apr to mid-Nov 
    Dythemis nigrescens
    
    
68. Mayan Setwing  ______  AZ  SO  Flies in AZ: late-Jul to late-Sep
    Dythemis maya
    
    
    The following genus BRECHMORHOGA are the CLUBSKIMERS:
    
    
69. Pale-faced Clubskimmer  ______  AZ  SO  (D:46)  Flies in AZ: mid-Apr to mid-Nov
    Brechmorhoga mendax
    
    
70. Masked Clubskimmer  ______  (D:46)  Flies in AZ: late-Jun to mid-Aug
    Brechmorhoga petinax
    
    
    The following genus MACROTHEMIS are the SYLPHS:
    
    
71. Straw-colored Sylph  ______  (D:47)  Flies in AZ: late-Jul to late-Oct
    Macrothemis inacuta
    
    
    DAMSELFLIES
    
    
    Broad-winged Damsels
    
    
    The following genus HETAERINA are the RUBYSPOTS:  
    
    
72. American Rubyspot  ______  AZ  SO
    Hetaerina americana
    
    
73. Canyon Rubyspot  ______  AZ  SO
    Hetaerina vulnerata
    
    
    Spreadwings 
    
    
    The following genus ARCHILESTES are the STREAM SPREADWINGS: 
    
    
74. California Spreadwing  ______
    Archilestes californica
    
    
75. Great Spreadwing  ______  AZ  SO
    Archilestes grandis
    
    
    The following genus LESTES are the POND SPREADWINGS:  
    
    
76. Plateau Spreadwing  ______  AZ  SO
    Lestes alacer
    
    
77. Spotted Spreadwing  ______
    Lestes congener
    
    
78. Northern Spreadwing  ______
    Lestes disjunctus
    
    
79. Emerald Spreadwing  ______  AZ
    Lestes dryas
    
    
    Shadowdamsels
    
    
80. Desert Shadowdamsel  ______  AZ  SO
    Palaemnema domina
    
    
    Threadtails
    
    
81. Orange-striped Thorntail  ______  SO
    Protoneura cara
    
    
    Pond Damsels
    
    
    The following genus AMPHIAGRION are the RED DAMSELS:
     
    
82. Western Red Damsel  ______
    Amphiagrion abbreviatum
    
    
    The genus APANISAGRION: 
    
    
83. Black-and-white Damsel  ______  AZ  SO
    Apanisagrion lais
    
    
    The following genus ARGIA are the DANCERS:
    
    
84. California Dancer  ______
    Argia agrioides
    
    
85. Palute Dancer  ______
    Argia alberta
    
    
86. Blue-fronted Dancer  ______
    Argia apicalis
    
    
87. Yaqui Dancer  ______
    Argia caricooki
    
    
88. Spine-tipped Dancer  ______
    Argia extranea
    
    
89. Violet Dancer  ______
    Argia fumipennis violacea
    
    
90. Lavender Dancer  ______
    Argia hinei
    
    
91. Kiowa Dancer  ______
    Argia immunda
    
    
92. Sierra Madre Dancer  ______
    Argia lacrimans
    
    
93. Sooty Dancer  ______  AZ  SO
    Argia lugens
    
    
94. Powdered Dancer  ______
    Argia moesta
    
    
95. Apache Dancer  ______
    Argia munda
    
    
96. Aztec Dancer  ______
    Argia najuana
    
    
97. Fiery-eyed Dancer  ______  AZ  SO
    Argia oenea
    
    
98. Amethyst Dancer  ______
    Argia pallens
    
    
99. Pima Dancer  ______
    Argia pima
    
    
100. Springwater Dancer  ______  AZ  SO
     Argia plana
     
     
101. Sabino Dancer  ______  AZ  SO
     Argia sabino
     
     
102. Blue-ringed Dancer  (ph)  ______  AZ  SO
     Argia sedula 
     
     
     
     Blue-ringed Dancer
     (photo by Kate Somerville)
     
     
103. Tarascan Dancer  ______
     Argia tarascana
     
     
104. Tezpi Dancer  ______
     Argia tezpi
     
     
105. Tonto Dancer  ______
     Argia tonto
     
     
106. Dusky Dancer  ______  AZ  SO
     Argia translata
     
     
107. Vivid Dancer  ______  AZ
     Argia vivida
     
     
     The genus COENAGRION:
     
     
108. Taiga Bluet  ______
     Coenagrion resolutum
     
     
     The following genus ENALLAGMA are the BLUETS:
     
     
109. Northern Bluet  ______
     Enallagma annexum
     
     
110. Double-striped Bluet  ______  AZ
     Enallagma basidens
     
     
111. Boreal Bluet  ______
     Enallagma boreale
     
     
112. Tule Bluet  ______  AZ
     Enallagma carunculatum
     
     
113. Familiar Bluet  ______  AZ  SO
     Enallagma civile
     
     
114. Baja Bluet  ______
     Enallagma eiseni
     
     
115. Arroyo Bluet  ______  AZ  SO
     Enallagma praevarum
     
     
116. Claw-tipped Bluet  ______
     Enallagma semicirculare
     
     
     The following monotypic genus HESPERAGRION is the PAINTED DAMSEL:
     
     
117. Painted Damsel  ______  AZ  SO
     Hesperagrion heterdoxum
     
     
     The following genus ISCHNURA are the FORKTAILS:
     
     
118. Desert Forktail  ______  AZ  SO
     Ischnura barberi
     
     
119. Pacific Forktail  ______  AZ  SO
     Ischnura cervula
     
     
120. Plains Forktail  ______  AZ  SO
     Ischnura damula
     
     
121. Mexican Forktail  ______  AZ  SO
     Ischnura demorsa
     
     
122. Black-fronted Forktail  ______
     Ischnura denticollis
     
     
123. Citrine Forktail  ______  AZ  SO
     Ischnura hastata
     
     
124. Western Forktail  ______  AZ
     Ischnura perparva
     
     
125. Rambur's Forktail  ______  AZ
     Ischnura ramburii
     
     
     The following genus TELEBASIS are the FORKTAILS: 
     
     
126. Desert Forktail  ______  AZ  SO
     Telebasis salva  
     
     
     
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