Dragonflies

Dragonflies and Damselflies are members of the order Odonata

In general, Dragonflies rest with their wings to the side, while Damselflies are typically more slender and hold their wings together behind their back.

Skimmers – Libellulidae

This is the largest family of dragonflies in Illinois
Eyes touch on the top of their head
Typically smaller
Identified by foot shaped pattern on hind wing

  • Halloween Pennant Male
    Celithemis epothina
  • Calico Pennant Male
    Celithemis elisa
  • Eastern Amberwing Male
    Perithemis tenera
  • Halloween Pennant Female
    Celithemis eponina
  • Calico Pennant Female
    Celithemis elisa
  • Eastern Amberwing Female
    Perithemis tenera
  • Banded Penant
    Celithemis fasciata
  • Dot-tailed Whiteface Male
    Leucorrhinia intacta
  • Dot-tailed Whiteface Immature or female
    Leucorrhinia intacta
  • Elfin Skimmer Female
    Nannothemis bella
  • Elfin Skimmer Female
    Nannothemis bella
  • Blue Dasher Male
    Pachydiplax longipennis
  • Blue Dasher Female
    Pachydiplax longipennis
  • Blue Dasher male
  • Eastern Pondhawk Male Erythemis simplicollis
  • Eastern Pondhawk Female Erythemis simplicollis
  • Eastern Pondhawk male
Blue Dasher males have a black abdomen tip and white faces while Eastern Pondhawk males have white abdomen tip and green face.
  • Blue Corporal Male
    Libellula deplanata
  • Slaty Skimmer Male
    Libellula incesta
  • Great Blue Skimmer
    Libellula vibrans
The Blue Corporal has stripes on thorax and short streaks at the base of the wings. The Great Blue Skimmer dark tips and nodus on the forewings and a white or green face. The Slaty Skimmer has a dark face.
  • Widow Skimmer Male Libellula luctosa
  • Widow Skimmer Female Libellula luctosa
  • Four Spotted Skimmer Libellula quadrimaculata
  • Common Whitetail Male
    Libellula lydia
  • Common Whitetail immature
    Libellula lydia
  • Common Whitetail immature
    Libellula lydia
  • Common Whitetail Female
    Libellula lydia
  • Twelve Spotted Skimmer Female
    Libellula pulchella
  • Twelve Spotted Skimmer Male
    Libellula pulchella
The female Whitetail has slash marks on the abdomen while the female Twelve Spotted Skimmer has a yellow line down the abdomen.
  • Red Saddlebag
    Tramea ornusta
  • Carolina Saddlebag
    Tramea carolina
  • Black Saddlebag
    Tramea lacerata
The Saddlebags are large dragonflies with coloration on the hind wing similar to a saddle. The Red Saddlebag has a gap in the “saddle” compared to the Carolina. The saddle on Carolina encompasses the entire Libellula “foot”
  • Band-winged Meadowhawk Female
    Sympetrum semicinctus
  • Band-winged Meadowhawk Male
    Sympetrum semicinctus
  • Saffron Winged Meadowhawk Male
    Sympetrum costiferum
  • Ruby Meadowhawk Pair
    Sympetrum rubicundulum
  • Ruby Meadowhawk Female
    Sympetrum rubicundulum
  • Yellow Legged / Autumn Meadowhawk Male
    Sympetrum vicinum
  • White-faced Meadowhawk Male
    Sympetrum obtrusum
  • White-faced Meadowhawk Pair
    Sympetrum obtrusum
  • Sympetrum sp.
Meadowhawks are difficult to distinguish in the field, especially the females.

Aeshnidae – The Darners

Large dragonflies with eyes that meet on top of the head
Unmarked wings
Named darners for belief in their ability to sew up the ears and lips of people, particularly ill behaved children

  • Common Green Darner Male
    Anax junius
  • Common Green Darner Female
    Anax junius
  • Comet Darner Male
    Anax longipes
  • Swamp Darner
    Epiaeshna heros
  • Swamp Darner
    Epiaeshna heros
  • Canada Darner
    Aeshna canadensis

Gomphidae – The Clubtails and Spiny Legs

Widely spaced eyes readily identify this group.

  • Jade Clubtail
    Arigomphus submedianus
  • Russet-tipped Clubtail
    Stylurus plagiatus
  • Black-shouldered Spinyleg
    Drogomphus spinosus

Cordulidae- The Emeralds and Baskettails

Large dark bodied thorax with slender abdomens,
Often with bright green eyes
Most inhabit fens, bogs, and woodland streams

  • Hine’s Emerald Dragonfly
    Somatochlora hineana
  • Hine’s Emerald Dragonfly
    Somatochlora hineana
  • Mocha Emerald
    Somatochlora linearis
  • Prince Baskettail
    Epitheca princeps
  • Prince Baskettail
    Epitheca princeps

All photos by Jen Mui and Patty Dickerson unless otherwise labeled.

Other Resources:
IDNR Wild About Dragonflies
Field Museum/Chicago Willderness Common Dragonflies of the Chicago Region