from
The Dragonflies and Damselflies of Houston, Texas, and Vicinity

(Harris, Galveston, Chambers, Brazoria, Fort Bend, Waller, Montgomery,
San Jacinto & Liberty Counties)

By Richard Orr, Bob Honig, and Robert A. Behrstock

This list is continually evolving as new information becomes available. For additions, corrections or comments please contact Richard Orr at 5215 Durham Road-East, Columbia, Maryland 21044. When submitting additions please provide field data. A collected specimen is generally required for new additions; however, depending upon the species, photographs and/or field notes will be considered.

This newly updated version of THE DRAGONFLIES AND DAMSELFLIES OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, AND VICINITY allows you to see images of most of the species of East Texas Odonates in natural settings. Clicking scientific names (in blue) links you to photos at the Digital Dragonfly Museum web site at Texas A&M University's Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, Stephenville, Texas. Learn about this award winning web site by visiting its home page at: http://stephenville.tamu.edu/~fmitchel/dragonfly/

 

For each species listed, the following indicates the counties in the Houston, Texas, vicinity for which there is at least one known occurrence of that species. Listing of a county for a given species does not necessarily imply that the species can regularly be found in that county. Extremely rare occurrences are usually noted. Key to sources of information: (1) Richard Orr personal records from 1987-1989 (2) Thomas Donnelly personal records from 1960-1966 (3) Clifford Johnson's 1972 The Damselflies of Texas (4) John Abbott personal records (5) Robert A. Behrstock records from May 1997-present Other sources of information incorporated into text County abbreviations: Harris = HAS Galveston = GAL Chambers = CHA Brazoria = BRA Fort Bend = FOB Waller = WAR Montgomery = MOG San Jacinto = SAJ Liberty = LIB

 

DRAGONFLIES (ANISOPTERA) 75 species Petaluridae (Petaltails) 1 species: Tachopteryx thoreyi (Hagen, 1858) -- Gray Petaltail -- MOG (1), SAJ (1, 2, 5), and LIB (2). Larval habitat: permanent forest seeps. Gomphidae (Clubtails) 19 species: Aphylla angustifolia (Garrison, 1986) -- Broad-striped Forceptail -- HAS (5), CHA (5), FOB (5). Larval habitat: ponds. Aphylla protracta (Selys, 1859) -- Narrow-striped Forceptail -- Recorded at the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center (HAS) (1), and MOG (4,). Larval habitat: ponds. Aphylla williamsoni (Gloyd, 1936) -- Two-striped Forceptail -- JEF (Honig); IH 45 at FM 1488, MOG (5). Larval habitat: ponds. Arigomphus lentulus (Needham, 1902) -- Stillwater Clubtail -- HAS (1, 5), BRA (4), FOB (1, 2), MOG (1), and SAJ (1, 2). Larval habitat: ponds and ditches. Arigomphus maxwelli (Ferguson, 1950) -- Bayou Clubtail -- CHA (1), SAJ (1, 2), and LIB (2). Larval habitat: still or slow moving water. Arigomphus submedianus (Williamson, 1914) -- Jade Clubtail -- HAS (2), FOB (2, 5), MOG (1), and SAJ (2). Larval habitat: still or slow moving water. Dromogomphus spinosus (Selys, 1854) -- Black-shouldered Spinyleg -- HAS (2), MOG (1, 2), SAJ (2, 5), and LIB (2). Larval habitat: streams and rivers. Dromogomphus spoliatus (Hagen in Selys, 1858) -- Flag-tailed Spinyleg -- Only records are from LIB at the San Jacinto River at Cleveland on 27 and 30 May 1962 (2); and 2 July 1998 along a slough passing under FM 762 near Brazos Bend State Park, FOB (5). Larval habitat: sand-bottomed rivers. Erpetogomphus designatus (Hagen, 1858) -- Eastern Ringtail -- SAJ (4) and LIB (2). Larval habitat: rivers. Gomphus apomyius (Donnelly, 1966) -- Banner Clubtail -- Only records from Texas are from SAJ (the type locality) at Big Creek 2 miles west of Shepherd (2). Rare and local throughout its known range from East Texas to New Jersey. Larval habitat: streams and rivers. Gomphus externus (Hagen, 1858) -- Plains Clubtail -- Recorded at SAJ (2) at the Double Lake Recreation Area near Coldspring 15 April 1962, and Big Creek Scenic Area 7 April 1998; once from LIB (2) at the San Jacinto River at Romayor on 10 April 1960; and 4 April 1998 at Jones State Forest, MOG (5) Larval habitat: muddy rivers. Gomphus lividus (Selys, 1854) -- Ashy Clubtail -- SAJ (1, 2, 5). Larval habitat: rivers and streams. Gomphus militaris (Hagen, 1858) -- Sulphur-tipped Clubtail -- HAS (2), FOB (2), and SAJ (1). Larval habitat: rivers and streams. Gomphus modestus (Needham, 1942) -- Gulf Coast Clubtail -- SAJ (2) and LIB (2). Larval habitat: rivers and streams. Gomphus oklahomensis (Pritchard, 1935) -- Oklahoma Clubtail -- HAS (1, 2, 5), MOG (1, 2, 5), SAJ (1, 2, 5), and LIB (2). Larval habitat: ponds. Hagenius brevistylus (Selys, 1854) -- Dragonhunter -- HAS (2), MOG (2), and SAJ (2, 5). Larval habitat: rivers and streams. Progomphus obscurus (Rambur, 1842) -- Common Sanddragon -- HAS (1,2), FOB (2), MOG (1, 2, 5), SAJ (2), and LIB (2). Larval habitat: sandy rivers. Stylurus laurae (Williamson, 1932) -- Laura's Clubtail -- Only records are from SAJ in the Big Creek vicinity (2, 5). Larval habitat: rivers and large streams. Stylurus plagiatus (Selys, 1854) -- Russet-tipped Clubtail -- FOB (5). Larval habitat: rivers. Aeshnidae (Darners) 8 species: Aeshna multicolor (Hagen, 1861) -- Blue-eyed Darner -- HAS (1) and FOB (1). Fall records only. Larval habitat: ponds. Anax junius (Drury, 1770) -- Common Green Darner -- HAS (1, 2, 5), GAL (1, 5), CHA (1, 5), BRA (1), FOB (1, 5), WAR (1), MOG (1, 5), SAJ (1, 2), and LIB (1, 2). A very common migratory species; during the fall, it forms large swarms along the Gulf Coast. Larval habitat: still water Anax longipes (Hagen, 1861) -- Comet Darner -- HAS (1, 2), FOB (1), MOG (1, 2, 5), SAJ (2), and LIB (1). Larval habitat: ponds. Basiaeschna janata (Say, 1939) -- Springtime Darner -- SAJ (1, 2). Early spring species. Larval habitat: streams and rivers. Boyeria vinosa (Say, 1839) -- Fawn Darner -- SAJ (2, 5). Larval habitat: streams and rivers. Coryphaeschna ingens (Rambur, 1842) -- Regal Darner -- HAS (1), GAL (1), FOB (1), WAR (1), MOG (1), SAJ (2), and LIB (1). This is the largest dragonfly in East Texas. Larval habitat: ponds. Epiaeschna heros (Fabricius, 1798) -- Swamp Darner -- HAS (1, 2), FOB (1, 5), WAR (1), MOG (1, 5), SAJ (1, 2), and LIB (1, 2). Larval habitat: swamps. Nasiaeschna pentacantha (Rambur, 1842) -- Cyrano Darner -- HAS (1, 2), MOG (1, 2), SAJ (2), and LIB (2). Larval habitat: still or slow moving water. Cordulegastridae (Spiketails) 2 species: Cordulegaster maculata (Selys, 1854) -- Twin-spotted Spiketail -- MOG (1) and SAJ (1, 2). Larval habitat: streams. Cordulegaster obliqua (Say, 1839) -- Arrowhead Spiketail -- A single record from SAJ (2) at Big Creek on 4 June 1961. Larval habitat: streams. Macromiidae (Cruisers) 3 species: Didymops transversa (Say, 1839) -- Stream Cruiser -- MOG (1), SAJ (1, 2, 5), and LIB (2). Early spring species. Larval habitat: streams and rivers. Macromia illinoiensis georgina (Selys, 1878) -- Illinois River Cruiser -- MOG (2) and SAJ (2). Larval habitat: rivers. Macromia taeniolata (Rambur, 1842) -- Royal River Cruiser -- One record from SAJ (2) at Big Creek on 4 June 1965. Larval habitat: rivers. Corduliidae (Emeralds) 7 species: Epitheca cynosura (Say, 1839) -- Common Baskettail -- HAS (1, 2, 4), CHA (1), FOB (1), MOG (1), SAJ (1, 2, 4, 5), and LIB (1, 2, 4). An early spring species. For this list, previously reported Epitheca semiaquea (Mantled Baskettail) are included in with E. cynosura. East Texas E. semiaquea-like specimens were determined to be a variant of E. cynosura. Larval habitat: still or slow moving water Epitheca petechialis (Muttkowski, 1911) -- Dot-winged Baskettail -- BRA (4). An early spring species. Many entomologists lump E. petechialis in with E. costalis (Stripe-winged Baskettail). Larval habitat: slow moving streams or rivers. Epitheca princeps (Hagen, 1861) -- Prince Baskettail -- HAS (1, 2), CHA (5), FOB (1, 5), WAR (1), MOG (1), San Jacinto (2), and LIB (1, 2). Larval habitat: large open ponds, lakes, or slow moving rivers. Helocordulia selysi (Hagen in Selys, 1878) -- Selys Sundragon -- SAJ (1, 2, 5). An early spring species. Larval habitat: streams. Neurocordulia alabamensis (Hodges in Needham and Westfall, 1955) -- Alabama Shadowdragon -- Recorded in SAJ 1964 -1966 at Hickman Branch, 9 miles s of Coldspring on FM 2025 (2). A crepuscular species. Larval habitat: streams. Somatochlora linearis (Hagen, 1861) -- Mocha Emerald -- Records from MOG (1) and SAJ (2). Larval habitat: streams. Somatochlora margarita (Donnelly, 1962) -- Texas Emerald -- Recorded in MOG (4) and SAJ (1, 2). The type locality is Big Creek, Sam Houston National Forest. A local endemic recorded from only a few locations in its known range from East Texas (north to Anderson County) (4) east into Louisiana (Jackson/Lincoln County line) (4). Larval habitat: thought to be mucky edges of woodland streams. Libellulidae (Skimmers) 42 species: Brachymesia furcata (Hagen, 1861) -- Red-tailed Pennant -- Recorded in Armand Bayou Nature Center's farm pond (1), and downtown Houston (HAS) (HONIG, 5), GAL (5). Larval habitat: ponds. Brachymesia gravida (Calvert, 1890) -- Four-spotted Pennant -- HAS (1, 2), GAL (5), CHA (4, 5), BRA (1), FOB (1, 5), WAR (1), MOG (5) and SAJ (2). Larval habitat: ponds. Celithemis amanda (Hagen, 1861) -- Amanda's Pennant -- The only known Texas site and the westernmost record for this species is Jones State Forest, MOG, where first found by Bob Honig in 1992. Larval habitat: ponds. Celithemis elisa (Hagen, 1861) -- Calico Pennant -- HAS (1, Honig), BRA (1), FOB (1), WAR (1), MOG (1, 2, 5), SAJ (2), and LIB (1). Larval habitat: ponds. Celithemis eponina (Drury, 1773) -- Halloween Pennant -- HAS (1, 5), CHA (5), BRA (1), FOB (5), WAR (1), MOG (5), SAJ (2), and LIB (1). Larval habitat: marshes. Celithemis fasciata (Kirby, 1889) -- Banded Pennant -- HAS (1, 5), BRA (1), FOB (1), MOG (1, 2, 5), SAJ (1, 2, 5), and LIB (1). Larval habitat: ponds. Celithemis ornata (Rambur, 1842) -- Faded Pennant -- HAS (1), MOG (1, 5), SAJ (2), and LIB (1). Larval habitat: ponds. Celithemis verna (Pritchard, 1935) -- Double-ringed Pennant -- MOG (1, 2), SAJ (2), and LIB (1). Larval habitat: ponds. Dythemis fugax (Hagen, 1861) -- Checkered Setwing -- Single female collected from HAS (1) at Armand Bayou Nature Center on 15 July 1989. Larval habitat: ponds. Dythemis velox (Hagen, 1861) -- Swift Setwing -- HAS (1), MOG (1), and SAJ (2). Larval habitat: ponds. Erythemis plebeja (Burmeister, 1839) -- Pin-tailed Pondhawk -- New record, 4 Aug. 1999, FOB (5). Larval habitat: ponds. Erythemis simplicicollis (Say, 1839) -- Eastern Pondhawk -- HAS (1, 2, 5), GAL (1, 5), CHA (1, 5), BRA (1), FOB (1, 5), WAR (1), MOG (1, 2, 5), SAJ (1, 2, 5), and LIB (1, 2). Larval habitat: various still water habitats. Erythemis vesiculosa (Fabricius, 1775) -- Great Pondhawk -- HAS (1), GAL (1), CHA (4), FOB (5), MOG (1), and SAJ (2, 5). Larval habitat: ponds. Erythrodiplax berenice (Drury, 1770) -- Seaside Dragonlet -- HAS (1), GAL (5), CHA (1, 5), and BRA (1). The predominant dragonfly of brackish water marshes. Larval habitat: brackish marshes. Erythrodiplax minuscula (Rambur, 1842) -- Little Blue Dragonlet -- HAS (1, 5), CHA (5), FOB (1), MOG (1, 2, 5), SAJ (2, 5), and LIB (1). Larval habitat: ponds. Erythrodiplax umbrata (Linnaeus, 1758) -- Band-winged Dragonlet -- HAS (1, 5), GAL (1, 5), and FOB (1), MOG (5). Larval habitat: ponds. Libellula auripennis (Burmeister, 1839) -- Golden-winged Skimmer -- HAS (1, 5), FOB (1), MOG (1, 2, 5), SAJ (4, 5), and LIB (1). Larval habitat: ponds. Libellula croceipennis (Selys, 1868) -- Neon Skimmer -- Bellaire (Honig, 5), Houston (Honig, 5) HAS. Larval habitat: various still water habitats. Libellula cyanea (Fabricius, 1775) -- Spangled Skimmer -- Little Thicket Nature Sanctuary, SAJ. Larval habitat: ponds Libellula deplanata (Rambur, 1842) -- Blue Corporal -- HAS (1, 2, 5), FOB (1), MOG (1, 2, 5), SAJ (1, 2), and LIB (1, 2). An early spring species. Larval habitat: ponds Libellula flavida (Rambur, 1842) -- Yellow-sided Skimmer -- SAJ (2, 5). Larval habitat: boggy ponds. Libellula incesta (Hagen, 1861) -- Slaty Skimmer -- HAS (1, 5), FOB (1, 5), MOG (1, 2, 5), SAJ (1, 2, 5), and LIB (1, 2). Larval habitat: sunlit or partly shaded ponds. Libellula luctuosa (Burmeister, 1839) -- Widow Skimmer -- HAS (1, 5), BRA (1), FOB (1, 5), WAR (1), and MOG (1, 5). Larval habitat: ponds. Libellula lydia (Drury, 1770) -- Common Whitetail -- HAS (1, 5), BRA (4), FOB (1, 5), WAR (1), MOG (1), SAJ (1, 2, 5), and LIB (1, 2). Larval habitat: still water. Libellula needhami (Westfall, 1943) -- Needham's Skimmer -- HAS (1, 5), CHA (4, 5), BRA (1), FOB (1, 5), WAR (1), MOG (1, 2), SAJ (2), and LIB (1). Larval habitat: ponds, often slightly brackish, including coastal marsh. Libellula pulchella (Drury, 1770) -- Twelve-spotted Skimmer -- HAS (1) and FOB (1). Larval habitat: temporary or shallow warm ponds. Libellula saturata (Uhler, 1857) -- Flame Skimmer -- A single mature male was found at the Houston Arboretum 9 July 1988, and was observed off and on over the next couple of weeks (1). Additional, but unconfirmed reports were received from the River Oaks and Rice University areas of Houston. Care should be taken when making visual field identifications of this species to insure that it is not the Neon Skimmer. The presence of both species is most likely the result of larval introductions associated with the movement of aquatic plants. Larval habitat: ponds, pools, and ditches. Libellula semifasciata (Burmeister, 1839) -- Painted Skimmer -- HAS (1, 2), FOB (1), MOG (1, 5), SAJ (2, 5), and LIB (1). Larval habitat: grassy edges of ponds and marshes. Libellula vibrans (Fabricius, 1793) -- Great Blue Skimmer -- HAS (1, 5), GAL (1, 5), FOB (1, 5), MOG (1, 5), SAJ (1, 2, 5), and LIB (1, 2). Larval habitat: forested ponds. Macrodiplax balteata (Hagen, 1861) -- Marl Pennant -- HAS (1), GAL (Bob Honig, 5), and FOB (1, 5). Larval habitat: ponds. Miathyria marcella (Selys in Sagra, 1856) -- Hyacinth Glider -- HAS (1, 2), GAL (1, 5), CHA (4), FOB (1, 5), MOG (1, 5), and LIB (1). Swarms over grassy fields during summer, often with, but not as numerous as Pantala flavescens. Larval habitat: roots of floating plants in ponds and lakes. Micrathyria hagenii (Kirby, 1890) -- Thornbush Dasher -- New record, 5 May 1999, HAS (5). Larval habitat: ponds. Orthemis ferruginea (Fabricius, 1775) -- Roseate Skimmer -- HAS (1, 2, 5), GAL (1), CHA (1), BRA (1), FOB (1, 5), MOG (1, 5), SAJ (2), and LIB (1). Since 1875, this species has spread from the Florida Keys throughout the southern United States. Larval habitat: ponds. Pachydiplax longipennis (Burmeister, 1839) -- Blue Dasher -- HAS (1, 2, 5), GAL (1, 5), CHA (1, 5), BRA (1), FOB (1, 5), WAR (1), MOG (1, 2, 5), SAJ (1, 2, 5), and LIB (1, 2). During summer, the area's most abundant pond dragonfly. Larval habitat: still to slow moving water. Pantala flavescens (Fabricius, 1798) -- Wandering Glider -- HAS (1, 5), GAL (1, 5), CHA (1), BRA (1), FOB (1), WAR (1), MOG (1), San Jacinto (1, 2), and LIB (1). Wandering Glider has a nearly worldwide distribution. During the summer, this migratory species swarms in large numbers over grassy fields, often with smaller numbers of Miathyria marcella and Pantala hymenaea (Hyacinth and Spot-winged Gliders). Larval habitat: temporary or warm shallow pools Pantala hymenaea (Say, 1839) -- Spot-winged Glider -- HAS (1), BRA (1), FOB (1), WAR (1), MOG (1), SAJ (2), and LIB (1). Often swarms with Pantala flavescens, but in much lower numbers. A migratory species. Larval habitat: temporary or warm shallow pools. Perithemis tenera (Say, 1839) -- Eastern Amberwing -- HAS (1, 2, 5), GAL (4, 5), CHA (4, 5), BRA (1), FOB (1, 5), WAR (1), MOG (1, 2, 5), SAJ (1, 2, 5), and LIB (1, 2). Larval habitat: sunlit ponds. Sympetrum ambiguum (Rambur, 1842) -- Blue-faced Meadowhawk -- HAS (5), BRA (4), MOG (1), and SAJ (1, 2). Larval habitat: temporary ponds. Sympetrum corruptum (Hagen, 1861) -- Variegated Meadowhawk -- HAS (1, 5), CHA (4), FOB (1), MOG (1), and SAJ (4). A late fall - early winter dragonfly, found rarely in spring. Larval habitat: ponds Tramea lacerata (Hagen, 1861) -- Black Saddlebags -- HAS (1, 2, 5), GAL (1, 5), CHA (1), BRA (1), FOB (1, 5), WAR (1), MOG (1, 5), SAJ (1,2), and LIB (1). A migratory species. Larval habitat: warm shallow ponds including temporary ones. Tramea carolina (Linnaeus, 1763) -- Carolina Saddlebags -- HAS (1, 5), GAL (1), CHA (1), BRA (1), FOB (1, 5), WAR (1), MOG (1, 5), SAJ (2), and LIB (1). A migratory species. Larval habitat: temporary or warm shallow ponds. Tramea onusta (Hagen, 1861) -- Red Saddlebags -- HAS (1), CHA (1), FOB (1, 5), WAR (1), MOG (1), SAJ (2), and LIB (1). Most likely a migratory species. Larval habitat: temporary, warm shallow ponds

Copyright ©,1997-1999, Richard Orr, Bob Honig and Robert A. Behrstock. All rights reserved. This page organized and coded by Melinda Parmer. For additions, corrections or comments please contact Richard Orr at 5215 Durham Road-East, Columbia, Maryland 21044. Dragonflies | Damselflies | Field Guides | Odonata Societies | Suggested Literature Local Expertise | Request for Migration Data | Odonata Links

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