Dragonflies & Damselflies
Order Odonata
185 speciesAncient predatory insects with large multifaceted eyes and two pairs of strong transparent wings. They are agile fliers and important predators of mosquitoes.
Species in this Order
African Blue Emperor
Anax speratus
A large, powerful dragonfly widespread across sub-Saharan Africa. Males have a bright blue abdomen a...
Aldabra Giant Dragonfly
Hemianax ephippiger
A powerful migratory dragonfly found on Aldabra Atoll and across the Indian Ocean region. It underta...
American Rubyspot
Hetaerina americana
A graceful damselfly with brilliant ruby-red patches at the base of the wings in males. Its metallic...
Ancient Greenling
Hemiphlebia mirabilis
The sole surviving member of one of the most ancient damselfly families on Earth....
Arrowhead Spiketail
Cordulegaster obliqua
A large spiketail dragonfly with arrowhead-shaped yellow markings along its dark abdomen. It is foun...
Asian Clubtail
Asiagomphus melaenops
A medium-sized clubtail dragonfly found in clean streams across East Asia. Males have distinctive ye...
Aurora Bluetail Damselfly
Ischnura aurora
A delicate damselfly with a bright orange-and-blue tail tip, found across the Pacific region. It is ...
Australian Emerald
Hemicordulia australiae
A metallic green-eyed dragonfly common near ponds and slow streams across Australia. It hovers sentr...
Australian Emperor Dragonfly
Anax papuensis
A large, powerful dragonfly with a green thorax and blue-spotted abdomen. It is a strong flier commo...
Azure Damselfly
Coenagrion puella
A delicate bright blue and black damselfly and one of the most abundant damselfly species in Europe....
Azure Damselfly of Azores
Ischnura hastata
On the Azores, this species has evolved the only known all-female population of any odonate. These f...
Balkan Goldenring
Cordulegaster heros
The largest dragonfly in Europe, reaching nearly 100 mm in length. It is restricted to clean forest ...
Banded Demoiselle
Calopteryx splendens
A striking damselfly with metallic blue-green body and distinctive dark wing patches in males. It fr...
Banded Groundling
Brachythemis leucosticta
A small, dark African dragonfly with distinctive banded wings. Males develop a pruinose black body w...
Banded Pennant
Celithemis fasciata
A medium-sized dragonfly with bold dark bands across all four wings. Its body is dark with reddish m...
Beautiful Demoiselle
Calopteryx virgo
A stunning damselfly with entirely dark-tinted wings in males and bronze-green wings in females. It ...
Black Darter
Sympetrum danae
Britain s smallest dragonfly where mature males become entirely jet black, unique among European dra...
Black Saddlebags
Tramea lacerata
A large migratory dragonfly with conspicuous black patches at the base of its hindwings. It flies fo...
Black-shouldered Spinyleg
Dromogomphus spinosus
A large, elegant clubtail with distinctive spiny hind legs and black shoulder stripes. It perches co...
Black-tailed Skimmer
Orthetrum cancellatum
A robust dragonfly with a powder-blue abdomen tipped with black in mature males. It basks flat on ba...
Black-winged Damselfly
Calopteryx atrata
A large damselfly where males have entirely black iridescent wings with a metallic blue-green body. ...
Blackburn's Damselfly
Megalagrion blackburni
A Hawaiian endemic damselfly historically found on multiple islands but now restricted to a few loca...
Bladetail
Lindenia tetraphylla
A large gomphid dragonfly with leaf-shaped abdominal expansions at the tail....
Blue Dasher
Pachydiplax longipennis
A medium-sized dragonfly with a powdery blue abdomen and metallic green eyes in males. It is one of ...
Blue Hawker
Aeshna caerulea
A small hawker dragonfly with bright blue spots on males and yellow spots on females. It is restrict...
Blue Skimmer
Orthetrum caledonicum
A common Australian dragonfly where mature males develop a powdery blue pruinescence over their abdo...
Blue-eyed Darner
Rhionaeschna multicolor
A large darner dragonfly with striking bright blue eyes and blue spots on a brown body. It is one of...
Blue-fronted Dancer
Argia apicalis
A robust damselfly with vivid blue coloring found in eastern North America. It prefers streams and r...
Bog Hawker
Aeshna subarctica
A rare hawker dragonfly restricted to acidic Sphagnum bogs in northern regions....
Borneo River Cruiser
Macromia cingulata
A large fast-flying dragonfly of pristine river systems in Borneo. It patrols long stretches of rive...
Brilliant Emerald
Somatochlora metallica
A metallic green dragonfly with brilliant emerald green eyes. Males patrol low over sheltered lakes ...
Broad Scarlet
Crocothemis servilia
A robust dragonfly where males are brilliant scarlet-red with a broad flattened abdomen. Females are...
Broad-bodied Chaser
Libellula depressa
A stocky dragonfly with a distinctly flattened, broad abdomen that is powder-blue in males and golde...
Brown Hawker
Aeshna grandis
A large dragonfly entirely brown with amber-tinted wings, unique among European hawkers. Its warm br...
Bush Giant Dragonfly
Uropetala carovei
New Zealand's largest dragonfly and one of the most ancient dragonfly lineages in the world. Its lar...
Calico Pennant
Celithemis elisa
A small dragonfly with triangular red or yellow wing spots creating a calico pattern. Males have red...
Canada Darner
Aeshna canadensis
A common large darner of northeastern North America with blue and green markings. Its notched thorac...
Cascade Damselfly
Thaumatoneura inopinata
A rare damselfly found only near waterfalls in Central American cloud forests....
Clubtail Dragonfly
Ophiogomphus cecilia
A green-eyed dragonfly with a club-shaped abdomen tip found along clean rivers....
Cobra Clubtail
Gomphus vastus
A large North American clubtail with a dramatically flared abdomen tip and bold yellow markings. It ...
Common Blue Damselfly
Enallagma cyathigerum
One of the most widespread damselflies. Males are sky blue with black markings. Forms mating wheels ...
Common Bluetail
Ischnura elegans
A small damselfly with a distinctive blue tail-light on segment eight of the abdomen. Females occur ...
Common Clubtail
Gomphus vulgatissimus
A medium-sized dragonfly with a club-shaped abdomen tip and distinctive yellow and black markings. I...
Common Clubtail Dragonfly
Ictinogomphus ferox
A large, boldly marked black and yellow dragonfly with a distinctly clubbed abdomen tip. It is a pow...
Common Darter
Sympetrum striolatum
Europe's most abundant dragonfly, with mature males turning bright orange-red. It is often the last ...
Common Green Darner
Anax junius
A large migratory dragonfly with a green thorax and blue abdomen found across North America. It unde...
Common Hawker
Aeshna juncea
A large, dark brown hawker dragonfly with blue and yellow spots. It favors upland and moorland habit...
Common Spreadwing
Lestes sponsa
A slender metallic green damselfly that characteristically holds its wings half-open at rest. It is ...
Common Whitetail
Plathemis lydia
A stocky dragonfly where mature males sport a chalky white abdomen and dark wing bands. It is one of...
Congo Basin Dragonfly
Palpopleura lucia
A small but strikingly colored dragonfly with a broad, flattened abdomen. Males are bright blue with...
Cretan Hawker
Boyeria cretensis
A dragonfly endemic to the island of Crete, found only along a few shaded mountain streams. One of E...
Crimson Marsh Glider
Trithemis aurora
A dazzling dragonfly where males are vivid crimson-pink with rose-tinted wing bases. Females are oli...
Daintree Ringtail Damselfly
Austrolestes psyche
A slender metallic green damselfly found near rainforest streams in north Queensland. It rests with ...
Delta-spotted Spiketail
Cordulegaster diastatops
A large spiketail of eastern North America with distinctive triangular yellow spots along its dark a...
Demoiselle
Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis
A Mediterranean damselfly with deeply pigmented wings and metallic body coloration....
Desert Firetail Damselfly
Telebasis salva
A bright red damselfly found at ponds and streams in the arid American Southwest. Males are vivid cr...
Desert Threadtail Damselfly
Protoneuridae sp.
A tiny, thread-thin damselfly found near desert springs and oases. It has one of the most restricted...
Downy Emerald
Cordulia aenea
A metallic green dragonfly with a distinctive downy thorax covered in fine golden hairs. Males patro...
Dragonhunter
Hagenius brevistylus
The largest clubtail in North America and a formidable aerial predator. Its massive size and bold bl...
Eastern Forktail
Ischnura verticalis
A small damselfly where males are green and black with a blue tail tip. Young females are bright ora...
Eastern Pondhawk
Erythemis simplicicollis
A robust skimmer dragonfly where mature males are powdery blue and females are vivid green. It is an...
Ebony Jewelwing
Calopteryx maculata
A stunning damselfly with entirely jet-black wings (males) or smoky wings with white spots (females)...
Emerald-spotted Flatwing Damselfly
Phaon iridipennis
A stunning damselfly with metallic green and blue body and broad, iridescent wings with emerald spot...
Emperor Dragonfly
Anax imperator
One of the largest dragonflies in Europe. Powerful flier that patrols territories along waterways. C...
Familiar Bluet
Enallagma civile
One of the most common and widespread bluet damselflies in North America. Males are bright blue with...
Fijian Cave Swiftlet Dragonfly
Nesobasis erythrops
An endemic Fijian damselfly found along shaded forest streams on Viti Levu. Males have distinctive r...
Filigree Skimmer
Pseudoleon superbus
A dragonfly with ornate banded wing patterns and arid habitat preferences....
Flame Skimmer
Libellula saturata
A brilliantly red-orange dragonfly found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Males are unm...
Flying Earwig Hawaiian Damselfly
Megalagrion nesiotes
An endemic Hawaiian damselfly found in wet forests, notable for breeding in water-filled leaf axils ...
Forest Darner
Austroaeschna pulchra
A handsome darner dragonfly with blue and brown markings found in temperate forests of eastern Austr...
Forest Demoiselle
Calopteryx syriaca
A Near Eastern demoiselle found along streams in the Levant region. Males have dark wings with blue-...
Four-Spotted Chaser
Libellula quadrimaculata
A medium-sized dragonfly with two dark spots on the leading edge of each wing, totaling four. It is ...
Fulvous Forest Skimmer
Neurothemis fulvia
A beautiful dragonfly showing dramatic sexual dimorphism. Males have rich amber-orange wings with da...
Ghost Darner
Anax longipes
A large green-eyed dragonfly with a distinctively long reddish-brown abdomen....
Giant Darner Dragonfly
Tetracanthagyna plagiata
One of the largest dragonflies in the world, with a wingspan exceeding 16 cm. The body is brown with...
Giant Hawaiian Darner
Anax strenuus
The largest dragonfly in the United States, endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. It patrols forest strea...
Giant Petaltail
Petalura gigantea
One of the largest dragonflies in Australia and a living fossil belonging to the most ancient dragon...
Giant Petaltail Dragonfly
Petalura ingentissima
Australias largest dragonfly and one of the most primitive living species, belonging to a family dat...
Globe Skimmer
Pantala flavescens
Holds the record for the longest insect migration — crossing the Indian Ocean from India to East Afr...
Golden-Ringed Dragonfly
Cordulegaster boltonii
The longest dragonfly in Britain, adorned with bold black and yellow rings along its body. Females h...
Graphic Flutterer
Rhyothemis graphiptera
A stunning dragonfly with dark patterned wings that give it a butterfly-like appearance in flight. I...
Green Lestes
Lestes viridis
A metallic green damselfly that lays eggs into the bark of overhanging trees. Creates distinctive ov...
Green-eyed Hooktail
Paragomphus genei
An African clubtail with bright green eyes and hooked male appendages. It is found along rivers and ...
Green-striped Darner
Aeshna verticalis
A large darner of eastern North America with prominent green thoracic stripes. It flies late in the ...
Ground Skimmer
Diplacodes trivialis
A small dragonfly that becomes powder-blue with age in males. It is one of the most common dragonfli...
Hairy Dragonfly
Brachytron pratense
The earliest-emerging hawker dragonfly in Europe, with a distinctively hairy thorax. Males have blue...
Halloween Pennant
Celithemis eponina
A distinctive dragonfly with boldly patterned orange and brown bands across its wings. It perches at...
Hawaiian Damselfly
Megalagrion hawaiiense
An endemic Hawaiian damselfly with red or orange coloring found near streams. It breeds in flowing w...
Hawaiian Orangeblack Damselfly
Megalagrion xanthomelas
A strikingly coloured Hawaiian damselfly with orange and black markings. It was once widespread in l...
Helicopter Dragonfly
Mecistogaster linearis
A forest giant damselfly that plucks spiders from their webs while hovering....
Hildebrand's Dragonfly
Neodythemis hildebrandti
A forest-dwelling dragonfly with a dark metallic body and hyaline wings. Males have distinctive blue...
Hine's Emerald Dragonfly
Somatochlora hineana
A brilliant green-eyed emerald dragonfly found in calcareous spring-fed wetlands. It is one of the m...
Horned Clubtail
Arigomphus cornutus
A medium-sized clubtail dragonfly with small horn-like projections on the top of the head. Its body ...
Hyacinth Glider
Miathyria marcella
A delicate dragonfly with a violet-tinted thorax and a slender banded abdomen. It is common in the A...
Indian Jewelwing
Vestalis gracilis
A large, shimmering emerald-green damselfly found in the rainforests of South and Southeast Asia. Bo...
Insignia Goldenring
Cordulegaster insignis
A large goldenring dragonfly of Turkey and the Near East with bold yellow markings. It patrols mount...
Japanese Emperor Dragonfly
Anax parthenope julius
A large hawker dragonfly and one of the most powerful aerial predators in Japanese wetlands. Known a...
Japanese Goldenring
Anotogaster sieboldii
One of the largest dragonflies in East Asia with bold black and yellow body rings. It is widespread ...
Japanese Narrow-Winged Damselfly
Mnais costalis
A beautiful damselfly endemic to Japan, known as 'niko-nico-kawatombou.' Males come in two forms: or...
Japanese Red Dragonfly
Sympetrum frequens
Known as 'akane' or 'aka-tonbo' in Japanese, this red dragonfly is one of the most iconic insects in...