Gray Petaltail
(Tachopteryx thoreyi)
This species was recently (2019) rediscovered in Elk Neck State Forest, MD over 80 years after the one historical record in early July 1938, permanent woodland seeps, perches on tree trunks
DMV: 02 Jun - 23 Jun
Male, Calvert Cliffs State Park, MD
Female, Elk Neck State Forest, MD
Black-tipped Darner
(Aeshna tuberculifera)
Accidental, October 1982, small ponds and marshy streams
NJ: 29 Jul - 01 Nov
Male, Lake County, MN
Female, Lake County, MN
Shadow Darner
(Aeshna umbrosa)
Uncommon, Fall, field edges, shady streams and pool, flies at dusk and on cloudy days
DMV: 26 Aug - 15 Nov
Male, Schuylkill Nature Center, PA
Green Morph Female, Saratoga County, NY
Green-striped Darner
(Aeshna verticalis)
Accidental, Fall, open marshy areas and fields, two documented records (1982 and 2011)
NJ: 19 Jul - 24 Sep
Male, Lums Pond State Park, DE
Common Green Darner
(Anax junius)
Abundant, widespread, many open habitats, migratory, long flight season
DMV: 11 Mar - 13 Dec
Male, Summit Bridge Ponds, DE
Female, Lums Pond State Park, DE
Comet Darner
(Anax longipes)
Uncommon and very local (e.g., Summit Bridge Ponds), summer, open lakes and ponds, large vernal pools
DMV: 16 May - 15 Sep
Male, Franklin Parker Preserve, NJ
Female, Summit Bridge Ponds, DE
Springtime Darner
(Basiaeschna janata)
Uncommon, early spring, short flight season, ponds and streams
DMV: 03 Apr - 09 Jun
Male, Blackbird State Forest, DE
Female, Blackbird State Forest, DE
Fawn Darner
(Boyeria vinosa)
Uncommon to fairly common, streams, late summer and fall, flies in shade, dusk and on cloudy days
DMV: 13 Jun - 31 Oct
Male, Fair Hill Wildlife Management Area, MD
Regal Darner
(Coryphaeschna ingens)
Accidental, July, well vegetated ponds
GA: 06 Apr - 23 Sep
Swamp Darner
(Epiaeschna heros)
Common and Widespread, spring and early summer, forests, clearings, roads, Delmarva Bays
DMV: 29 Mar - 29 Sep
Male, Blackbird State Forest, DE
Female, Idylwild Wildlife Management Area, MD
Taper-tailed Darner
(Gomphaeschna antilope)
Rarely seen but possibly overlooked, enters buildings, found with similar Harlequin Darner but flies later
DMV: 13 May - 03 Jul
Male Wing, Winslow WMA, NJ
Female, Blackbird State Forest, DE
Harlequin Darner
(Gomphaeschna furcillata)
Sometimes abundant in April, woodland roads in S Delmarva in sandy pine woods, perches on tree trunks and frequently humans!
DMV: 11 Apr - 12 Jun
Male, Idylwild Wildlife Management Area, MD
Female, Idylwild Wildlife Management Area, MD
Twilight Darner
(Gynacantha nervosa)
Accidental, one record in September. Woodland ponds. Flies at dusk and dawn, hangs up in trees during the day.
GA: 02 Aug - 04 Nov
Male, Jones Grade Trail, Fakahatchee Stand Preserve SP, Collier County, FL (with flash)
Female, Jones Grade Trail, Fakahatchee Stand Preserve SP, Collier County, FL (with flash)
Cyrano Darner
(Nasiaeschna pentacantha)
Fairly common and widespread, summer, slow patrols over sluggish rivers and ponds, field edges and parking lots
DMV: 30 Apr - 31 Aug
Male, Idylwild Wildlife Management Area, MD
Female, Lums Pond State Park, DE
Spatterdock Darner
(Rhionaeschna mutata)
Accidental, one record in 2011, fishless ponds with emergent vegetation, especially lily pads in early summer
NJ: 29 May - 05 Jul
Male, Ten Acre Pond, Centre County, PA
Unicorn Clubtail
(Arigomphus villosipes)
Uncommon, early summer, unlike other clubtails, prefers ponds and slow, mud bottomed streams
DMV: 20 May - 23 Jul
Male, Webbs Mill Bog, NJ
Female, Winslow WMA, NJ
Black-shouldered Spinyleg
(Dromogomphus spinosus)
Uncommon, summer, large streams and rivers
DMV: 28 May - 06 Sep
Male, Greensboro Christian Park, MD
Female, Staunton River, Campbell County, VA
Midland Clubtail
(Gomphurus fraternus)
Rare, local, mid-May, only known from inaccessible stretches of the Nanticoke River
DMV: 13 May - 7 Jun
Dragonhunter
(Hagenius brevistylus)
Uncommon and local, summer, large streams and rivers
DMV: 31 May - 11 Sep
Male, Fair Hill Wildlife Management Area, MD
Female, Fair Hill Wildlife Management Area, MD
Banner Clubtail
(Hylogomphus apomyius)
Rare, local, brief season in mid-May, fast streams
DMV: 04 May - 02 Jun
Male, Fisher's Mill Bridge, DE
Southern Pygmy Clubtail
(Lanthus vernalis)
Recently discovered at Ramsey Run near Brandywine Creek
DMV: 24 May - 20 Jun
Male, Ramsey Run, First State National Historic Park, DE
Female, Ramsey Run, First State National Historic Park, DE
Lancet Clubtail
(Phanogomphus exilis)
Common, spring and early summer, slow streams and ponds
DMV: 12 Apr - 12 Jul
Male, Lums Pond State Park, DE
Female, Lums Pond State Park, DE
Ashy Clubtail
(Phanogomphus lividus)
Fairly common, May and Jun, streams and ponds, forest roads
DMV: 11 Apr - 04 Jul
Male, Idylwild Wildlife Management Area, MD
Female, Ramsey Run, First State National Historic Park, DE
Common Sanddragon
(Progomphus obscurus)
Rare and local, summer, sandy-bottomed streams such as the Choptank, Nanticoke, Pocomoke and Blackbird
27 May - 26 Jul
Male, Mullica River, NJ
Sable Clubtail
(Stenogomphurus rogersi)
In the Delmarva, small populations known only from three locations including Blackbird Creek in May and June, decreasing
DMV: 17 May - 27 Jun
Male, Blackbird State Forest, DE
Female, Blackbird State Forest, DE
Eastern Least Clubtail
(Stylogomphus albistylus)
Larvae common in Piedmont streams, but adults rarely seen in this area, June, clear, gravely Piedmont streams
DMV: 09 June - 27 Jul
Male, Ramsey Run, First State Historic National Park, DE
Female, Ramsey Run, First State Historic National Park, DE
Laura's Clubtail
(Stylurus laurae)
Rare, known only from a couple exuvia and tenerals, June, wary, late afternoon flier, small sandy streams
GA: 5 Jun - 25 Sep
Russet-tipped Clubtail
(Stylurus plagiatus)
Local, Fall, tidal portions of White Clay Creek and Elk Creek, MD
DMV: 18 Aug - 13 Oct
Male, Little Elk Creek, MD
Arrow Clubtail
(Stylurus spiniceps)
Uncommon, July and August, large creeks and rivers, afternoon flier, riffles
DMV: 20 Jun - 9 Sep
Male, Brandywine Creek State Park, DE
Brown Spiketail
(Cordulegaster bilineata)
After nearly 50 years with no records, recently rediscovered in both Cecil and Worcester Counties, MD.
DMV: 25 May - 05 Jul
GA: 11 Mar - 08 Jul
Male, Elk Neck State Forest, MD
Pair in wheel, Elk Neck State Forest, MD
Delta-spotted Spiketail
(Cordulegaster diastatops)
Rare, small streams and seeps with mud and detritus, usually larger streams than those used by Tiger Spiketail, beaver dams
NJ: 21 Apr - 08 Jul
Male, Centre County, PA
Tiger Spiketail
(Cordulegaster erronea)
Rare and local, July and August, small hillside seep streams in Piedmont
DMV: 26 Jun - 31 Aug
Male, White Clay Creek State Park, DE (POSED)
Twin-spotted Spiketail
(Cordulegaster maculata)
Uncommon, widespread, small to medium streams
DMV: 22 Mar - 05 Jun
Male, Wharton State Forest, NJ
Female, Blackbird State Forest, DE
Arrowhead Spiketail
(Corulegaster obliqua)
Very Rare, small muddy streams and seeps
DMV: 21 May - 17 Jul
Male, Idylwild Wildlife Management Area, MD
Ovipositing Female, Blackbird State Forest, DE
Male, Blackbird State Forest, DE
Female, Idylwild Wildlife Management Area, MD
Swift River Cruiser, Illinois subspecies
(Macromia illinoiensis illinoiensis)
Common, Northern subspecies found on fast Piedmont streams and rivers
DMV: 09 Jun - 04 Sep
Male, Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area, MD
Swift River Cruiser, Georgia subspecies
(Macromia illinoiensis georgina)
Common, Southern subspecies found on slow Coastal Plain Streams
DMV: 07 Jun - 02 Sep
Male, Idylwild Wildlife Management Area, MD
Female, Idylwild WMA, MD
Royal River Cruiser
(Macromia taeniolata)
Uncommon, rivers and large ponds, population on Lums Pond is the most northerly known for the species
DMV: 25 Jun - 16 Sep
Male, Idylwild Wildlife Management Area, MD
Petite Emerald
(Dorocordulia lepida)
Undocumented. Three recent sight records (Lums Pond and Blackbird State Forest). Specimen or photo documentation for Delaware needed.
DMV: 10 Apr - 07 July
Male, Franklin Parker Preserve, NJ
Female, Franklin Parker Preserve, NJ
Slender Baskettail
(Epitheca costalis)
Rare, wooded edges of ponds and streams, maybe overlooked, occurs with Common Baskettail, but flies somewhat later. Formerly called Stripe-winged Baskettail.
DMV: 02 Jun - 25 Jun
NJ: 15 May - 28 Jun
Male, Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area, MD
Common Baskettail
(Epitheca cynosura)
Common, April and May, wooded edges of ponds and streams
DMV: 10 Apr - 07 July
Male, Idylwild Wildlife Management Area, MD
Female, Idylwild Wildlife Management Area, MD
Prince Baskettail
(Epitheca princeps)
Common, large ponds and slow moving rivers, rarely perches
DMV: 27 May - 16 Oct
Male, Greensboro Christian Park, MD
Mantled Baskettail
(Epitheca semiaquea)
Accidental, a couple of unconfirmed sightings, bogs and cedar swamps
DMV: 27 Apr - 10 May
Male, Wharton State Forest, NJ
Female, Woodland, NJ
Robust Baskettail
(Epitheca spinosa)
Uncommon and local, early short flight season, cypress stands, Trap Pond and Idylwild
DMV: 9 Apr - 9 May
Male, Idylwild Wildlife Management Area, MD
Female, Idylwild Wildlife Management Area, MD
Selys's Sundragon
(Helocordulia selysii)
Rare, very local, early short flight season, bushy fields, sandy streams
DMV: 9 Apr - 4 May
Male, Idylwild Wildlife Management Area, MD
Female, Idylwild Wildlife Management Area, MD
Uhler's Sundragon
(Helocordulia uhleri)
Discovered in 2021 on a small stream in Elk Neck State Forest. Only record and only known location.
NJ: 18 Apr - 03 Jul
Male not photographed but similar to female.
Female, Johnson Road, Hammonton, NJ
Umber Shadowdragon
(Neurocordulia obsoleta)
Uncommon, large rivers, crepuscular, difficult to see, most often detected by finding exuvia
DMV: 20 May - 29 Jul
Male, Perryville, MD (POSED)
Stygian Shadowdragon
(Neurocordulia yamaskanensis)
Rare, large rivers, crepuscular, difficult to see
DMV: 02 Jun - 12 Jul
Male, Boat Launch, Perryville, MD (POSED)
Fine-lined Emerald
(Somatochlora filosa)
Uncommon, sandy woods over roads and fields
DMV: 14 Jul - 21 Oct
Male, Daves Road, Atlantic County, NJ
Coppery Emerald
(Somatochlora georgiana)
Very rare, sandy roads near small forested streams
DMV: 12 Jun - 31 Aug
Mocha Emerald
(Somatochlora linearis)
Fairly common, crepuscular, slow moving forest streams with mud and leaf litter, upland fields and powerlines
DMV: 10 Jun - 05 Oct
Male, Lums Pond State Park, DE
Female, Atsion Mansion, NJ
Treetop Emerald
(Somatochlora provocans)
Rare, sandy-bottomed forest streams and seeps, roads in sandy forest
DMV: 18 Jun - 01 Aug
Male, Calvert Cliffs State Park, MD
Clamp-tipped Emerald
(Somatochlora tenebrosa)
Uncommon, forested roads and clearings near woodland streams
DMV: 10 Jun - 03 Sep
Male, Peanut Dam Road, Essex County, VT
Female, Peanut Dam Road, Essex County, VT
Four-spotted Pennant
(Brachymesia gravida)
Uncommon, but very local. Tolerant of brackish water. Found only in a few spots along the Delaware and Chesapeake Bays.
DMV: 08 Jun - 09 Sep
Male, Woodland Beach, DE
Female, SE Metro Park, Austin, TX
Calico Pennant
(Celithemis elisa)
Common, widespread, open ponds and fields
DMV: 12 May - 22 Oct
Male, Sedge Meadow at Summit Bridge Ponds, DE
Female, Sedge Meadow at Summit Bridge Ponds, DE
Halloween Pennant
(Celithemis eponina)
Common, widespread, open ponds and fields
DMV: 09 Jun - 07 Oct
Male, Lums Pond State Park, DE
Female, Woodland Ferry, DE
Banded Pennant
(Celithemis fasciata)
Rare, small, vegetated ponds and bogs in southern DMV
DMV: 07 Jun - 04 Sep
Male, Idylwild Wildlife Management Area, MD
Female, Idylwild Wildlife Management Area, MD
Martha's Pennant
(Celithemis martha)
Rare, July, sand bottomed lakes fringed with emergent vegetation
DMV: 10 Jun - 03 Sep
Male, Oak Pond, Winslow Wildlife Management Area, NJ
Female, Oak Pond, Winslow Wildlife Management Area, NJ
Double-ringed Pennant
(Celithemis verna)
Uncommon and increasing, small, undisturbed woodland ponds
DMV: 30 May - 01 Aug
Male, Idylwild Wildlife Management Area, MD
Female, Idylwild Wildlife Management Area, MD
Eastern Pondhawk
(Erythemis simplicicollis)
Abundant, widespread, open ponds and rivers
DMV: 01 May - 15 Oct
Male, Sedge Meadow at Summit Bridge Ponds, DE
Female, Summit Bridge Ponds, DE
Seaside Dragonlet
(Erythrodiplax berenice)
Abundant in its salt marsh habitat, extremely variable in color
DMV: 22 May - 09 Oct
Male, Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, DE
Female, spotted form, Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, DE
Little Blue Dragonlet
(Erythrodiplax minuscula)
Rare, all Delaware records from the Sedge Meadow at Summit Bridge Ponds, 2009 record from Idylwild MD
DMV: 10 Jul - 04 Oct
Male, Winslow WMA, NJ
Blue Corporal
(Ladona deplanata)
Locally common, small, undisturbed woodland ponds
DMV: 20 Mar - 15 Jun
Male, Idylwild Wildlife Management Area, MD
Female, Sedge Meadow at Summit Bridge Ponds, DE
Dot-tailed Whiteface
(Leucorrhinia intacta)
Extirpated, July, one record in 1972, marshy ponds
DMV: 07 Jun - 27 July
Male, Hawkins Ponds, Broome County, NY
Golden-winged Skimmer
(Libellula auripennis)
Three records, two from Delaware and one from Maryland, probably rare and overlooked
DMV: 27 May - 25 Jul
Male, Oak Pond, Winslow Wildlife Management Area, NJ
Bar-winged Skimmer
(Libellula axilena)
Uncommon but variable abundance from year to year, local, marshy forest ponds, vernal pools
DMV: 19 May - 01 Sep
Male, Lums Pond State Park, DE
Female, Idylwild Wildlife Management Area, MD
Spangled Skimmer
(Libellula cyanea)
Common, widespread, lakes, ponds and rivers
DMV: 06 May - 24 Aug
Male, Lums Pond State Park, DE
Female, Idylwild Wildlife Management Area, MD
Yellow-sided Skimmer
(Libellula flavida)
Rare, summer, bogs and seepages, Idylwild
DMV: 17 May - 09 Aug
Male, Idylwild Wildlife Management Area, MD
Female, Idylwild Wildlife Management Area, MD
Slaty Skimmer
(Libellula incesta)
Abundant, widespread, ponds and forest edges
DMV: 19 May - 18 Oct
Male, Lums Pond State Park, DE
Female, Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge, DE
Widow Skimmer
(Libellula luctuosa)
Common, summer, widespread, ponds and forest edges
DMV: 12 May - 09 Oct
Male, Lums Pond State Park, DE
Female, Summit Bridge Ponds, DE
Needham's Skimmer
(Libellula needhami)
Common, widespread, ponds and forest edges, brackish environments
DMV: 21 May - 20 Sep
Male, Cherry Walk Fen, Lewes, DE
Female, Taylor's Bridge, DE
Twelve-spotted Skimmer
(Libellula pulchella)
Common, widespread, ponds, migratory
DMV: 13 May -18 Oct
Male, Sedge Meadow at Summit Bridge Ponds, DE
Female, Beaver Dam Meadow, Huntingdon Co, PA
Painted Skimmer
(Libellula semifasciata)
Common, widespread, ponds and marshes
DMV: 16 Apr - 30 Aug
Male, Blackbird State Forest, DE
Female, Lums Pond State Park, DE
Great Blue Skimmer
(Libellula vibrans)
Fairly Common to Abundant, Forest Pools, Variable abundance from year to year
DMV: 01 May - 01 Oct
Male, Lums Pond State Park, DE
Female, Blackbird State Forest, DE
Male, San Marcos, Hays County, Texas
Female, Dreher Park, Palm Beach County, FL
Male, Idylwild Wildlife Management Area, MD
Female, Oak Pond, Winslow Wildlife Management Area, NJ
Roseate Skimmer
(Orthemis ferruginea)
Accidental, October, one record of this southern species at extreme S tip of Delmarva, marshes, ponds, lakes and puddles
GA: 06 Mar - 07 Dec
Male, Pumphouse E of Santa Ana NWR, TX
Female, Loxahatchee NWR, FL
Male, Muddy Run, Glasgow, DE
Female, Summit Bridge Ponds, DE
Wandering Glider
(Pantala flavescens)
Fairly common, widespread in many open habitats, attracted to muddy puddles, long distance migrant
DMV: 16 April - 11 Nov
Sedge Meadow at Summit Bridge Ponds, DE
Sedge Meadow at Summit Bridge Ponds, DE
Spot-winged Glider
(Pantela hymenaea)
Fairly common, widespread in many open habitats, attracted to parking lots and car hoods, long distance migrant
DMV: 04 May - 22 Oct
Male, Sedge Meadow at Summit Bridge Ponds, DE
Female, Sedge Meadow at Summit Bridge Ponds, DE
Eastern Amberwing
(Perithemis tenera)
Abundant, widespread, ponds and rivers
DMV: 12 Apr - 03 Oct
Male, Lums Pond State Park, DE
Female, Loxahatchee NWR, FL
Male, Muddy Run, Glasgow, DE
Female, Ramsey Run, Brandywine Creek State Park, DE
Blue-faced Meadowhawk
(Sympetrum ambiguum)
Fairly common but local, Fall, woodland ponds and vernal pools
DMV: 05 Jun - 09 Nov
Male, Lums Pond State Park, DE
Female, Lums Pond State Park, DE
Variegated Meadowhawk
(Sympetrum corruptum)
Accidental 3 recent records, probably a rare but overlooked regular visitor
DMV: 24 Jun - 11 Nov
Male, Roper Lake State Park, AZ
Cherry-faced Meadowhawk
(Sympetrum internum)
Uncommon and local, possibly decreasing, vernal pools, wet meadows
DMV: 21 Jun - 26 Sep
Male, Lums Pond State Park, DE
White-faced Meadowhawk
(Sympetrum obtrusum)
Only one record in fall 2023 but perhaps overlooked.
NJ: 14 Jun - 22 Oct
Male, Lake County, MN
Ruby Meadowhawk
(Sympetrum rubicundulum)
Status poorly known because difficult to distinguish from Cherry-faced, appears to be local, rare and decreasing, vernal pools and wet meadows
14 Jun - 03 Oct
Male, Hollingsworth Park, Cecil County, Elkton, MD
Band-winged Meadowhawk
(Sympetrum semicinctum)
Rare and local, known from only 2-3 sites in the Piedmont, favors wet meadows and vegetated retention ponds, so could be more widely distributed than currently known
DMV: 08 Jun - 12 Sep
Male, Leon's Garden World (Rt 202) Pond, Wilmington, DE
Pair in wheel, Leon's Garden World (Rt 202) Pond, Wilmington, DE
Autumn Meadowhawk
(Sympetrum vicinum)
Common, emerges in July, disappears, then returns to breeding areas in Fall, ponds and vernal pools, usually one of the last odonates flying in fall
DMV: 13 Jun - 03 Jan
Male, Lums Pond State Park, DE
Female, Sedge Meadow at Summit Bridge Ponds, DE
Carolina Saddlebags
(Tramea carolina)
Abundant, summer, widespread, occurs in flight over almost any open habitat, migratory
DMV: 16 Apr - 09 Oct
Male, Sedge Meadow at Summit Bridge Ponds, DE
Female, Sedge Meadow at Summit Bridge Ponds, DE
Striped Sadddlebags
(Tramea darwini)
Accidental, late Summer and Fall, tropical species that occassionally invades the NE, migratory, beaches
DMV: 04 Aug - 15 Oct
Male, Dankworth Pond, Graham County, AZ
Black Saddlebags
(Tramea lacerata)
Abundant, summer, widespread, occurs in flight over almost any open habitat, migratory
DMV: 01 May - 22 Oct
Male, Bluet Pond at Summit Bridge Ponds, DE
Female, Summit Bridge Ponds, DE
Red Saddlebags
(Tramea onusta)
Accidental, late summer, occurs in flight over almost any open habitat, migratory
NJ: 04 Jul - 29 Sep
Male, Dankworth Pond, Graham County, AZ
Female, Roper Lake State Park, Graham County, AZ