Checklist of the Dragonflies of West Virginia


Petaltail Family, Petaluridae

Gray Petaltail, Tachopteryx thoreyi

Darner Family, Aeshnidae

Canada Darner, Aeshna canadensis

Variable Darner, Aeshna interrupta

Spatterdock Darner, Aeshna mutata

Black-tipped Darner, Aeshna tuberculifera

Shadow Darner, Aeshna umbrosa

Green-striped Darner, Aeshna verticalis

Common Green Darner, Anax junius

Comet Darner, Anax longipes

Springtime Darner, Basiaeschna janata

Ocellated Darner, Boyeria grafiana

Fawn Darner, Boyeria vinosa

Swamp Darner, Epiaeschna heros

Cyrano Darner, Nasiaeschna pentacantha

Clubtail Family, Gomphidae

Unicorn Clubtail, Arigomphus villosipes

Southeastern Spinyleg, Dromogomphus armatus

Black-shouldered Spinyleg, Dromogomphus spinosus

Flag-Tailed Spineylegs, Dromogomphus spoliatus

Eastern Ringtail, Erpetogomphus designatus

Midland Clubtail, Gomphus fraternus

Splendid Clubtail, Gomphus lineatifrons

Sable Clubtail, Gomphus rogersi

Cobra Clubtail, Gomphus vastus

Harpoon Clubtail, Gomphus descriptus

Lancet Clubtail, Gomphus exilis

Ashy Clubtail, Gomphus lividus

Rapids Clubtail, Gomphus quadricolor

Spine-Crowned Clubtail, Gomphus abbreviatus

Mustached Clubtail, Gomphus adelphus

Green-Faced Clubtail, Gomphus viridifrons

Dragonhunter, Hagenius brevistylus

Northern Pygmy Clubtail, Lanthus parvulus

Southern Pygmy Clubtail, Lanthus vernalis

Riffle Snaketail, Ophiogomphus carolus

Appalachian Snaketail, Ophiogomphus incurvatus

Maine Snaketail, Ophiogomphus mainensis

Rusty Snaketail, Ophiogomphus rupinsulensis

Common Sandragon, Progomphus obscurus

Eastern Least Clubtail, Stylogomphus albistylus

Elusive Clubtail, Stylurus notatus

Russet-tipped Clubtail, Stylurus plagiatus

Zebra Clubtail, Stylurus scudderi

Arrow Clubtail, Stylurus spiniceps

Spiketail Family, Cordulegastridae

Brown Spiketail, Cordulegaster bilineata

Delta-spotted Spiketail, Cordulegaster diastatops

Tiger Spiketail, Cordulegaster erronea

Twin-spotted Spiketail Cordulegaster maculata

Arrowhead Spiketail, Cordulegaster obliqua

Cruiser Family, Macromiidae

Stream Cruiser, Didymops transversa

Swift River Cruiser, Macromia alleghaniensis

Illinois River Cruiser, Macromia illinoiensis

Royal River Cruiser, Macromia taeniolata

Emerald Family, Corduliidae

American Emerald, Cordulia shurtleffii

Prince Baskettail, Epitheca princeps

Beaverpond Baskettail, Epitheca canis

Common Baskettail Epitheca cynosura

Spiny Baskettail, Epitheca spinigera

Uhler's Sundragon, Helocordulia uhleri

Umber Shadowdragon, Neurocordulia obsoleta This record is questionable

Smokey Shadowdragon, Neurocordulia molesta

Stygian Shadowdragon, Neurocordulia yamaskanensis

Ski-Tailed Emerald, Somatochlora elongata

Forcipate Emerald, Somatochlora forcipata

Mocha Emerald, Somatochlora linearis

Treetop Emerald, Somatochlora provocans

Clamp-Tipped Emerald, Somatochlora tenebrosa

Williamson's Emerald, Somatochlora williamsoni

Skimmer Family, Libellulidae

Calico Pennant, Celithemis elisa

Halloween Pennant, Celithemis eponina

Banded Pennant, Celithemis fasciata

Double-Ringed Pennant, Celithemis verna

Common Pondhawk, Erythemis simplicicollis

Little Blue Dragonlet, Erythrodiplax minuscula

Blue Corporal, Ladona deplanata

Chalk-fronted Corporal, Ladona julia

Crimson-ringed Whiteface, Leucorrhinia glacialis

Hudsonian Whiteface, Leucorrhinia hudsonica

Dot-tailed Whiteface, Leucorrhinia intacta

Red-Waisted Whiteface, Leucorrhinia proxima This record is questionable

Spangled Skimmer, Libellula cyanea

Golden-Winged Skimmer, Libellula auripennis

Bar-winged Skimmer, Libellula axilena

Yellow-sided Skimmer, Libellula flavida

Great Blue Skimmer, Libellula vibrans

Slaty Skimmer, Libellula incesta

Widow Skimmer, Libellula luctuosa

Twelve-spotted Skimmer, Libellula pulchella

Four-Spotted Skimmer, Libellula quadrimaculata

Painted Skimmer, Libellula semifasciata

Blue Dasher, Pachydiplax longipennis

Wandering Glider, Pantala flavescens

Spot-winged Glider, Pantala hymenaea

Eastern Amberwing, Perithemis tenera

Common Whitetail, Libellula lydia

Blue-Faced Meadowhawk, Sympetrum ambiguum

Variegated Meadowhawk, Sympetrum corruptum

Cherry-Faced Meadowhawk, Sympetrum internum

Jane's Meadowhawk, Sympetrum janeae

White-faced Meadowhawk, Sympetrum obtrusum

Ruby Meadowhawk, Sympetrum rubicundulum

Band-Winged Meadhowhawk, Sympetrum semicinctum

Autumn Meadowhawk, Sympetrum vicinum

Carolina Saddlebags. Tramea carolina

Black Saddlebags, Tramea lacerata

 

Species Possibly or Probably in West Virginia

Lance-tipped Darner, Aeshna constricta. Found in all five states contiguous to West Virginia.

Harlequin Darner, Gomphaeschna furcillata. Found in all five states contiguous to West Virginia.

Skillet Clubtail, Gomphus ventricosus. Found in all five states contiguous to West Virginia.

Laura's Clubtail, Stylurus laurae. Found in four states contiguous to West Virginia (KY, MD, OH, and VA).

Riverine Clubtail, Stylurus amnicola. Found in all five states contiguous to West Virginia.

Stripe-Winged Baskettail, Epitheca costalis. Found in four states contiguous to West Virginia (KY, MD, PA, and VA).

Elfin Skimmer, Nannothemis bella. Found in all five states contiguous to West Virginia.

 

Recent Common Name Changes by the Dragonfly Society of the Americas:

Least Clubtail, see Eastern Least Clubtail

Yellow-Legged Meadowhawk, see Autumn Meadowhawk

Eastern Pondhawk, see Common Pondhawk

 

This site is under construction. Gradually we will add additional links to photographs and descriptions of each species.

Image at the top of the page is a Blue Dasher. Image © Stephen Cresswell.

This site is sponsored by Stephen Cresswell Photography.