Delmarva Dragonflies and Damselflies

Petaltails (Family Petaluridaie)

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

Gray Petaltail, male

Male, Calvert Cliffs State Park, MD

Gray Petaltail, female

Female, Elk Neck State Forest, MD

Darners (Family Aeshnidae)

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

Shadow Darner, male

Male, Schuylkill Nature Center, PA

Shadow Darner, female

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

Green-striped Darner, male

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

Gray Petaltail, male

Male, Summit Bridge Ponds, DE

Gray Petaltail, female

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

Gray Petaltail, male

Male, Franklin Parker Preserve, NJ

Gray Petaltail, female

Female, Summit Bridge Ponds, DE

Springtime Darner

(Basiaeschna janata)

Uncommon, early spring, short flight season, ponds and streams

DMV: 03 Apr - 09 Jun

Springtime Darner, male

Male, Blackbird State Forest, DE

Springtime Darner, female

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

Fawn Darner, male

Male, Fair Hill Wildlife Management Area, MD

Regal Darner

(Coryphaeschna ingens)

Accidental, July, well vegetated ponds

GA: 06 Apr - 23 Sep

Placeholder image for no photo

Swamp Darner

(Epiaeschna heros)

Common and Widespread, spring and early summer, forests, clearings, roads, Delmarva Bays

DMV: 29 Mar - 29 Sep

Swamp Darner, male

Male, Blackbird State Forest, DE

Swamp Darner, female

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

Placeholder image for no photo

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

Harlequin Darner, male

Male, Idylwild Wildlife Management Area, MD

Harlequin Darner, female

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

Twilight Darner, male

Male, Jones Grade Trail, Fakahatchee Stand Preserve SP, Collier County, FL (with flash)

Twilight Darner, female

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

Cyrano Darner, male

Male, Idylwild Wildlife Management Area, MD

Cyrano Darner, female

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

Gray Petaltail, male

Male, Ten Acre Pond, Centre County, PA

Clubtails (Family Gomphidae)

Unicorn Clubtail

(Arigomphus villosipes)

Uncommon, early summer, unlike other clubtails, prefers ponds and slow, mud bottomed streams

DMV: 20 May - 23 Jul

Unicorn Clubtail, male

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

Black-shouldered Spinyleg, male

Male, Greensboro Christian Park, MD

Black-shouldered Spinyleg, female

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

Black-shouldered Spinyleg, male

Dragonhunter

(Hagenius brevistylus)

Uncommon and local, summer, large streams and rivers

DMV: 31 May - 11 Sep

Dragonhunter, male

Male, Fair Hill Wildlife Management Area, MD

Dragonhunter, female

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

Banner Clubtail, male

Male, Fisher's Mill Bridge, DE

Southern Pygmy Clubtail

(Lanthus vernalis)

Recently discovered at Ramsey Run near Brandywine Creek

DMV: 24 May - 20 Jun

Southern Pygmy Clubtail, male

Male, Ramsey Run, First State National Historic Park, DE

Southern Pygmy Clubtail, female

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

Lancet Clubtail, male

Male, Lums Pond State Park, DE

Lancet Clubtail, female

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

Ashy Clubtail, male

Male, Idylwild Wildlife Management Area, MD

Ashy Clubtail, female

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

Common Sanddragon, male

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

Sable Clubtail, male

Male, Blackbird State Forest, DE

Sable Clubtail, female

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

Eastern Least Clubtail, male

Male, Ramsey Run, First State Historic National Park, DE

Eastern Least Clubtail, female

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

Lancet Clubtail, male

Russet-tipped Clubtail

(Stylurus plagiatus)

Local, Fall, tidal portions of White Clay Creek and Elk Creek, MD

DMV: 18 Aug - 13 Oct

Russet-tipped, male

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

Arrow Clubtail, male

Male, Brandywine Creek State Park, DE

Spiketails (Family Cordulegasteridae)

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

Brown Spiketail, male

Male, Elk Neck State Forest, MD

Lancet Clubtail, female

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

Delta-spotted Spiketail, male

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

Tiger Spiketail, male

Male, White Clay Creek State Park, DE (POSED)

Twin-spotted Spiketail

(Cordulegaster maculata)

Uncommon, widespread, small to medium streams

DMV: 22 Mar - 05 Jun

Twin-spotted Spiketail, male

Male, Wharton State Forest, NJ

Twin-spotted Spiketail, female

Female, Blackbird State Forest, DE

Arrowhead Spiketail

(Corulegaster obliqua)

Very Rare, small muddy streams and seeps

DMV: 21 May - 17 Jul

Arrowhead Spiketail, male

Male, Idylwild Wildlife Management Area, MD

Arrowhead Spiketail, female

Ovipositing Female, Blackbird State Forest, DE

Cruisers (Family Macromiidae)

Stream Cruiser

(Didymops transversa)

Common, coastal plain streams

DMV: 11 Apr - 19 Jun

Stream Cruiser, male

Male, Blackbird State Forest, DE

Stream Cruiser, female

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

Swift River Cruiser, male

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

Swift River Cruiser, male

Male, Idylwild Wildlife Management Area, MD

Illinois River Cruiser, female

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

Royal River Cruiser, male

Male, Idylwild Wildlife Management Area, MD

Emeralds (Family Corduliidae)

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

Petite Emerald, male

Male, Franklin Parker Preserve, NJ

Common Baskettail, female

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

Slender Baskettail, male

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

Common Baskettail, male

Male, Idylwild Wildlife Management Area, MD

Common Baskettail, female

Female, Idylwild Wildlife Management Area, MD

Prince Baskettail

(Epitheca princeps)

Common, large ponds and slow moving rivers, rarely perches

DMV: 27 May - 16 Oct

Prince Baskettail, male

Male, Greensboro Christian Park, MD

Mantled Baskettail

(Epitheca semiaquea)

Accidental, a couple of unconfirmed sightings, bogs and cedar swamps

DMV: 27 Apr - 10 May

Mantled Baskettail, male

Male, Wharton State Forest, NJ

Arrowhead Spiketail, female

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

Robust Baskettail, male

Male, Idylwild Wildlife Management Area, MD

Robust Baskettail, female

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

Selys's Sundragon, male

Male, Idylwild Wildlife Management Area, MD

Selys's Sundragon, female

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

Placeholder image for no photo

Male not photographed but similar to female.

Uhler's Sundragon, 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

Umber Shadowdragon, male

Male, Perryville, MD (POSED)

Stygian Shadowdragon

(Neurocordulia yamaskanensis)

Rare, large rivers, crepuscular, difficult to see

DMV: 02 Jun - 12 Jul

Stygian Shadowdragon, male

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

Prince Baskettail, male

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

Mocha Emerald, male

Male, Lums Pond State Park, DE

Mocha Emerald, female

Female, Atsion Mansion, NJ

Treetop Emerald

(Somatochlora provocans)

Rare, sandy-bottomed forest streams and seeps, roads in sandy forest

DMV: 18 Jun - 01 Aug

Treetop Emerald, male

Male, Calvert Cliffs State Park, MD

Clamp-tipped Emerald

(Somatochlora tenebrosa)

Uncommon, forested roads and clearings near woodland streams

DMV: 10 Jun - 03 Sep

Clamp-tipped Emerald, male

Male, Peanut Dam Road, Essex County, VT

Clamp-tipped Emerald, female

Female, Peanut Dam Road, Essex County, VT

Skimmers (Family Libellulidae)

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

Four-spotted Pennant, male

Male, Woodland Beach, DE

Four-spotted Pennant, female

Female, SE Metro Park, Austin, TX

Calico Pennant

(Celithemis elisa)

Common, widespread, open ponds and fields

DMV: 12 May - 22 Oct

Calico Pennant, male

Male, Sedge Meadow at Summit Bridge Ponds, DE

Calico Pennant, female

Female, Sedge Meadow at Summit Bridge Ponds, DE

Halloween Pennant

(Celithemis eponina)

Common, widespread, open ponds and fields

DMV: 09 Jun - 07 Oct

Halloween Pennant, male

Male, Lums Pond State Park, DE

Halloween Pennant, female

Female, Woodland Ferry, DE

Banded Pennant

(Celithemis fasciata)

Rare, small, vegetated ponds and bogs in southern DMV

DMV: 07 Jun - 04 Sep

Banded Pennant, male

Male, Idylwild Wildlife Management Area, MD

Banded Pennant, female

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

Martha's Pennant, male

Male, Oak Pond, Winslow Wildlife Management Area, NJ

Martha's Pennant, female

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

Double-ringed Pennant, male

Male, Idylwild Wildlife Management Area, MD

Double-ringed Pennant, female

Female, Idylwild Wildlife Management Area, MD

Eastern Pondhawk

(Erythemis simplicicollis)

Abundant, widespread, open ponds and rivers

DMV: 01 May - 15 Oct

Eastern Pondhawk, male

Male, Sedge Meadow at Summit Bridge Ponds, DE

Eastern Pondhawk, female

Female, Summit Bridge Ponds, DE

Seaside Dragonlet

(Erythrodiplax berenice)

Abundant in its salt marsh habitat, extremely variable in color

DMV: 22 May - 09 Oct

Seaside Dragonlet, male

Male, Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, DE

Seaside Dragonlet, female

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

Little Blue Dragonlet, male

Male, Winslow WMA, NJ

Blue Corporal

(Ladona deplanata)

Locally common, small, undisturbed woodland ponds

DMV: 20 Mar - 15 Jun

Blue Corporal, male

Male, Idylwild Wildlife Management Area, MD

Blue Corporal, female

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

Dot-tailed Whiteface, male

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

Golden-winged Skimmer, male

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

Bar-winged Skimmer, male

Male, Lums Pond State Park, DE

Bar-winged Skimmer, female

Female, Idylwild Wildlife Management Area, MD

Spangled Skimmer

(Libellula cyanea)

Common, widespread, lakes, ponds and rivers

DMV: 06 May - 24 Aug

Spangled Skimmer, male

Male, Lums Pond State Park, DE

Spangled Skimmer, female

Female, Idylwild Wildlife Management Area, MD

Yellow-sided Skimmer

(Libellula flavida)

Rare, summer, bogs and seepages, Idylwild

DMV: 17 May - 09 Aug

Yellow-sided Skimmer, male

Male, Idylwild Wildlife Management Area, MD

Yellow-sided Skimmer, female

Female, Idylwild Wildlife Management Area, MD

Slaty Skimmer

(Libellula incesta)

Abundant, widespread, ponds and forest edges

DMV: 19 May - 18 Oct

Slaty Skimmer, male

Male, Lums Pond State Park, DE

Slaty Skimmer, female

Female, Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge, DE

Widow Skimmer

(Libellula luctuosa)

Common, summer, widespread, ponds and forest edges

DMV: 12 May - 09 Oct

Widow Skimmer, male

Male, Lums Pond State Park, DE

Widow Skimmer, female

Female, Summit Bridge Ponds, DE

Needham's Skimmer

(Libellula needhami)

Common, widespread, ponds and forest edges, brackish environments

DMV: 21 May - 20 Sep

Needham's Skimmer, male

Male, Cherry Walk Fen, Lewes, DE

Needham's Skimmer, female

Female, Taylor's Bridge, DE

Twelve-spotted Skimmer

(Libellula pulchella)

Common, widespread, ponds, migratory

DMV: 13 May -18 Oct

Twelve-spotted Skimmer, male

Male, Sedge Meadow at Summit Bridge Ponds, DE

Twelve-spotted Skimmer, female

Female, Beaver Dam Meadow, Huntingdon Co, PA

Painted Skimmer

(Libellula semifasciata)

Common, widespread, ponds and marshes

DMV: 16 Apr - 30 Aug

Painted Skimmer, male

Male, Blackbird State Forest, DE

Painted Skimmer, female

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

Great Blue Skimmer, male

Male, Lums Pond State Park, DE

Great Blue Skimmer, female

Female, Blackbird State Forest, DE

Marl Pennant

(Macrodiplax baleata)

Accidental 06 Aug 2019

SE US: May - Sep

Marl Pennant, male

Male, San Marcos, Hays County, Texas

Marl Pennant, female

Female, Dreher Park, Palm Beach County, FL

Elfin Skimmer

(Nannothemis bella)

Rare, specialized bog habitat

DMV: 01 May - 04 Aug

Elfin Skimmer, male

Male, Idylwild Wildlife Management Area, MD

Elfin Skimmer, female

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

Roseate Skimmer, male

Male, Pumphouse E of Santa Ana NWR, TX

Roseate Skimmer, female

Female, Loxahatchee NWR, FL

Blue Dasher

(Pachydiplax longipennis)

Abundant and ubiquitous

DMV: 01 May - 22 Oct

BLue Dasher, male

Male, Muddy Run, Glasgow, DE

BLue Dasher, female

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

Wandering Glider

Sedge Meadow at Summit Bridge Ponds, DE

Wandering Glider

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

Spot-winged Glider

Male, Sedge Meadow at Summit Bridge Ponds, DE

Spot-winged Glider

Female, Sedge Meadow at Summit Bridge Ponds, DE

Eastern Amberwing

(Perithemis tenera)

Abundant, widespread, ponds and rivers

DMV: 12 Apr - 03 Oct

Eastern Amberwing, male

Male, Lums Pond State Park, DE

Eastern Amberwing, female

Female, Loxahatchee NWR, FL

Common Whitetail

Common Whitetail

(Plathemis lydia)

Abundant, ubiquitous

DMV: 03 Apr - 22 Oct

Common Whitetail, male

Male, Muddy Run, Glasgow, DE

Common Whitetail, female

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

Blue-faced Meadowhawk, male

Male, Lums Pond State Park, DE

Blue-faced Meadowhawk, female

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

Blue-faced Meadowhawk, male

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

Cherry-faced Meadowhawk, male

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

White-faced Meadowhawk, male

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

Ruby Meadowhawk, male

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

Band-winged Meadowhawk, male

Male, Leon's Garden World (Rt 202) Pond, Wilmington, DE

Band-winged Meadowhawk, female

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

Autumn Meadowhawk male

Male, Lums Pond State Park, DE

Autumn Meadowhawk female

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

Carolina Saddlebags male

Male, Sedge Meadow at Summit Bridge Ponds, DE

Carolina Saddlebags female

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

Striped Sadddlebags male

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

Black Saddlebags male

Male, Bluet Pond at Summit Bridge Ponds, DE

Black Saddlebags female

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

Red Saddlebags male

Male, Dankworth Pond, Graham County, AZ

Red Saddlebags female

Female, Roper Lake State Park, Graham County, AZ