Arizona Naturalists >>> Sonoran Desert Naturalist >>> Field Guide >>> Insects, Spiders, Centipedes and Scorpions >>> Dragonflies and Damselflies

Sonoran Desert Odonata

Surprisingly, the Sonoran Desert (Arizona and Mexico) hosts a great diversity of aquatic insect species including dragonflies and damselflies. Even though surface waters are few and far between in the desert they are mostly not populated by predatory fish and are temporary in nature. This gives a great advantage to insects which can fly great distances to colonize very productive pools and streams. Dragonflies perch with their four, similar membranous wings outspread, parallel to ground. Damselflies which are usually smaller, daintier versions of dragonflies, mostly hold their wings folded over their backs. This guide shows but a few species ... more will be added later.

Flame Skimmer Libellula saturata Brick-red basal half of wings and all of abdomen. Common along flowing waterways in the Sonoran Desert, but can wander far from water. More info	Neon Skimmer Libellula croceipennis Bright orange-red of male's abdomen and thorax is striking. Males protect segments of riparian streams with shallow, flowing water. More info	Red Rock Skimmer Paltothemis lineatipes Orange-red color to basal third of wings. Abdomen red with black banding. Riparian habitats. More info	Roseate Skimmer Orthemis ferruginea Males are roseate-pink color and wings are mostly clear of marks. Near ponds and slow, shallow, water. More info	Blue Dasher Pachydiplax longipennis Wings usually clear or with a bit of amber coloring at base. This is a male. More info
Western Pondhawk Erythemis collocata This dragonfly is freshly emerged from the aquatic nymph stage. More info	Variegated Meadowhawk Sympetrium corruptum Wings mostly clear. Body may be pink, gray, white with dark gray. Varied says it. Common. More info	Green Darner Anax junius Large emerald green dragonflies capable of strong flight and long distance migrations. More info	Red Saddlebags Tramea onusta Body and abdomen are deep red. Wings are clear except for a reddish splotch at base of wings. Riparian habitats. More info	Mexican Amberwing Perithemis intensa Body and wings are rich, golden brown/amber color. Small to medium sized dragonfly. Wings may have some dark markings also. More info

Apache Skimmer Libellula comanche Males sky blue with a white face. On the leading edge of the wing there's a small white patch. Patrols near shallow water along marsh or pond edges. More info	Filigree Skimmer Pseudoleon superbus Intricate black markings on wings looking like filigree. Stays close to flowing water in riparian habitat. More info	Blue-eyed Darner Rhionaeschna multicolor Large, sky-blue dragonfly that frequents wastewater ponds and slow back waters along rivers. More info	Great Spreadwing Archilestes grandis But this damselfly, an exception, holds its wings horizontal, spread parallel to surface. Great Spreadwing has a yellow stripe on sides of thorax. More info	Gray Sand Dragon Progomphus borealis One of the club-tails - note enlarged tip to abdomen. Abdomen with alternate bands of black and yellow. Rarely flies far from water. More info
California Dancer Argia agrioides Males are bright sky blue and black. Wings held up off abdomen. More info	Familiar Bluet Enallagma civile Bright blue and very slender body supports folded delicate wings over back and overlapping abdomen. Common near ponds and pools. More info	Rubyspot Hetaerina sp. A Damselfly holds wings vertical, folded over back. Ruby coloring towards base of wings. Weak flier near slow riparian streams. More info	Desert Firetail Telebasis salva The male's long, slender abdomen is fiery red as is the head and thorax. Associated with shallow ponds. More info	Rambur's Forktail Ischnura ramburii Perches with wings folded over back. Males usually w/ thorax green and blue, Blue spot on head behind eye, abdomen segment #8 entirely blue. More info

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