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
Black-tipped Darner
(Aeshna tuberculifera)
Accidental, October 1982, small ponds and marshy streams
NJ: 29 Jul - 01 Nov
Shadow Darner
(Aeshna umbrosa)
Uncommon, Fall, field edges, shady streams and pool, flies at dusk and on cloudy days
DMV: 26 Aug - 15 Nov
Green-striped Darner
(Aeshna verticalis)
Accidental, Fall, open marshy areas and fields, two documented records (1982 and 2011)
NJ: 19 Jul - 24 Sep
Common Green Darner
(Anax junius)
Abundant, widespread, many open habitats, migratory, long flight season
DMV: 11 Mar - 13 Dec
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
Springtime Darner
(Basiaeschna janata)
Uncommon, early spring, short flight season, ponds and streams
DMV: 03 Apr - 09 Jun
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Unicorn Clubtail
(Arigomphus villosipes)
Uncommon, early summer, unlike other clubtails, prefers ponds and slow, mud bottomed streams
DMV: 20 May - 23 Jul
Black-shouldered Spinyleg
(Dromogomphus spinosus)
Uncommon, summer, large streams and rivers
DMV: 28 May - 06 Sep
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
Banner Clubtail
(Hylogomphus apomyius)
Rare, local, brief season in mid-May, fast streams
DMV: 04 May - 02 Jun
Southern Pygmy Clubtail
(Lanthus vernalis)
Recently discovered at Ramsey Run near Brandywine Creek
DMV: 24 May - 20 Jun
Lancet Clubtail
(Phanogomphus exilis)
Common, spring and early summer, slow streams and ponds
DMV: 12 Apr - 12 Jul
Ashy Clubtail
(Phanogomphus lividus)
Fairly common, May and Jun, streams and ponds, forest roads
DMV: 11 Apr - 04 Jul
Common Sanddragon
(Progomphus obscurus)
Rare and local, summer, sandy-bottomed streams such as the Choptank, Nanticoke, Pocomoke and Blackbird
27 May - 26 Jul
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
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
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
Arrow Clubtail
(Stylurus spiniceps)
Uncommon, July and August, large creeks and rivers, afternoon flier, riffles
DMV: 20 Jun - 9 Sep
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
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
Tiger Spiketail
(Cordulegaster erronea)
Rare and local, July and August, small hillside seep streams in Piedmont
DMV: 26 Jun - 31 Aug
Twin-spotted Spiketail
(Cordulegaster maculata)
Uncommon, widespread, small to medium streams
DMV: 22 Mar - 05 Jun
Arrowhead Spiketail
(Corulegaster obliqua)
Very Rare, small muddy streams and seeps
DMV: 21 May - 17 Jul
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, Georgia subspecies
(Macromia illinoiensis georgina)
Common, Southern subspecies found on slow Coastal Plain Streams
DMV: 07 Jun - 02 Sep
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
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
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
Common Baskettail
(Epitheca cynosura)
Common, April and May, wooded edges of ponds and streams
DMV: 10 Apr - 07 July
Prince Baskettail
(Epitheca princeps)
Common, large ponds and slow moving rivers, rarely perches
DMV: 27 May - 16 Oct
Mantled Baskettail
(Epitheca semiaquea)
Accidental, a couple of unconfirmed sightings, bogs and cedar swamps
DMV: 27 Apr - 10 May
Robust Baskettail
(Epitheca spinosa)
Uncommon and local, early short flight season, cypress stands, Trap Pond and Idylwild
DMV: 9 Apr - 9 May
Selys's Sundragon
(Helocordulia selysii)
Rare, very local, early short flight season, bushy fields, sandy streams
DMV: 9 Apr - 4 May
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
Umber Shadowdragon
(Neurocordulia obsoleta)
Uncommon, large rivers, crepuscular, difficult to see, most often detected by finding exuvia
DMV: 20 May - 29 Jul
Stygian Shadowdragon
(Neurocordulia yamaskanensis)
Rare, large rivers, crepuscular, difficult to see
DMV: 02 Jun - 12 Jul
Fine-lined Emerald
(Somatochlora filosa)
Uncommon, sandy woods over roads and fields
DMV: 14 Jul - 21 Oct
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
Treetop Emerald
(Somatochlora provocans)
Rare, sandy-bottomed forest streams and seeps, roads in sandy forest
DMV: 18 Jun - 01 Aug
Clamp-tipped Emerald
(Somatochlora tenebrosa)
Uncommon, forested roads and clearings near woodland streams
DMV: 10 Jun - 03 Sep
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
Calico Pennant
(Celithemis elisa)
Common, widespread, open ponds and fields
DMV: 12 May - 22 Oct
Halloween Pennant
(Celithemis eponina)
Common, widespread, open ponds and fields
DMV: 09 Jun - 07 Oct
Banded Pennant
(Celithemis fasciata)
Rare, small, vegetated ponds and bogs in southern DMV
DMV: 07 Jun - 04 Sep
Martha's Pennant
(Celithemis martha)
Rare, July, sand bottomed lakes fringed with emergent vegetation
DMV: 10 Jun - 03 Sep
Double-ringed Pennant
(Celithemis verna)
Uncommon and increasing, small, undisturbed woodland ponds
DMV: 30 May - 01 Aug
Eastern Pondhawk
(Erythemis simplicicollis)
Abundant, widespread, open ponds and rivers
DMV: 01 May - 15 Oct
Seaside Dragonlet
(Erythrodiplax berenice)
Abundant in its salt marsh habitat, extremely variable in color
DMV: 22 May - 09 Oct
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
Blue Corporal
(Ladona deplanata)
Locally common, small, undisturbed woodland ponds
DMV: 20 Mar - 15 Jun
Dot-tailed Whiteface
(Leucorrhinia intacta)
Extirpated, July, one record in 1972, marshy ponds
DMV: 07 Jun - 27 July
Golden-winged Skimmer
(Libellula auripennis)
Three records, two from Delaware and one from Maryland, probably rare and overlooked
DMV: 27 May - 25 Jul
Bar-winged Skimmer
(Libellula axilena)
Uncommon but variable abundance from year to year, local, marshy forest ponds, vernal pools
DMV: 19 May - 01 Sep
Spangled Skimmer
(Libellula cyanea)
Common, widespread, lakes, ponds and rivers
DMV: 06 May - 24 Aug
Yellow-sided Skimmer
(Libellula flavida)
Rare, summer, bogs and seepages, Idylwild
DMV: 17 May - 09 Aug
Slaty Skimmer
(Libellula incesta)
Abundant, widespread, ponds and forest edges
DMV: 19 May - 18 Oct
Widow Skimmer
(Libellula luctuosa)
Common, summer, widespread, ponds and forest edges
DMV: 12 May - 09 Oct
Needham's Skimmer
(Libellula needhami)
Common, widespread, ponds and forest edges, brackish environments
DMV: 21 May - 20 Sep
Twelve-spotted Skimmer
(Libellula pulchella)
Common, widespread, ponds, migratory
DMV: 13 May -18 Oct
Painted Skimmer
(Libellula semifasciata)
Common, widespread, ponds and marshes
DMV: 16 Apr - 30 Aug
Great Blue Skimmer
(Libellula vibrans)
Fairly Common to Abundant, Forest Pools, Variable abundance from year to year
DMV: 01 May - 01 Oct
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
Wandering Glider
(Pantala flavescens)
Fairly common, widespread in many open habitats, attracted to muddy puddles, long distance migrant
DMV: 16 April - 11 Nov
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
Eastern Amberwing
(Perithemis tenera)
Abundant, widespread, ponds and rivers
DMV: 12 Apr - 03 Oct
Blue-faced Meadowhawk
(Sympetrum ambiguum)
Fairly common but local, Fall, woodland ponds and vernal pools
DMV: 05 Jun - 09 Nov
Variegated Meadowhawk
(Sympetrum corruptum)
Accidental 3 recent records, probably a rare but overlooked regular visitor
DMV: 24 Jun - 11 Nov
Cherry-faced Meadowhawk
(Sympetrum internum)
Uncommon and local, possibly decreasing, vernal pools, wet meadows
DMV: 21 Jun - 26 Sep
White-faced Meadowhawk
(Sympetrum obtrusum)
Only one record in fall 2023 but perhaps overlooked.
NJ: 14 Jun - 22 Oct
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
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
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
Carolina Saddlebags
(Tramea carolina)
Abundant, summer, widespread, occurs in flight over almost any open habitat, migratory
DMV: 16 Apr - 09 Oct
Striped Sadddlebags
(Tramea darwini)
Accidental, late Summer and Fall, tropical species that occassionally invades the NE, migratory, beaches
DMV: 04 Aug - 15 Oct
Black Saddlebags
(Tramea lacerata)
Abundant, summer, widespread, occurs in flight over almost any open habitat, migratory
DMV: 01 May - 22 Oct
Red Saddlebags
(Tramea onusta)
Accidental, late summer, occurs in flight over almost any open habitat, migratory
NJ: 04 Jul - 29 Sep