Damselflies, Zygoptera, of California

California Damselflies
aka
California Zygoptera

This page links to photos and information about Damselflies (Zygoptera), but not Dragonflies (Anisoptera)
Return to the front page of California Dragonflies/Odonata

The on-line guide begins after this introduction to some of the tools that are helpful in learning about dragonflies and damselflies in California

Revision of CA's 1st dragonfly guide: Common Dragonflies of California A Beginner's Pocket Guide (Revised Edition 2009) includes Damselflies by Kathy Biggs 100 species - ONLY $9.95 FITS IN YOUR POCKET! Updates	Updated - Spring 2017 Dragonflies of California and the Greater Southwest A Beginner's Guide AZ, CA, CO, NV, NM, UT - eGuide Use on your Kindle, Tablet, Smartphone or computer - weightless! Includes damselflies by Kathy Biggs - Price $6.99 Buy through Amazon.com (Kindle app)	2015 Dragonflies of the Greater Southwest Includes ALL the species of dragonflies found in California but not the damselflies by Kathy Biggs June 2015 Updates	2003 The COMPLETE GUIDE for CA: *Dragonflies and Damselflies of California* includes damselflies by Tim Manolis 2003 4-1/2 x 7-1/4"
Dragonflies of North America, A Color and Learn Book with Activities (also available on a CD) by Kathy Biggs and Tim Manolis - 2006 Includes damselflies	*Build a Pond for Wildlife* by Kathy Biggs March 2012 Attract dragonflies to your yard! NEW! Click image above to buy on a CD or use links below to buy as an eBook (May 2012) Click here to buy it as a Kindle app at Amazon.com or here to buy it as a Nook app from Barnes and Noble	SORRY - OUT OF PRINT Common Dragonflies of the Southwest, A Beginner's Pocket Guide by Kathy Biggs 2004

Sketch of a damselfly body
showing the body parts
by Tim Manolis

DAMSELFLIES - Zygoptera:

size - slender-bodied, generally smaller and more frail than dragonflies. Most have an eyespot on the back of each eye.
wings - when perched, all four wings are usually held together alongside or sail-like over the abdomen.
eyes - set far apart giving hammer-headed appearance.
behaviors - weak fliers, usually found not too far from water. All damselflies lay their eggs directly into vegetation.
males - a bump (genitalia) under their 2nd abdominal segment; four terminal abdominal appendages.
females - a wide ovipositor on the lower end of their abdomen; only two terminal abdominal appendages.
California - at least 41 species recorded within the state, representing 3 of the 5 American damselfly families.

Use the names below as links if you already know the family of the damselfly you wish to access, or scroll down to choose from the photo links.
1. Pond Damsels - Coenagrionidae 2. Spreadwings - Lestidae 3. Broad-winged Damsels Calopterygidae

Family: POND DAMSELS - Coenagrionidae	Family: POND DAMSELS - Coenagrionidae 8 CA genera, totaling 31 species: sizes: very small to medium; lengths: 20 - 50 mm males: usually blue and black, a few red, yellow, violet; varying degrees of color on abdomens; clear wings held alongside or over abdomen when perched, small stigmas females: abdomen more cylindrical; most tan but some more colorful; ovipositors under segments 8-10 give them a bulky appearance habitats: quite variable, still waters, quiet streams behaviors: wings held closed when perched; low flying American Bluets Enallagma - CA species are blue & black patterned; perch on vegetation; wings at rest are held alongside abdomen; tandem oviposit at still water sites; swarm Eurasian Bluet Coenagrion - similar to American Bluets, showing more black Dancers Argia - most are blue & black patterned, some are lavender & black, "dancing" flight; perch on ground and/or rocks with wings held closed above abdomen; tandem oviposit in moving waters; territorial wing clapping; long spines on legs Forktails Ischnura - mostly black; blue on thorax & near abdomen tip; perch on emergent vegetation; females solo oviposit into floating vegetation; resting wing position variable Exclamation Damsel Zoniagrion - one species; similar to forktails; 2 blue exclamation-like marks top of thorax Firetails Telebasis - red coloring; small & petite Red Damsels Amphiagrion - black and red coloring; small but stocky Sprites Nehalennia - RARE; metallic green coloration; small & petite
Family: SPREADWINGS - Lestidae	Family: SPREADWINGS - Lestidae 2 CA genera, including the Pond Spreadwings and the Stream Spreadwings sizes: small to medium/large, slender; lengths: 30 - 62 mm males: long; dark with blues, greens; blue eyes; pruinose pale area near tip; some show more extensive pruinosity females: more stout; less colorful; not pruinose habitats: ponds, marshes, streams, slow rivers behaviors: usually hold wings open when at rest, a la stealth bombers; oviposit in plant tissue that is above water level Pond Spreadwings Lestes - 5 CA species; found flying at still water sites from spring through fall; patrol shoreline from emergent vegetation; pairs oviposit while in tandem into non-woody vegetation above the water level Stream Spreadwings Archilestes - 2 CA species - moving water sites; our largest damselflies; tandem oviposit into woody vegetation such as bay, alder & willow branches overhanging creeks/small rivers (even when dry); late season flight
Family: BROAD-WINGED DAMSELS - Calopterygidae	Family: BROAD-WINGED DAMSELS - Calopterygidae 2 CA genera, including Jewelwing & Rubyspot sizes: medium/large, slender; lengths: 40 - 52mm males: large for damselflies; showy; colorful patches in wings females: more stout; less colorful bodies and wings habitats: streams, slow rivers, esp. with vegetation behaviors: butterfly-like courtship &/or male display flights; perch horizontally, head down on vegetation, shoreline & mid-stream rocks Jewelwings Calopteryx - 1 CA species; large broad wings with outer third black; beautiful green and blue iridescent coloration on body changes with angle of viewing; long spindly legs; butterfly-like courtship displays; males defend territories Rubyspots, Hetaerina: - 1 CA species*, males have basal quarter to third of broad wings with beautiful ruby red patches on upper surface; thorax matures to red as seen through smoky glass or to dark with reddish iridescence; very long dark legs; males duel in display flights

Family: POND DAMSELS - Coenagrionidae	Family: POND DAMSELS - Coenagrionidae Quick Guide to Pond Damsels (p. 78 Revised Co. Dragonflies of California)
Image by Ray Bruun Dancer vs. Bluet wing position pairs tandem ovipositing image of 3 species in pairs ovipositing	*GENUS: Argia* Dancers - 10 CA species sizes: medium, lengths 23 - 50 mm description: males are usually blue (or violet/purplish) & black; perch with wings held well up and over back, sail-like; leg hairs 2X as long as space between them; 4th leg joint has 2 rows stiff bristles; eyes often a dark blue color but not black; side stripe on thorax often pinched or split females: 2 forms - most common is tan or gray where male is blue; other is like male; no vulvar spine on segment 8 nymph: robust behavior**: flight `dance-like' (up & down); 'clap' wings when approached; alight more frequently in open spaces on rocks &/or wood rather than on vegetation; more likely at moving waters; tandem oviposit with male in 'sentinel' position eggs laid on surface mats of algae, floating vegetation or on wood
Photos male male male male male male male, close-up immature male male with mites male, frontal close-up images by Doug Aguillard at his website images by Ray Bruun at his Flickr website images by Don Roberson at his website images at Odonata of Orange County male & female female female female female female female female male-colored female female, close-up of thorax Scans male male male female female scan odd pair	Vivid Dancer Argia vivida size: small/medium, length 30 - 40 mm male: vivid blue & black markings; thorax top stripe has wide urn shape; side thoracic stripe pinched at mid-length; middle abdomen segment sides have small backwards pointing arrow-shaped/triangular black streaks; blue tip surrounds segments 8-10; when cool coloring becomes more purple; immatures - milky gray female: tan/gray & black or male-like habitat: seeps, streams; wanders CA flight period: capable of flight whenever there is a prolonged warm spell CA distribution: common statewide CA distribution map Southwestern distribution map
Photos male male male male male (new early flight data) male, in hand male male, close-up thorax images by Don Roberson at his website images by Ray Bruun at his Flickr website images by Doug Aguillard at his website Scans male male male male male male male pair pair - OR	California Dancer Argia agrioides size: small, length 27 - 35 mm male: brilliant sky-blue; thorax shoulder stripe variably forked (lower stripe can be only interrupted); blue and black abdomen with pale spots usually at side of black ring, blue "tail" segments 8-10; distance between lower appendages from above greater than width of individual appendages, no inward pointing lobe on appendages when viewed from above; dark wing veins and a stripe, not spot on side of seg. 2 female: less colorful, thicker bodied than male; usually tan and black, one form male-like similar species: VERY similar to Aztec Dancer (see below): use appendages to differentiate California Dancer usually has a stripe on segment 2 while the Aztec has a spot; wing vein color can be useful Vivid Dancer is larger and has a richer blue, sometimes bluish-violet, color, dark triangles along side of abdomen habitat: open rivers and streams CA flight period: late February - late November CA distribution: statewide CA distribution map Southwestern distribution map
Photos male male male images by Doug Aguillard at his website images by Ray Bruun at his Flickr website images by Don Roberson at his Monterey website pairs female (probably this species) Scans male male - AZ female	Aztec Dancer Argia nahuana size: small, length 27 - 35 mm male: brilliant sky-blue; thorax shoulder stripe variably forked (lower stripe can be interrupted); blue "tail" segments 8-10; spot on segment 2 side (not stripe) distance between lower appendages from above less than width of individual appendages, inward pointing lobe on appendages when viewed from above female: less colorful, thicker bodied than male; usually tan and black, another form male-like similar species: VERY similar to California Dancer: use appendages to differentiate California Dancer usually has a stripe on segment 2 while the Aztec has a spot; wing vein color can be useful Vivid Dancer is larger and has a richer blue, sometimes bluish-violet, color, dark triangles along side of abdomen habitat: open rivers and streams CA flight period: April - November CA distribution: sporadic statewide CA distribution map Southwestern distribution map
Photos male male, close-up of thorax male male male male (new early flight data) images by Doug Aguillard at his website images by Bob Miller at his website images by Ray Bruun at his Flickr website female female female female Scans male male male male immature male male appendages female	Paiute Dancer Argia alberta size: very small, length 27 - 32 mm male: smaller and darker than most other dancers; dark thoracic side stripe prominent and forked; small eye-spots; abdomen mostly dark with thin contrasting blue or grayish purple rings not quite close at the top with streaks on the lower sides, middle segments black on top; immatures colored more purple; wings clear, dark veins female: light brown/tan & black or male-like similar species: abdomen similar to Blue-ringed Dancer, but not so distinctly marked or colorful habitat: stream/pond arid areas CA flight period: February - December CA distribution: all desert areas CA distribution map Southwestern distribution map
Photos male male male images by Bob Miller at his website images by Doug Aguillard at his website images by Ray Bruun at his Flickr website female female Scans male - AZ male male female female	Blue-ringed Dancer Argia sedula size: small, length 30 - 34 mm male: black abdomen has narrow blue rings separating sections, rings are closed at the top; blue "tail" 8-10 on top side only; thorax has wide dark side and top stripe; large eyespots; wings dark veined, sometimes amber tinged; use appendages to differentiate female: always paler than male, showing olive-tan wherever male is blue; wings amber-tinged similar species: abdomen similar to Paiute Dancer, but more distinctly marked,and more colorful habitat: sunny sections of small/medium rivers CA flight period: February - early December CA distribution: southern Calif. and eastern desert areas CA distribution map Southwestern distribution map
Photos male - NV male - NV male - NV male - NV male - NV male - AZ male - AZ female - NV female - NV Scans male & female - TX	Kiowa Dancer Argia immunda size: small/medium, length 26 - 38 mm male: blue or blue violet & black; pale thoracic side stripe wide and irregular in shape; dark side stripe forked; large eyespots; abdominal segments 3-6 unique with thin pale basal ring & then 3 alternating black-pale- black markings each of approximately the same width; wings clear, dark veins female: tan where male is blue habitat: streams & rivers, lakes CA flight period: found once in state on May 30th CA distribution: RARE: found once in CA, known from NV & AZ CA distribution map Southwestern distribution map
Photos male male male male male male male male images by Doug Aguillard at his website images by Ray Bruun at his Flickr website images by Don Roberson at his website female female, close-up of thorax female, close-up of thorax female, close-up of thorax male-like female pair pair Scans male side male top male male male immature male pair female female	Emma's Dancer Argia emma size: small/medium, length 34 - 40 mm male: usually purplish but can be blue; thoracic side stripe pinched at middle, top stripe on thorax unique - very narrow & straight; abdomen lavender and black with no side triangles, blue 'tail' segments 8-10 can have short black vertical stripes sides of segments 8 & 9; wings have pale stigma; compare to other species by appendages female: yellowish tan or more rarely male-like; top thoracic stripe very thin; pale stigma similar species: Vivid Dancer has black triangles along side of abdomen, wide top thoracic stripe, can look 'purple' when cold, females are less 'yellowish' in coloration; Lavender Dancer (below) has split side thoracic stripe, wider top thoracic stripe. behavior: males perch on rocks or logs jutting above rushing streams or on the nearby shoreline rocks, and sometimes vegetation habitat: rocky streams, rivers (not likely at seeps) CA flight period: March - October CA distribution: all but southern Calif. CA distribution map Southwestern distribution map
Photos male male male male male male male male images by Doug Aguillard at his website images by Don Roberson at his website multiple images pair pair pair pair female - AZ Scans pair - AZ	Lavender Dancer Argia hinei size: small/medium length 30 - 35 mm male: violet when mature; thoracic shoulder stripe forked; frontal stripe wide; mature males show lower half of thorax pruinose white; segment 8-10 form contrasting blue "tail" with black under 8 & 9 only; prefers shallow rocky stream areas; use appendages to differentiate female: light brown; abdomen & thorax patterning similar to male; dark intrusions on pale tail tip habitat: streams (even ephemeral) CA flight period: May - October CA distribution: southern Calif. CA distribution map Southwestern distribution map
Photos male male images by Ray Bruun at his Flickr website images by Doug Aguillard at his website images by Don Roberson at his website female male-colored female male-colored female male-colored female female female female Scans male immature male immature male male head & thorax top male & female female (brown) female (blue)	Sooty Dancer Argia lugens size: medium, length 42 - 48 mm male: large for a damselfly; unlike most Dancers, no blue near abdomen tip; thorax develops dark sooty blue pruinosity; noticeable pale ring around each segment, lacks blue 'tail'; eyes appear large because they lack obvious eyespots; wings can become slightly smoky, pale stigma; long-legged; immature patterned brown like female female: thorax patterned blue or brown; pale rings abdomen behavior: perches on rocks mid-stream habitat: rocky streams, rivers CA flight period: April - October CA distribution: widespread CA distribution map Southwestern distribution map
Photos male male images by Doug Aguillard at his website images by Ray Bruun at his Flickr website female female female Scans male male male pair female female female	Powdered Dancer Argia moesta size: medium, length 40 - 49 mm male: large for a damselfly; develops chalky/powdery pale gray pruinosity with age, especially thorax; abdomen turns more solid pale gray on segments 8-10 (no blue 'tail'); use appendages to differentiate female: coppery or sky blue thorax; older females sometimes become a bit pruinose habitat: rocky rivers, windy lakes CA flight period: April - November CA distribution: southern Calif. CA distribution map Southwestern distribution map
Image by Ray Bruun Bluet vs. Dancer wing position photo of a Bluet swarm Bluet wing position female Bluet - non-male-like color form female Bluet - male-like color form pair in mating "heart"	*GENUS: Enallagma* American Bluets - 9 CA species ...78, 86-89 description: males are usually bright blue & black patterned; very similar in appearance to Dancers but flight not `dance-like'; wings are held folded down alongside the body, not sail-like over the back as in Dancers; leg hairs not twice as long as space between them; eyes often quite black on top unlike dancers which are more often a dark blue color; the black line on side of thorax often makes a 'jag' or 'elbow' near the head; females: several color forms: usually tan or gray where male is blue; sometimes colored male-like but usually with much less blue; have a vulvar spine on segment 8 which Dancers lack behavior: fly low over the water & grasses along shore; perch on vegetation with wings slightly drooping at abdomen side; copulate in wheel position (looks more like a heart than a wheel!); can last up to 44 mins; males capable of removing sperm from female's prior matings before insemination; usually tandem oviposit, but sometimes females oviposit while single; eggs laid at still water sites into plant tissue - usually this is floating vegetation, but females may submerge for up to an hour ovipositing; males do not submerge with the female; can form swarms over water while ovipositing nymph: slender, translucent, gray, brown or green; climb about on submerged vegetation along the edges of ponds; take more than 4 months to mature and about 30 mins. to transform into flying adults on emergent vegetation habitat**: still water with abundant vegetation
Photos male male pair images by Doug Aguillard at his website images by Don Roberson at his website images by Ray Bruun at his Flickr website appendage close-up female Scans male male male male male male male male male	Northern Bluet Enallagma annexum [formerly E. cyathigerum ] ...78, 86 size: small, length 30 - 40 mm male: third segment more than 50% blue; side stripe is undivided with a jag near the front; large blue eyespots; lower appendages longer than uppers; a darker NW Coastal form exists Identify to species by appendages shape using hand lens female: blue on abdomen reduced to rings, or tan and black similar species: Boreal Bluets are identical in the field; the 2 species often occur together across much of California; hybridization is known; separate to species in hand by appendages using 10X lens habitat: cool still or slow water CA flight period: March - early November CA distribution: statewide CA distribution map Southwestern distribution map
Photos male young male male males males images by Doug Aguillard at his website images by Ray Bruun at his Flickr website multiple images pair pair pair female female female female Scans male male male male male male	Boreal Bluet Enallagma boreale size: small, length 30 - 40 mm male: third segment more than 50% blue; side stripe is undivided with a jag near the front; large blue eyespots; lower appendages longer than uppers. Identify to species by appendages shape using hand lens female: much less blue ( blue reduced to rings), or tan and black similar species: Northern Bluets are identical in the field; the 2 species often occur together across much of California; hybridization is known; separate to species in hand by appendages using 10X lens habitat: cool still or slow water; mostly found in mountains, not in central valley CA flight period: end of March - end of September CA distribution: all, more common in north CA distribution map Southwestern distribution map
Photos male male male male male male male & female images by Doug Aguillard at his website images by Ray Bruun at his Flickr website pair Scans male male male male female	Alkali Bluet Enallagma clausum size: small, length 30 - 40 mm male: third segment more than 50% blue; side stripe is undivided with a jag near the front & sometimes appearing pinched (somewhat similar to a Dancer's); large blue eyespots; lower appendages only a little longer than uppers. Alkali has thin side stripe; found alkali water. Identify by appendages shape using hand lens female: much less blue, or tan and black; entirely pale S8; rather thin humeral stripe habitat: alkaline ponds and lakes CA flight period: May - September CA distribution: east of Sierra Nevada & Cascade Mts. CA distribution map Southwestern distribution map
Photos male male male male male male male male multiple images images by Doug Aguillard at his website images by Don Roberson at his website images by Ray Bruun at his Flickr website images by Bob Miller at his website pair female female Scans male male male male male male male male pair pair	Familiar Bluet Enallagma civile size: very small, length 29 - 39 mm male: small comma-shaped eyespots; abdominal markings more blue than black, third segment more than 50% blue; top thorax stripe dark; upper appendages longer than lowers, large and finlike with pale "button," appears splayed when seen from above; when seen from side 'tail end' appears triangular in shape; use appendages to differentiate female: like male or tan and black similar species: rarer River Bluet E. anna has upper appendages noticeably longer and forked, only occurs east of Sierra Nevada/Cascade Mts. Northern, Boreal, & Alkali Bluets have lower appendages the longest; blue areas more angled than on E. civile; Arroyo and Tule Bluet have 3rd segment more black than blue; use appendages to differentiate behavior: Bluets fly low over water along shoreline; tandem oviposit on underwater plants floating at surface habitat: still waters with fields nearby; also slow waters with abundant vegetation; even cattle tanks, and brackish waters; charactersitic species at disturbed areas; tolerates organic pollution CA flight period: possibly all year in south CA distribution: common statewide; especially common in Central Valley & so. CA lowlands CA distribution map Southwestern distribution map
Photos males male male male male female pairs+ images by Doug Aguillard at his website female female Scans male male male	River Bluet Enallagma anna size: medium, length 29 - 36 mm male: middle abdominal segments about half-blue from above; usually has a black stripe along the side of S2; appendages slightly forked; uppers noticeably longer than lowers, with the top fork extending well beyond lower appendages and angled downward (without a pale button on end) - noticeable to the naked eye female: pale areas blue or tan;uniformly black on the abdomen top similar species: Arroyo, Tule and Familiar Bluet are similar (use CA key) more common Arroyo Bluet E. praevarum usually averages smaller in size - per. comm. Dennis Paulson, 2010 habitat: slow streams, ditches CA flight period: early May - September CA distribution: east of Sierra Nevada & Cascade Mts. CA distribution map Southwestern distribution map
Photos male male male male - AZ male - AZ male - MX male - MX appendages appendages female - AZ Scans male - MX	Baja Bluet Enallagma eiseni NEW TO USA size: medium, length 27 - 34 mm male: distinctive - middle abdominal segments about equally blue and dark from above; dark on abdominal segments forms spears which point towards the tail (other bluets' dark areas point towards head); segments 8 - 10 blue; large blue eyespots have a connecting blue line; upper appendages noticeably longer than lowers, noticeable to the naked eye; from above have inward facing 'hooks'; lower appendages held next to abdomen, appear to be 'missing' female: pale areas blue or tan, often with greenish cast; patterning similar to male's habitat: slow streams, pools of desert oases CA flight period: Found once in the state on June 16 & 17 CA distribution: VERY RARE; found only ONCE; report & document all sightings; note: this record has been contested CA distribution map Southwestern distribution map
Photos male male male male male male male images by Doug Aguillard at his website images by Don Roberson at his website images by Ray Bruun at his Flickr website pair female female female female Scans male male male male male male pair female	Tule Bluet Enallagma carunculatum size: small, length 28 - 37 mm male: 3rd segment more than 50% black; segments 3-7 more black than blue; segments 8 & 9 blue; thorax top stripe wide and dark; large pale button tip of upper appendages female: pale areas blue or tan; no blue on tail similar species: Arroyo Bluet has forked upper appendages habitat: lakes, ponds, streams; especially with tules CA flight period: January - December (possibly all year in the south) CA distribution: common statewide CA distribution map Southwestern distribution map
Photos male male male male male male male male images by Doug Aguillard at his website images by Ray Bruun at his Flickr website images by Don Roberson at his website Scans male male	Arroyo Bluet Enallagma praevarum size: small, length 29 - 37 mm male: 3rd segment usually more than 50% black; each segment 3-7 50% less blue than the previous segment; segments 8 & 9 blue; thorax top stripe wide and dark; upper and lower appendages about the same length, upper appendages forked, top fork the longest female: pale areas blue or tan; no blue on tail similar species: compare to Tule Bluet by appendages; rarer River Bluet E. anna is found east of Sierra Nevada and Cascade mts. & usually larger in size - per per. comm. Dennis Paulson, 2010 habitat: lakes, ponds, streams, pools of rivers CA flight period: early March - end of December CA distribution: widespread but often overlooked CA distribution map Southwestern distribution map
Photos male male images by Doug Aguillard at his website images by Ray Bruun at his Flickr website photo pair photo female Scans scan male - AZ scan female - AZ	Double-striped Bluet Enallagma basidens size: very small, very petite, length 21 - 28 mm male: blue and black; blue eye spots connected; both top and side thoracic stripes `doubled' (thin blue line down middle of dark stripes); blue on end of 'tail' thin, appearing to contain small bluer circles; upper appendages longest and held in divergent position; female: like male but can be pale where male is blue; has pale eye stripe habitat: ponds, lakes, and ditches distribution: southern species, rare in state; found east of the Sierra Nevada and near Arizona border flight period: end of March - October CA distribution map Southwestern distribution map
Photos male male pair images by Ray Bruun at his Flickr website female Scans male - OR pair pair - OR female	Taiga Bluet Coenagrion resolutum size: very small, length 27 - 31 mm male: mostly black above including segments 6&7: pale blue to turquoise markings; green tinged thorax; top pale stripe can be interrupted; tear-shaped eyespots middle abdomen segments mostly black, black markings on segment 2 are U-shaped; appendages unique (bottom of page) female: turquoise, tan, or green; very large eyespots habitat: slow waters in northern mountains; prefers still, shaded water CA flight period: May - August CA distribution: uncommon; northeastern mountains CA distribution map Southwestern distribution map
Photos male male male male male male male male male multiple images images by Doug Aguillard at his website images by ay Bruun at his Flickr website images by Don Roberson at his Monterrey Co. website female female female female female female brown form females brown form female brown form female Scans male male male female	Exclamation Damsel Zoniagrion exclamationis size: small/medium; length 30 - 35 mm male: slender, forktail-like; black abdomen and thorax with blue markings; thorax top dark with a pair of turquoise exclamation marks (!!); blue on top of s1&2 and 3 tail-end segments 7-9: small dark stigma, large uniquely shaped eyespots - inner point faces inwards, while outer point faces forwards. female: similar or brown, but blue on end of abdomen is only on 2 segments, part of segments 7 and 8; !! marks on top of thorax may be merged similar species: larger than most similarly dark Forktail Ischnura species; Swift Forktail has continuous blue thoracic stripe, not !!; Pacific Forktail females can have !! but blue on abdomen end is different. use appendages to differentiate behavior: often rests with wings held slightly open; eggs laid in leaf blades & stems habitat: permanent pools of mud-banked streams and ponds CA flight period: March - September CA distribution: CA endemic; northern coastal and central valley counties CA distribution map Southwestern distribution map
Image by Ray Bruun nymph	GENUS: Forktails - Ischnura - 8 CA species size: small, lengths 20 - 35 mm description: most are black, with less blue on abdomen than others Pond Damsels; most appear black with blue showing only on thorax and end of `tail' males: black with colored markings on thorax; most have blue markings near end of abdomen; a few species show yellow or red markings on thorax or abdomen females: some similar to males, some not; coloration and markings differ markedly from teneral to adult stages, many show orange when immature; some become pruinose black or light gray behavior: females oviposit unescorted into floating vegetation; may only want to mate once; bend 'tail' down to signal male that she is not receptive; eggs laid in stems & leaves of aquatic plants; perch on emergent vegetation habitat: still water with abundant vegetation
Photos male male male male male male male male pair in wheel pair in wheel pair in wheel images by Ray Bruun at his Flickr website images by Doug Aguillard at his website female female female female female female Scans male male male male & female female female	Swift Forktail Ischnura erratica size: small/medium, 30 - 35 mm male: two blue stripes atop black thorax, blue on thorax sides is similar in shape to that of bluets with a dark intrusion at the rear; larger than most other forktails with bolder markings; lower appendages are noticeably longer than uppers, long enough to see thru binoculars; yellow under abdomen with thin yellow rings; dark abdomen has blue atop segments # 8 - 9; stigma bi-colored with pale at the rear; large eyespots female: bright green thorax sides, eye spots, and underside; or colored like male; immatreus orange and black; abdomen top all dark similar species: larger than other similarly dark Forktail species; continuous blue side stripe, not the !! of the similarly sized Exclamation Damsel; Western Forktails are much smaller and have a much more prominent blue line between the post-ocular eye spots; use appendages to differentiate CA habitat: ponds, lakes, streams and creeks with lush vegetation, clear water CA flight period: February - September CA distribution: CA endemic; northern coastal and central valley counties CA distribution map Southwestern distribution map
Photos male male male male male male teneral male male appendages images by Doug Aguillard at his website images by Don Roberson at his website images by Ray Bruun at his Flickr website images at Odonata of Orange County pair pair pair mature female mature female immature female immature female immature female immature female immature female male-colored female male-colored female male-colored female multiple individuals, differing color morphs nymph nymph Scans male female female male-colored female	Pacific Forktail Ischnura cervula size: very small, length 23 - 30 mm male: abdomen black with blue "tail" markings that touch top & bottom; upright 'fork' at top end of tail; black thorax top has 4 tiny blue spots, 1 each "corner", thorax sides aqua-blue; use appendages to differentiate female: immature shows stripes on top of thorax and pinkish-orange eyespot color; becomes all dark pruinose when mature; pale stigma; long hairs extend from prothorax toward the midline; abdomen tip pattern - 2 narrow blue rings bracketing segment 8; male-colored female male-like form usually has larger dots atop thorax than male similar species: Plains Forktail in AZ has much less of a 'fork' nymph: tan or greenish habitat: weedy ponds & creeks CA flight period: all year in south (early date is usually Feb. in the north) CA distribution: common statewide CA distribution map Southwestern distribution map
Photos male male male male male male male young male immature male pair images by Don Roberson at his website images by Ray Bruun at his Flickr website images by Doug Aguillard at his website images at Odonata of Orange County female female female female young female Scans male male male female male & females	Black-fronted Forktail Ischnura denticollis size: very small,frail; length 21 - 26 mm male: thorax top all dark with no stripes or dots, sides blue (green in immature); small circular eyespots; blue patches on top & bottom segments 8-9 do not touch; chartreuse underside; stigma has white margin at rear; top appendages bent down. female: immature - pale coral; mature green/blue thorax sides similar species: the very rare San Francisco Forktail is the 'twin' to the Black Fronted (comparison photo), but has differently shaped appendages; lacks the white margin at the rear of the stigma: all 'Black-fronted' type forktails seen in the Bay Area that don't have white-margined stigma should be examined in hand. The two species have been known to hybridize. Compare in hand by appendages habitat: lakes, ponds, seeps CA flight period: all year in south (March is usual early date in north) CA distribution: statewide except northern coastal area CA distribution map Southwestern distribution map
Photos male male male male male male male female images by Ray Bruun at his Flickr website multiple images by Alan Wight pair in tandem pair in wheel female mature female mature female immature female Scans male male male male male male pair female	San Francisco Forktail Ischnura gemina size: small, length 24 - 28 mm; wingspan ~28 mm male: thorax top and abdomen dark; blue spots on segments 8 and 9; underside chartreuse; appendages up-pointing female: cryptic brown, reddish, or male-like similar species: very similar to Black-fronted Forktail, hence the Latin name `gemina' for twin; SF Forktail is slightly more robust; compare the two by appendages, appendages; SF Forktail lacks white margin at rear of stigma; eye spots back of head are more circular in shape than Western's or Pacific's; hybridization ocurring. CA habitat: weedy ditches; often near salt water CA flight period: March - early November CA distribution: CA endemic; S.F. Bay Area ONLY; range shrinking; rare: currently only found SF Airport to Sonoma Co. line; PLEASE REPORT ALL SIGHTINGS CA distribution map Southwestern distribution map
Photos male male male male male male male images by Ray Bruun at his Flickr website images by Doug Aguillard at his website images by Don Roberson at his website pair mature female mature female mature female mature female mature female immature female immature female male-colored female Scans male male male male young male female female immature female	Western Forktail Ischnura perparva size: very small, length 24 - 31 mm male: thorax top has 2 blue-green (immature green) stripes, sides on segments 8 & 9 (usually) barely touch top and bottom; small eyespots point inward. lower appendages forked female: immature orange & black with segments 1-3 mostly orange; becomes all pale pruinose at maturity similar species:Mexican Forktail in AZ & so.NV are almost identical, but have pale tips to their 'forks' atop s10 habitat: weedy ponds, creeks similar species: Swift Forktail is larger, has bi-colored stigma behavior: females lay eggs solo; only mate once, then curl their 'tail' down to signal when approached by other males signaling that they are not interested in sex! CA flight period: early March - early November CA distribution: all Calif. except Imperial County CA distribution map Southwestern distribution map
Photos male male male male male images by Doug Aguillard at his website images by Ray Bruun at his Flickr website pair in wheel mature female mature female female immatue female immature female immature female Scans male male male side - TX female	Citrine Forktail Ischnura hastata size: very small, length 20 - 25 mm; smallest Odonate in North America male: abdomen (even tip) mostly yellow above & below with some black; thoracic stripes green/yellow; forewing has a pale reddish-brown stigma that is NOT touching the leading edge; hind wing has (usual) dark stigma; tail end YELLOW with strong 'fork' female: immature is orange & black with segments 1-4 mostly orange; mature is pale pruinose on abdomen but shows dark atop thorax habitat: lushly vegetated marshes/ponds/streams CA flight period: March - November CA distribution: southern Calif. California distribution map Southwestern distribution map
Photos male male male male male male males images by Doug Aguillard at his website images by Ray Bruun at his Flickr website pair pair pair immature female immature f female dispersal/migratory event Scans young male comparative scan Ramburs/Desert males male-colored female male-colored female comparative scan Ramburs/Desert females & males female male - AZ	Rambur's Forktail Ischnura ramburii size: small/medium, length 27 - 35 mm male: green-blue shoulder stripe very thin, parallel sided; tiny circular eyespots; sides of thorax and segments 1-2 greenish-blue; yellowish-orange underside only of segments 3-6, black above; blue surrounds segment 8, part of 9, not top of 10; lower appendages point straight out female: male-like or Day-Glo red/orange turning tan/olive, upper surface of the abdomen solid black, not orangish, wide black stripe thorax top similar species: Desert Forktail has wider side stripe, larger tear-drop shaped eyespots and yellow from underside curls up onto top of abdomen - comparison shot Rambur's & Desert males ; see also this info from AZ habitat: pond/lake/slow streams; probably increasing here in California, from which it was first recorded not many years ago. It does well in human-altered environments CA flight period: all year CA distribution: southern Calif. CA distribution map Southwestern distribution map
Photos male male male male male male images by Bob Miller at his website images by Doug Aguillard at his website images by Ray Bruun at his Flickr website pair female - TX female ovipositing - AZ Scans male male male male male male male male comparative scan Rambur's/Desert males comparative scan Rambur's/Desert males pair pair	Desert Forktail Ischnura barberi size: small/medium, length 27 - 35 mm male: pale shoulder stripe thicker than Rambur's, widest near eyes; large tear-shaped eyespots connected by a line; pale orange on mid segments curves partly up & over the abdomen leaving the dark areas on top appearing dart shaped; blue surrounds all of segments 8 & 9; lower appendages point upward female: like male or pale tan-orange; narrow top stripe similar species: Rambur's Forktail has narrower side stripe, small circular shaped eyespots comparison shot Rambur's & Desert males ; see also this info from AZ habitat: pond/lakes/slow streams CA flight period: early March - November CA distribution: southern Calif. & Colusa County (Bear Creek @ Sulfur Creek) CA distribution map Southwestern distribution map
Photos male pair - Siskiyou County Voucher male & female - MN images by Don Roberson at his website images by Ray Bruun at his Flickr website images by Jim Johnson at his Dragonflies and Damselflies of the Northwest and Beyond website Scans pair pair - OR pair - OR male - WV female - WV	Sedge Sprite Nehalennia irene size: very small, slender, length 25 - 30 mm male: mostly dark with green; top of thorax and abdomen metallic green; middle segments at least 50% black from above; thorax top entirely metallic green, sides blue; abdomen blue in male, green for females; black areas whole length of abdomen; black spot rear of 2nd abdominal segment CA habitat: slow waters: sedge marshes/bogs/lakes/ponds/streams/rivers female: very similar to male CA flight period: June - August CA distribution: northern CA (Mt. Lassen area) CA distribution map Southwestern distribution map
Photos male male male male images by Doug Aguillard at his website images by Ray Bruun at his Flickr website pair pair in wheel female female female female Scans male male male - OR female pair	Western Red Damsel Amphiagrion abbreviatum size: very small, length 24 - 30 mm male: stocky; hairy black head and thorax, brown eyes, black on top; bright red abdomen barely extends beyond wings; black top and/or sides segments 7-10; dark legs female: stout; pale peach to reddish; thorax tawny; rare dark pruinose form exists habitat: mountain lakes, marshes, slow streams CA flight period: April - September CA distribution: most areas CA distribution map Southwestern distribution map
Photos male male male male male images by Ray Bruun at his Flickr website images by Don Roberson at his website images by Doug Aguillard at his website pair pair pair pair female - AZ Scans male male males	Desert Firetail Telebasis salva size: very small, length 24 - 29 mm male: dainty and slender; all red abdomen extends well beyond wing tips; red face and eyes; black eye spots; thorax red with black; red legs; tip of abdomen without black female: some black thorax top; eggs laid in algae mats habitat: shallow waters with algae scum; lowlands (not just in deserts) behavior: flies in the afternoon, often seen on algae mats CA flight period: March - December CA distribution: all but far northern Calif. CA distribution map Southwestern distribution map
Family: SPREADWINGS - Lestidae	Family: SPREADWINGS - Lestidae 2 CA genera - Pond Spreadwings and Stream Spreadwings sizes: small to medium/large, slender; lengths: 30 - 62 mm males: long; dark with blues, greens; blue eyes; pruinose pale area near tip; some show more extensive pruinosity females: more stout; less colorful; not pruinose habitats: ponds, marshes, streams, slow rivers behaviors: often hold wings open when at rest, a la stealth bombers; oviposit in plant tissue that is above water level Pond Spreadwings Lestes - 5 CA species; found flying at still water sites spring through fall; patrol shoreline from emergent vegetation on which they rest; oviposit while in tandem into non-woody vegetation above the water level; comparison by appendages sometimes necessary for making identifications Stream Spreadwings Archilestes - 2 CA species; moving water sites; our largest damselflies; tandem oviposit into woody vegetation such as bay, alder & willow branches overhanging creeks/small rivers (even when dry); late season flight
Photos male male male male images by Ray Bruun at his Flickr website images by Doug Aguillard at his website images by Don Roberson at his website pair pair female female Scans male male male male male underside - BC female pair female female	Spotted Spreadwing Lestes congener size: small/medium, slender, length 34 - 40 mm male: blue eyes; thorax dark with light brown 'shoulder' stripe; first and last two abdominal segments pruinose gray-blue; other segments are dark or with a green sheen; short lower appendages <50% of uppers; 4 dark spots thorax underside; dark brown stigma female: more stout; less colorful; 4 dark spots thorax underside; habitat: weedy ponds, streams CA flight period: May - December CA distribution: common statewide CA distribution map Southwestern distribution map
Photos male male male images by Ray Bruun at his Flickr website images by Doug Aguillard at his website pair in wheel female Scans male male male side male male male young male - OR female female female	Northern [formerly Common] Spreadwing Lestes disjunctus size: small/medium, slender, length 30 - 40 mm male: blue eyes; thorax becomes pruinose pale blue; first two and last three abdominal segment become pruinose gray-blue; other segments have dark/green sheen; lower appendages long & straight but may be held crossed or like a V (examine carefully with hand lens); black stigma; female: more stout; much less pruinosity; ovipositor does NOT extend beyond end of abdomen habitat: weedy ponds, streams CA flight period: April - October CA distribution: central & northern Calif. CA distribution map Southwestern distribution map
Photos male male male images by Ray Bruun at his Flickr website images by Doug Aguillard at his website images by Joohn Sterling at his website female female Scans male male male male male male male	Lyre-tipped Spreadwing Lestes unguiculatus size: small/medium, slender, length 30 - 40 mm male: blue eyes; thorax top dark; first & last two abdominal segments pruinose gray-blue; s8 not solidly pruinose;other segments are dark or have a green sheen; lower appendages lyre-shaped; dark brown stigma often has white at outer edges female: more stout; less colorful similar species: compare to Northern Spreadwing which occasionally crosses it's appendages, making them look lyre-shaped unless you check very carefully habitat: weedy ponds, streams CA flight period: June - September CA distribution: northern hills and mountains CA distribution map Southwestern distribution map
Photos male male male male male male male male teneral male images by Doug Aguillard at his website images by Don Roberson at his website images by Ray Bruun at his Flickr website pair ovipositing pair ovipositing female female teneral female Scans male female females	Black Spreadwing Lestes stultus size: small/medium, slender, length 35 - 42 mm male: top of thorax black sometimes bronzy in immature, sides blue; abdomen has metallic green sheen, first two and only last two segments show pruinose blue; appendages are long and broad at the end ("boot-shaped"); stigmas tips pale; short and stocky appearance female: more stout; more brown, sometimes coppery; emerges pinkish similar species: Emerald Spreadwing has same appendage shape, but metallic emerald top to thorax (see below) habitat: sloughs, ditches, ponds CA flight period: March - late August CA distribution: mostly northern Calif. CA distribution map Southwestern distribution map
Photos male male male male young male images by Ray Bruun at his Flickr website female female female Scans male male male male male female female	Emerald Spreadwing Lestes dryas size: small/medium, slender, length 32 - 40 mm male: top of thorax bright metallic green (immature is bronzy); sides of thorax blue; abdomen bright metallic green; first two and last 2-3 segments show blue pruinosity; appendages are long and broad at the end ("boot-shaped") female: stocky; usually less emerald; sometimes coppery habitat: forested mountain areas CA flight period: April - early October CA distribution: hillsides statewide CA distribution map Southwestern distribution map
Photos male male male male male male male teneral male images by Don Roberson at his website images by Ray Bruun at his Flickr website images by Doug Aguillard at his website multiple images female female tandem pair pair ovipositing ovipositing pair ovipositing pairs ovipositing pairs Scans male male male	California Spreadwing Archilestes californicus size: medium/large, slender, length 48- 58 mm male: long brown body with pruinose area near tip; 2 incomplete white stripes thorax sides; blue eyes; wings colorless, stigma from above pale; upper appendages semicircular, lower are short and parallel; late season flier female: less colorful brown tones similar species: compare to Great Spreadwing which has a thoracic side stripe that is continuous across area habitat: streams with alders/willows CA flight period: June - December CA distribution: sporadic statewide; not found east of the Sierra Nevada/Cascades CA distribution map Southwestern distribution map
Photos male male young male male male male male multiple images & story pair ovipositing pairs ovipositing into Bay Tree branches female female female female female nymph Scans male male female female	Great Spreadwing Archilestes grandis size: medium/large, slender, length 50 - 62 mm; North America's largest damselfly male: long abdomen gray with greenish sheen, pruinose area near tip; one continuous pale yellow side stripe on thorax (white in immature); blue eyes; dark stigma; top appendages semicircular, lowers divergent; North American's largest damselfly; late season flier female: less colorful similar species: compare to CA Spreadwing which has a thoracic side stripe that is not continuous across area and by appendages habitat: streams with overhanging alders/willows/bay CA flight period: March - January (late season flier) CA distribution: very sporadic statewide; not found east of the Sierra Nevada/Cascades CA distribution map Southwestern distribution map
Family: BROAD-WINGED DAMSELS - Calopterygidae	Family: BROAD-WINGED DAMSELS - Calopterygidae 2 CA genera, Jewelwings and Rubyspots sizes: medium/large, slender; lengths: 40 - 52mm; males: large for damselflies; showy; colorful patches in wings females: more stout; less colorful bodies and wings habitats: streams, slow rivers, esp. with vegetation behaviors: butterfly-like courtship &/or male display flights; perch horizontally, head down on vegetation, shoreline & mid-stream rocks Jewelwings Calopteryx - 1 CA species; large broad wings with outer third black; beautiful green and blue iridescent coloration on body changes with angle of viewing; long spindly legs; butterfly-like courtship displays; males defend territories Rubyspots Hetaerina - 1 CA species*; males have basal quarter to third of broad wings with beautiful ruby red patches on upper surface; thorax matures to red as seen through smoky glass or to dark with reddish iridescence; very long dark legs; males duel in display flights
Photos male BR>male male male male male male male male multiple images images by Don Roberson at his website images by Bob Miller at his website images by Doug Aguillard at his website images by Ray Bruun at his Flickr website images at Odonata of Orange County female female female female female female Scans male male female	American Rubyspot Hetaerina americana size: medium/large, length 40 - 46 mm male: wings ruby red basal 1/3 to 1/2; thorax dark with metallic red or blood red as if under black glass, pale side stripes; abdomen bronzy brown-green to red with thin pale rings; in CA usually no stigma, other states pale stigma; appendages have 1-2 toothed lobes female: less colorful; wing streaks leading edge orange, less defined, tips mostly clear, can have tiny white stigma similar species: like no other California damselfly; BUT in the southern part of CA and Merced County* compare to Canyon Rubyspot H. vulnerata* (see below) by appendages: vulnerata lacks tooth-like projection on inner side of upper appendages; wingtips are smoky there is a questionable record for CA from this county behavior:* perches on rocks or logs in the middle of a stream; flicks wings to attract females;holds its wings closed and off to one side of the abdomen; females may oviposit completely submerged habitat: open streams, rivers CA flight period: late February - December CA distribution: common statewide CA distribution map Southwestern distribution map
Photos male - AZ male - AZ male - AZ male - UT male - NM male - NM male - AZ male female - AZ Scans male - USA female - USA	*Canyon Rubyspot Hetaerina vulnerata* ...not in CDC (revised)* size: medium/large, length 36 - 49 mm male: red at wing base usually less extensive than American Rubyspot's; smoky edge/wing-tip; no stigma; compare by appendages American - upper appendages 1-2 toothlike lobes inside at midpoint; Canyon lacks these lobes female: less colorful; wing patches orangish, no stigma, smoky wing tips habitat: canopied streams, rivers CA flight period: not known CA distribution: *early dubious CA report, San Bernardino Co., but is known in adjacent AZ NO CA distribution map Southwestern distribution map
Photos male male male male pair in cop images by Ray Bruun at his Flickr website images by Doug Aguillard at his website female female female females female female immature female photos of behaviors Scans male male male female female	River Jewelwing Calopteryx aequabilis ...pg. 108,110 female: duller abdomen, pale tip; smoky wings have a contrasting pale stigma behavior: perches on rocks or logs in the middle of a stream; butterfly-like courtship flights; females sometimes oviposit totally submerged habitat: fast waters of large wooded streams/rivers; larva live in root masses CA flight period: early May - August CA distribution: northern Calif. CA distribution map Southwestern distribution map