Dragonflies were one of the earliest insects to arise. They have the most primitive flight structure of all the flying insects. While their wing and muscle structure is primitive it is quite effective. This insects are extremely agile fliers. They are predatory both as larva and as adults. Larva feed on other insects, small fish, and amphibian larvae. Adults feed on-the-fly catching other insects, including other dragonflies, then eat their catch while cruising. Dragonflies are quickly identified from damselflies based on their holding the wings straight out from the body when at rest. Click here to see some Dragonfly pictures taken at BNL
Damselflies split off of the evolutionary line of dragonflies. These insects get their names based on their dainty appearance. They are very slender compared to their dragonfly cousins, they fold their wings over their bodies when at rest, and they are not strong fliers. Like dragonflies they are predatory, eating small aquatic insects as larvae, and small flying insects as adults.
Dragonflies | Scientific Name |
---|---|
Aeshnidae | |
Shadow Darner | Aeshna umbrosa |
Common Green Darner | Anax junius |
Comet Darner | Anax longipes |
Swamp Darner | Epiaeschna heros |
Harlequin Darner | Gophaeschna furcillata |
Gomphidae | |
Unicorn Clubtail | Arigomphus villosipes |
Ashy Clubtail | Gomphus lividus |
Corduliidae | |
Common Baskettail | Epitheca cynosura |
Williamsons's Emerald | Somatochlora williamsoni |
Libellulidae | |
Bar Winged Skimmer | Libellula axilena |
Calico Pennant | Celithemis elisa |
Halloween Pennant | Celithemis eponina |
Martha's Pennant | Celithemis martha |
Easthern Pondhawk | Erythemis simplicicollis |
Dot-tailed Whiteface | Leuchorrhinia intacta |
Spangled Skimmer | Libellula cyanea |
Blue Corporal | Libellula deplanata |
Seaside Dragonlet | Erythrodiplax berenice |
Slaty Skimmer |
Libellula incesta |
Widow Skimmer | Libellula luctuosa |
Twelve-spotted Skimmer | Libellula pulchella |
Painted Skimmer | Libellula semifasciata |
Band-winged Meadowhawk | Sympetrum semicunctum |
Black Saddlebags | Tramea lacerata |
Blue Dasher | Pachydiplax longipennis |
Carolina Saddlebags | Tramea carolina |
Cherry-faced Meadowhawk | Sympetrum internum |
Common Whitetail | Plathemis lydia |
Eastern Amberwing | Perithemis tenera |
Great Blue Skimmer | Libellula vibrans |
Black Setwing | Dythemis nigrescens |
Spot-winged Glider | Pantala hymenaea |
Wandering Glider | Pantala flavescens |
White-faced Meadowhawk | Sympetrum obtrusum |
Double-ringed Pennant | Celithemis verna |
Ruby Meadowhawk | Sympetrum rubicundulum |
Frosted Whiteface | Leucorrhinia frigida |
Elfin Skimmer | Nannothemis bella |
Damselflies | |
Calopterygidae | |
Ebony Jewelwing | Calopteryx maculata |
Lestidae | |
Spotted Spreadwing | Lestes congener |
Northern Spreadwing | Lestes disjunctus disjunctus |
Southern Spreadwing | Lestes disjunctus australis |
Amber-winged Spreadwing | Lestes eurinus |
Sweetflag Spreadwing | Lestes forcipatus |
Elegant Spreadwing | Lestes inaequalis |
Slender Spreadwing | Lestes rectangularis |
Lyre-tipped Spreadwing | Lestes unguiculatus |
Swamp Spreadwing | Lestes vigilax |
Coenagrionidae | |
Marsh Bluet | Enallagma ebrium |
Variable Dancer | Argia fumipennis |
Azure Bluet | Enallagma aspersum |
Familiar Bluet | Enallagma civile |
Northern Bluet | Enallagma cyathigerum |
Atlantic Bluet | Enallagma doubledayi |
Big Bluet | Enallagma durum |
Skimming Bluet | Enallagma geminatum |
Pine Barrens Bluet | Enallagma recurvatum |
Orange Bluet | Enallagma signatum |
Citrine Forktail | Ischnura hastata |
Fragile Forktail | Ischnura posita |
Rambur's Forktail | Ischnura ramburii |
Eastern Forktail | Ischnura verticalis |
Sphagnum Sprite | Nehalennia gracilis |