A Guide to the Adult Damselflies & Dragonflies of the Ottawa District

List of Species and their Preferred Habitats There are many words used in English to describe bodies of water. The meanings of many overlap considerably in common usage. I use the following definitions in this guide, which concentrate on the features important to dragonflies: water volume mostly free of vegetation: o ditch: narrow (less than 5 meters wide), shallow (less than a meter deep), long, no visible current (includes manmade, and beaver/muskrat trails) o stream: a ditch with perceptible to moderate current, but no white water o river: a stream more than 5 m wide, much more than a meter deep, some current o rapids: white water (at least during spring runoff) o outlet: where a stream empties into a lake o puddle: shallow (much less than a meter), small ( a few meters or less across), no current o pond: moderate depth (1-5 m), moderate size (1 ha or less), no current o pool: a deep portion of a stream, with some eddy current o lake: large (greater than 1 ha), at least some deep portions (more than 5 m), no current o large: (lake or river) large enough to have breaking waves and wind-driven current o calcareous: limestone region, pH >7.5 water heavily vegetated: o bog: most water volume filled with plant material such as sphagnum, pH less than 6 o marsh: heavily-vegetated (typically cattails) pond or lake edge, pH 6 or greater

Species noted as southern(S) can be expected only in the warmer portions of the district, northern(N) only in cold bogs. Species that are exceptionally local(L) in distribution or rare(R) here are noted as well. Excepting these species, habitats mentioned are those in which the species is most likely to be found here, and are not to be treated as the only places to look. Species in brackets are known only from close to the district, not from within it. Zygoptera Calopteryx maculata small forest streams Calopteryx aequabile larger wooded streams L Lestes eurinus small lakes, ponds Lestes congener temporary/permanent ponds S Lestes inaequalis marshy ponds, slow streams Lestes unguiculatus temporary ponds, overwinter as eggs Lestes vigilax marsh/bog-margined lakes S Lestes rectangularis partly shaded ponds Lestes dryas temporary/permanent ponds Lestes forcipatus temporary/permanent ponds, weedy streams Lestes disjunctus ponds, weedy streams L Amphiagrion saucium small, spring-fed bogs at hill bases Chromagrion conditum shady spring-fed brooks, pools Nehalinnia irene still marshes, bogs L Nehalinnia gracilis sphagnum bogs Argia moesta rocky shores or streams, lakes Argia fumipennis small shallow rocky streams Ischnura verticalis any still water Ischnura posita shaded spring-fed streams, ponds Coenagrion resolutum still shaded water (RL Coenagrion interrogatum quaking bogs) Enallagma ebrium limestone marshy ponds, streams N Enallagma boreale cold bogs Enallagma hageni acid marshy/boggy ponds

N S S R S

Enallagma cyathigerum Enallagma carunculatum Enallagma civile Enallagma geminatum Enallagma exsulans Enallagma antennatum Enallagma vesperum Enallagma signatum

Anax junius Basiaeschna janata R Nasiaeschna pentacantha S Epiaeschna heros Boyeria grafiana Boyeria vinosa Aeshna umbrosa Aeshna constricta (N Aeshna sitchensis Aeshna interrupta S Aeshna clepsydra Aeshna eremita (N Aeshna subarctica (N Aeshna juncea Aeshna tuberculifera Aeshna canadensis LS Aeshna verticalis Hagenius brevistylus N Stylogomphus albistylus Dromogomphus spinosus N Ophiogomphus colubrinus L Ophiogomphus anomalus Ophiogomphus rupinsulensis Ophiogomphus aspersus RN Ophiogomphus mainensis R Gomphus lividus Gomphus exilis Gomphus spicatus S Arigomphus furcifer SL Arigomphus cornutus L Gomphus descriptus R Gomphus borealis Gomphus fraternus R Gomphus ventricosus Gomphus vastus Gomphus adelphus R Stylurus amnicola N Stylurus scudderi Stylurus notatus L Stylurus spiniceps L Cordulegaster obliqua Cordulegaster diastatops Cordulegaster maculata Didymops transversa Macromia illinoiensis

very cold bogs lakes, rivers ponds, slow streams small lakes, slow streams streams, lake shores clayey quiet streams, small lakes marsh-bordered lakes, slow streams slow streams, quiet bays Anisoptera: migratory, still water with emergent vegetation, esp.sand pits small woodland streams with gentle current and their outlets slow woodland streams, small lakes shady ponds at wood edges fly until well after dusk, rock- margined lakes and streams fly until well after dusk, shady streams with gentle rapids shady wooded ditches and streams open marshes and ponds with emergent vegetation puddles in almost filled cold bogs) shallow marshy or boggy lakes shallow marsh-bordered lakes marsh-bordered lakes, sand pit ponds puddles in cold sphagnum bogs) peaty puddles and ditches, shallow lakes) ponds, especially in bogs still marshes on lake edges, slow streams spring ponds, marsh-bordered lakes slow rocky forest streams and their outlets small rapid gravel streams rapid streams, rivers, lakes rapid gravel streams wide rivers, rapid streams streams and rivers cold clear rapid streams clear running streams sheltered inlets on wavy lakes, gentle streams quiet soft-bottomed streams and lake borders still marshy waters marshy ponds and lakes small marshy lakes rapid streams with pools lakes, slow streams, sand pit ponds turbulent water, calcareous rivers large rivers, lakes clear running streams, exposed lake shores rapid streams, wide rivers cold gravelly forest streams and rivers with rapids wide rivers wide rivers tiny shaded rapid streams in deciduous woods streams with rapids in spring, pools in clearings rapid streams in forests slow forest streams, wavy lakes fast streams, exposed wavy lakes and wide rivers

L (S RS S S

Nannothemis bella Pachydiplax longipennis Pantala hymenea Pantala flavescens Erythemis simplicicollis Celithemis eponina

puddles and ponds in floating sphagnum bogs lakes, ponds, slow streams) small standing water esp.sand pits small standing water esp.sand pits, migrant clear ponds, lake borders ponds, lakes and slow streams marshy lakes and ponds ponds, small lakes and marshes bog ponds to swampy lakes puddles to ponds sunny ponds, lake borders, calcareous still water ponds, slow streams bog lakes and marshes puddles in peat bogs) puddles in cold marshes and bogs floating bog lakes, marshy ponds still marshes slow streams, marshy bays, farm ponds slow shady streams, ponds still water tiny, even temporary, ponds in wet meadows and gravel pits spring-fed ponds, marshes peaty marshes, bog ponds slow streams, permanent ponds sand or gravel pit ponds wave-washed rocky shores of rivers and lakes, rapids, flies only briefly after dusk puddles in sphagnum bogs quiet small lakes, rivers edges of rapid streams and their outlets bog ponds, sluggish marshy streams quiet marshes, boggy ponds marshy non-stagnant borders of lakes and streams acid ponds and streams marsh-bordered lakes and slow streams tiny shaded deciduous forest streams lakes) boggy places with slight water movement puddles in spring-fed bogs clear slow forest streams small ditches in bogs tiny boggy spring-fed streams, puddles in bogs forest streams with rapids and their outlets) quiet shady forest streams and their outlets cold bog ponds and puddles sphagnum ponds and puddles)

LS Celithemis elisa Libellula luctuosa Libellula julia Libellula lydia Libellula pulchella Libellula quadrimaculata Libellula incesta Leucorrhinia glacialis Leucorrhinia patricia Leucorrhinia hudsonica Leucorrhinia frigida Leucorrhinia proxima Leucorrhinia intacta Sympetrum internum Sympetrum rubicundulum Sympetrum obtrusum Sympetrum semicinctum Sympetrum danae Sympetrum vicinum Sympetrum costiferum Neurocordulia yamaskanensis RN Williamsonia fletcheri Epicordulia princeps Helocordulia uhleri Dorocordulia libera Cordulia shurtleffi Tetragoneuria spinigera Tetragoneuria canis Tetragoneuria cynosura Somatochlora tenebrosa (N Somatochlora cingulata N Somatochlora albicincta N Somatochlora franklini Somatochlora minor Somatochlora walshi Somatochlora forcipata (N Somatochlora elongata Somatochlora williamsoni N Somatochlora kennedyi (N Somatochlora incurvata

(N N

R R

Identification Drawings

Side view (Note that no single dragonfly has all the features as shown. They were selected for clarity from several genera.)

Front wing (Libelluloidea)

Hind wing

A Guide to the Adult Damselflies & Dragonflies of the Ottawa District

Key to Species Most of this key is reduced from published works that include many more species than occur in the Ottawa District, primarily from E.M.Walker, 'The Odonata of Canada and Alaska'. I also consulted in detail J.G.Needham & M.J.Westfall, 'A Manual of the Dragonflies of North America'; A.Robert, 'Les libellules du Qubec'; and R.Hutchinson & A.Larochelle, 'Manuel d'identification des Libellules du Qubec'. In the reduction, I favoured terms that are visible on a living insect. Each term of the key was verified using all applicable specimens in the Canadian National Collection of Insects (Ontario & Quebec, excluding the far north). The field-mark oriented sections marked by symbols are my own, are based solely upon living insects within the Ottawa District, and appear only in cases where I am certain that they are significantly more reliable in the field here than the specimen-based key. 1 fore and hind wings similar; eyes separated by more than their own width Zygoptera 2 hind wing broader than forewing Anisoptera 11 2 Zygoptera: damselfiles wings not stalked at base, many crossveins before nodus Calopteryx 3 wings stalked at base, two crossveins before nodus 2a 2a wings held spread open when resting; vein M3 rises from M1-2 closer to arculus than to nodus Lestes 4 wings held together above back when resting; M3 rises behind nodus Coenagrionidae 5 3 Calopteryx: unstalked broad wings held together above back when resting male: wing all clear, female: wing diffuse colour to beyond nodus, end clear; 3Jun-2Sep C.aequabile male: wing all dark, female: wing all smoky with white spot at stigma; 27May-10Sep C.maculata 4 Lestes male lower appendages much less than half the length of upper; thorax dark metallic green, wings Lestes eurinus yellowish 27May-28Jun lower appendages half or a bit less the length of upper; thorax nearly black 9Aug-13Oct L.congener lower appendages longer than upper, ends curved in; metallic green 30May-8Aug L.inaequalis lower appendages S-curved with divergent ends; blue eyes yellow lower lip black thorax 8Jun-9Sep L.unguiculatus upper appendages meeting at acute angle; dark metallic green 16Jun-27Aug L.vigilax abdomen very long and slender; hairy green lower lip, 15Jun- 10Sep L.rectangularis thorax metallic green above yellow sides; stout, 30May-25Aug L.dryas segment 2 3/5 as long as 3, rear tooth of upper appendages blunt, much smaller than front one; L.forcipatus blackish, greenish face 6Jun- 21Sep segment 2 1/2 as long as 3, rear tooth of upper appendages acute, as large as front one; blackish, L.disjunctus greenish face 2Jul-21Sep 4a Lestes: female ovipositor 1/2 or less as long as segment 7 4b ovipositor as long as segment 7 4c wing yellowish L.eurinus thorax dark brown, narrow pale yellow stripe L.congener dark areas of abdomen bronzy colour L.disjunctus these areas greenish L.unguiculatus 4b grey humeral stripe more than 1/2 as wide as dark brown stripe above; fewer than 14 postnodal L.rectangularis crossveins reddish-brown humeral stripe 1/3 or more thickness of metallic stripe above L.vigilax this stripe yellowish, less than 1/4 thickness of stripe above L.inaequalis 4c thorax metallic green, stripe clear yellow L.dryas thorax dull bronze-brown, stripe pale yellow L.forcipatus 5 Coenagrionidae: leg hairs twice as long as the space between them Argia 6 leg hairs only a bit longer than the space between them 5a 5a two spots on top back of head next to eye 5b no such spots 5d

5b 5c

5d

9a

9b 9c

9d 9e 10

10a 10b 10c 10d 11

M2 arises near the 4th crossvein after the nodus in forewing, between 2nd & 3rd vein in hindwing M2 arises near the 5th crossvein after the nodus in forewing, near the 4th vein in hindwing male: lower appendages with notch when viewed from side, female: segment 8 without spine on bottom male: lower appendages triangular when viewed from side, female: segment 8 with spine on bottom rear body only red and black; small 1Jun-8Aug body blue & black with bright sulphur yellow stripe on thorax rear; 7Jun-4Aug thorax metallic green top blue bottom, abdomen blue (male) blue-green (female) with black areas all the way to segment 10; 1Jun-28Aug as N.irene but no black on segments 9 or 10; 30May-12Aug Argia: argos = bright (coloured) upper parts of segments 3-6 black-brown; 7Jun-12Sep violet-blue; 19Jun-19Aug Ischnura: ischnos = thin, oura = tail two narrow long shoulder stripes; 5May-15Oct two exclamation marks on shoulder; 4Jun-9Sep Coenagrion: agrios = field two long shoulder stripes; 12Jun-29Jul two wide exclamation marks on shoulder; (Muskoka 3Jun-25Jul) illustrations for 1-8 Enallagma male: enallex = crosswise (striped) black of segments 3-4 less than 2/3 length of segment; pale blue this black more than 4/5 length of segment upper appendages longer than lower, a pale bump on upper end upper appendages clearly split in two; 30May-24Aug upper appendages short and rounded; 16May-24Jul upper appendages slender with points curved up; 30May-21Aug upper appendages with prominent tooth/ridge; 29May-27Jun upper appendages symmetrical viewed from side; 18May-20Sep upper appendages asymmetrical; 6Jun-12Sep upper appendages tapered to slender upturned points; 15Jun-3Sep upper appendages split in profile otherwise upper branch of upper appendages shorter than lower branch; 7Jun-19Sep both these branches about equal; 9Jun-14Aug upper appendages' height greater than 1/2 their length; 18Jun-29Aug otherwise; 3Jun-9Sep Enallagma female (these are reliably separable only by microscopic examination of thorax plate) segment 8 with pair of large blue spots segments 8-10 entirely black above segments 7,8,9 with similar marking segment 8 entirely black, 9 or 10 not; eye spots elongated to or almost to occiput segment 8 black only on rear half or all pale fine line between spots of segment 8 these spots separated by a line at front, a wider gap at rear, side spots reach top of segment 10 black humeral stripe twice or more width of pale stripe above black stripe about same width or narrower black stripe divided by pale line not so divided pale stripe with gap in middle; M2 begins between crossveins 4- 5 no such gap; M2 begins between crossveins 5-6 Anisoptera: eyes separated by about half their width eyes touching on top of head or separated by only a tiny fraction of their width

Ischnura 7 5c Coenagrion 8 Enallagma 9 Amphiagrion saucium Chromagrion conditum Nehalinnia irene N.gracilis Argia moesta A.fumipennis Ischnura verticalis I.posita Coenagrion resolutum C.interrogatum

9a 9c 9b Enallagma ebrium E.boreale E.hageni E.cyathigerum E.carunculatum E.civile E.geminatum 9d 9e E.exsulans E.antennatum E.vesperum E.signatum E.geminatum E.hageni or E.ebrium E.civile or E.carunculatum 10b 10a E.boreale E.cyathigerum 10c 10d E.exsulans E.antennatum E.vesperum E.signatum Gomphidae 17 11a

11a triangles about equally distant from arculus in both wings, both oriented lengthwise on wing Aeshnoidea 12 triangle at least twice as far from arculus in forewing as in hindwing, forewing triangle oriented Libelluloidea 22 across wing, hindwing lengthwise illustrations for 9-11 12 Aeshnoidea: eyes barely touch at top or slightly separated Cordulegaster 21 eyes meet in seam at least height of occiput Aeshnidae 13 13 Aeshnidae: medial space with more than 1 crossvein; 2 rounded pale spots on thorax sides, yellow stigma Boyeria 14 with one crossvein or none 13a 13a sectors of arculus arising from its upper end, thorax uniform green; 21Apr-15Oct Anax junius sectors of arculus arising near its middle, thorax brown 13b 13b Rs vein not forked; 3 or more cubito-anal cross veins, blue body with bright yellow strips on thorax Basiaeschna janata sides 8Jun-17Jul stalk of Rs vein with symmetrical fork 13c stalk of Rs vein up-arched and fork askew forward Aeshna 15 13c radial planate subtends 1 row of cells; very prominent blue frons, face yellowish margined with Nasiaeschna pentacantha brown 20Jun-16Jul subtends more than 1 row at least basal half; largest Odonata here, brown & green, 7Jun-9Sep Epiaeschna heros 14 Boyeria: fly until well after dusk wing base completely clear; side spots of thorax grey-bluish, segments 9 & 10 similar in colour, Boyeria grafiana body grey-brown 27Jun- 7Oct wings with brown spots at base (usually small); 2 clear yellowish thorax side spots, segment 10 more B.vinosa yellow than 9, body brown, 5Jul-22Sep 15 Aeshna, male: anal triangle with 3 cells; 2 yellow to green stripes on thorax 15a with 2 cells 15b 15a rear of head marked with yellow or brown, row of pale spots each side of segments 4-6; some green Aeshna umbrosa on segments 5-10, 12Jun-21Oct rear of head black, no such spots; 19Jul-11Oct A.constricta 15b central thorax stripe 1 mm or less wide and bent in sharp Z; eye seam little if any longer than A.sitchensis occiput, greenish face, T-spot with crescent base (Tremblant 21Jun-14Sep) central stripe not bent sharply, more than 1 mm wide; eye seam at least 2x length of occiput 15c 15c central and lower thorax stripes interrupted, reduced to two elongate spots or absent; yellow head, A.interrupta dark body 2Jul-1Oct these stripes wider, generally full length 15d 15d face with fine but clear black-grey stripe on face suture 15e stripe not clear, more like a shadow than a marking; upper side of upper appendages hairy 15f 15e large pale spots between green side stripes of thorax, sometimes confluent with central stripe; 5 A.clepsydra paranal cells, slender 19Jul-12Sep spotted with blue; 4-5 paranal cells 19Jun-15Sep A.eremita central thorax stripe clearly concave on front edge; 3-4 paranal cells 12Jul-10Sep A.subarctica central thorax stripe convex on leading edge (may be only slightly); 3-4 paranal cells 14Jul-31Aug A.juncea 15f segment 10 all black; large thorax stripes 27Jul-22Sep A.tuberculifera pale spots on dorsum of segment 10 15g 15g central thorax stripe mostly or all blue; 21Jun-27Sep A.canadensis this stripe all green; 14Jul-11Aug A.verticalis 16 female: central thorax stripe 1 mm or less wide and bent in sharp Z; eye seam little if any longer than A.sitchensis occiput, greenish face, T-spot with crescent base central stripe not bent sharply, more than 1 mm wide; eye seam at least 2x length of occiput 16a 16a palp of ovipositor (see 4a) as long as segment 10 16b palp much shorter than segment 10 16c 16b front edge of central thorax stripe nearly straight; thin pencil of hairs at end of vulva A.tuberculifera this edge distinctly sinuate; no such pencil of hairs A.constricta 16c face with black line on face suture 16d

any such line indistinct 16d central and rear thorax stripes interrupted, reduced to two elongate spots or absent these stripes well developed 16e front thorax suture with large triangular pale spot below 4-5 paranal cells; spotted with green 19Jun-15Sep central thorax stripe concave on front edge; 3-4 paranal cells central thorax stripe convex on leading edge; 3-4 paranal cells 16f central thorax stripe straight, margined with blackish central stripe distinctly sinuate 16g central thorax stripe mostly or all blue this stripe all green illustrations for 12-16 17 Gomphidae: triangles with a cross vein, each with a supplementary longitudinal vein springing from its outer edge; very large, small head, black and greenish yellow, eats other dragonflies 21Jun-21Aug triangles clear, no such vein, rarely 65 mm long 17a male: hind wings with anal loop, usually 3 cells, lower appendage ends separated slightly, female: vulva nearly as long as the rear of segment 9 male: without anal loop, lower appendage ends widely separated, generally divergent, female: vulva usually less than half as long as the rear of segment 9 17b small, 25-40 mm long, stigma less than 4x as long as wide and more than 2x as wide as the space behind its middle; greenish with lots of black 21Jun-14Aug 42-65 mm long, stigma rarely less than 4x as long as wide, less than 2x as wide as this space 17c long hind legs reaching the base of segment 3 with 4-7 long spines below; dark brown, distinctive pale green markings on thorax 5Jun-31Aug hind legs not reaching beyond the middle of segment 2, only short spines 18 Ophiogomphus: male face striped across with black face uniformly pale 18a upper appendages (top view) bowed, separated by a U-shaped space, ends blunt, lower appendages nearly as long as upper; greenish with black- brown markings 20Jun-5Sep upper appendages triangular with straight edges, separated by a V-shaped space, ends pointed, lower appendages shorter than upper; greenish with clear black markings 20Jun-2Aug 18b black legs legs with extensor surfaces yellow; greenish with brown markings 20Jun-28Aug 18c lower appendages much shorter than upper and not projecting out to sides beyond them; greenish, brown markings on thorax 15Jun-11Aug lower appendages little if any shorter than upper and projecting sideways beyond them; yellowish green with brown markings 4Jun-7Jul 19 female face striped across with black face uniformly pale 19a thorax without a dark central stripe; occiput without spines but with a definite fringe of hairs, horns behind occiput stout thorax with dark central stripe; occiput with a pair of black spines, hair not in fringe, horns behind occiput very small 19b horns behind occiput stout and conspicuous horns absent or small 19c segments 8-9 without yellow spots; with a pair of high contiguous occipital spines segments 8 and 9 each with a yellow spot; occipital spines if present small and well separated 20 Gomphus: face entirely yellow-green or olive face partly or entirely dark 20a legs yellow on outside legs entirely black or brown 20b male: upper appendages without spine under, female: occiput with slightly convex margin fringed

16f A.interrupta 16e A.clepsydra A.eremita A.subarctica A.juncea A.umbrosa 16g A.canadensis A.verticalis

Hagenius brevistylus 17a Ophiogomphus 18 17b Stylogomphus albistylus 17c Dromogomphus spinosus Gomphus 20 18a 18b Ophiogomphus colubrinus O.anomalus 18c O.rupinsulensis O.aspersus O.mainensis

19a 19b O.colubrinus O.anomalus O.rupinsulensis 19c O.mainensis O.aspersus 20a 20g 20b 20c Gomphus lividus

20c

20d

20e

20f

20g 20h

20i 20j

20k

21

22

22a

sparsely with hair, vulva less than 1/6th as long as segment 9 with lobes widely separated; dull brown and green 14Jun-10Jul male: upper appendages with obtuse protrusion under, female: occiput slightly bilobed; dull yellow G.exilis with pale brown thorax stripes 8Jun-12Aug male: upper appendages with spine under, female: occiput with a central prominence and slight G.spicatus emargination on each side; dull greenish brown 24May-14Jul illustrations for 15-20 occiput half height of eye, shape as G.lividus, fringed with long black hair, male: upper appendages' Arigomphus furcifer ends convergent, slender and not meeting in middle, female: vulva about 1/3 as long as segment 9, triangular with a short narrow cleft, no horns on vertex; greenish with black markings 1Jun-17Aug occiput height of eye, notched in middle, no hair protruding, male: these ends meeting in middle, A.cornutus female: vulva as G.furcifer; yellowish green with brown and black markings 6Jun-27Jul male: upper and lower appendages' ends parallel, directed rearward, female: vulva less than 1/4 as 20d long as segment 9, angle between the lobes obtuse segments 7-9 only slightly enlarged, the greatest width less than twice the least width, 8 and 9 with 20e scarcely any rim, edge of 8 straight in profile, 10 half as long as 9 segments 7-9 greatly enlarged, the greatest width more than twice the least width, 8 and 9 with wide 20f rim, edge of 8 convex in profile, 10 1/3 as long as 9 or less male: front hamules almost as long as rear, ending in a long slender hook, female: vulva less than 1/2 Gomphus descriptus as long as segment 9, about as wide as long, not tapering to end; clear brown green and yellow 4Jun30Jul male: front hamules much shorter than rear, rounded at end, female: vulva more than 1/2 as long as G.borealis segment 9, much narrower than long, tapering to end; brown green and yellow, very hairy 26May22Jul front diameter of segments 8 and 9 about equal, 8 with a single triangular yellow spot on top, occiput G.fraternus of female with a small central hump; pale, hairy, wasp waist 1Jun-23Jul diameter of segment 8 much greater than 9, 8 with two spots on top, occiput of female without G.ventricosus hump; green with bright brown markings, abdomen blackish, wasp waist 15Jun-14Jul upper pale thorax stripes flowing together with collar stripe 20h these stripes isolated 20i segments 7-9 as wide as thorax, 8 & 9 with wide curved side rims, 8 more curved than 9, 10 about a G.vastus third as long as 9; thorax greenish yellow with bright brown markings, abdomen blackish with yellow at front and back 1May-31Jul segments 7-9 much narrower than thorax, rim of 9 more curved than 8, 10 more than half as long as G.adelphus 9; yellowish green with strong black markings 7Jun-21Jul abdomen not more than 1/7th longer than hind wing, male: rear hamules leaning somewhat backward 20j abdomen 1/5 to 1/3 longer than hind wing, male: rear hamules leaning somewhat forward 20k small, 32 mm abdomen 28 mm hindwing, pale yellow upper thorax stripes near middle line only Stylurus amnicola slightly divergent; darkish, late June large and robust, 40 mm abdomen 34 mm hindwing, these stripes not near middle line and very S.scudderi divergent; blackish with yellow bands on abdomen 25Jun-9Sep segments 8 & 9 about equal in length, male: rear hamules tilted only slightly forward, front edges S.notatus nearly straight; waspwaist, black and greenish yellow 7Jul-12Oct segment 9 about 1/4 longer than 8, male: rear hamules tilted far forward, front edges concave; wings S.spiniceps shorter than abdomen, black green and yellow 30Jun-16Sep Cordulegaster: single row of yellow abdominal spots on top; July Cordulegaster obliqua paired abdominal spots large, triangular and widely separated and eyes separated by a small space on C.diastatops males, usually on females; female ovipositor barely longer than segments 9+10, 28May-14Jul paired spots small, narrowly separated or confluent, rounded behind on males usually on females, C.maculata eyes meet at point; female ovipositor 2x length of segments 9+10, 29May-14Jul illustrations for 20-21 Libelluloidea: hind wing triangle about half as far from arculus as in forewing, anal loop about as long as wide, its Macromiidae 23 included cells not in 2 long rows, undeveloped radial and medial planates hind wing triangle at or very close to arculus, anal loop somewhat foot shaped, divided lengthwise 22a by a midrib into 2 rows of cells forewing triangle 1 times as high as wide, anal loop with little if any development of toe, males: Corduliidae 29

23

24

24a

24b 24c 24d

25

26

27

well developed anal triangle forewing tringle 2x as high as wide, anal loop with well developed toe (except Nannothemis rear Libellulidae 24 wing), male: no anal triangle Macromiidae: occiput and vertex pale; nodus of forewing about equally distant from stigma and wing base 23May- Didymops transversa 30Jul occiput and vertex black; nodus of forewing clearly closer to stigma than to wing base 15Jun-28Aug Macromia illinoiensis Libellulidae: forewing triangle with front side broken making a quadrangle of it; anal loop of hind wing open Nannothemis bella rearward, smallest dragonfly here (wing 20 mm) 20Jun-9Aug triple-length vacant space under stigma; (Lanark 11Jun-30Sep) Pachydiplax longipennis vein M2 distinctly waved 24a vein M2 smoothly curved 24b wings with several bridge crossveins Libellula 26 single bridge crossvein, large brown spot on rear base of hind wing; 13Jul-10Sep Pantala hymenea single bridge crossvein, no such spot; 11Jun-27Aug P.flavescens brilliant three-colour wings: clear, yellow, brown Celithemis 25 wings almost clear 24c vein Cu1 in hind wing arising from hind end of triangle Sympetrum 28 arising from outer side, sometimes only by vein width 24d forewing triangle inner side less than twice as long as front side, stigma short and thick, face bone Leucorrhinia 27 white (if not check Sympetrum 28) inner side more than twice as long as front, stigma about 3 times as long as wide, face greenish with Erythemis simplicicollis brown hairs; radial planate subtends 1 row of cells (if 2 rows, it's Pantala flavescens 24a), mostly greenish to grey-blue, brown spots in segments 3-9 19Jun-5Sep Celithemis: brilliant yellow and brown spots covering half or more of wings 4 spots per wing, end one beyond stigma; 18Jun-23Aug C.elisa 5 spots per wing, end one inside stigma 15Jun-16Aug C.eponina Libellula: stout body shorter than wing span, medium size, hunch-backed appearance both at rest and in flight wing clear (may be smoky at tip); forewing triangle 3-celled, eye seam longer than occiput, longer L.incesta and slimmer than L.julia; 21Jun-14Aug wings clear except for small dark basal spots; forewing triangle 2-celled, eye seam shorter than L.julia occiput; 7Jun-30Jul [I am not certain that the wing basal spot can be used to separate julia from incesta - a few females in the national collection have basal spots, eye seam shorter than occiput, but 3-celled triangles.] basal third of both wings covered full width by blackish band, tips clear; 26Jun-30Aug L.luctuosa nodus wing band at rear wider than 1/5 hindwing length, no spot at stigma, 28May-25Aug male L.lydia large clear separate basal, nodal and wing-end spots, forewing basal colour does not extend into female L.lydia topmost cell of triangle, female illustrations for 22-26 as female L.lydia, but forewing basal colour extends into topmost cell of triangle making a notch in L.pulchella its rear; normally longer wingspan than lydia, males have prunescent spots on wings with age; 1Jun28Sep hind wing with triangular yellow to brown spot at base with white crossveins and dark rear border, L.quadrimaculata small clear brown spot at nodus; usually yellow costal streak, sometimes swarms 7May-28Aug Leucorrhinia: white face on black head; small, not stout, wings mostly clear all blackish except for prunescence; trigonal interspace of forewing with two rows of cells inner L.frigida third (other L. have 3 rows); 30May-21Aug 'blood'-red flush on thorax (only when alive) especially around wing roots, usually on sides of L.glacialis segments 1-2 as well, otherwise black abdomen; prunescence can form a row of spots on top of abdomen of pattern similar to the yellow spots of L.hudsonica; 31May-19Aug [Many publications use a 2-cell width of the radial planate to key this species. It is inapplicable here; several local populations have 1-cell planates.] with line of broad oval yellow spots on top of segments 1-6 (reddish on some males), usually L.hudsonica yellow is visible at the bottom of segments 1-2 even through prunescence; a bit stouter than other L., thorax may show a bit of red; 9Jun-30Aug

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28a

28b

28c

28d 28e 29

29a

29b

29c

29d

30

30a

clear yellow or reddish spot on top of segment 7 much larger and brighter than anything on other segments; 19May-26Aug white ring, or at least a lot of white, at junction of thorax and abdomen; a bit larger than other L., thorax with no red, the white can be largely obscured by prunescence; 1Jun-10Aug segments 1-3 with line of narrow linear yellow streaks on top (may be faint); check of appendage shapes required to be sure (Renfrew 20Jun-7Aug) Sympetrum: hybridise often, so expect intermediate forms male: upper abdominal appendages with prominent tooth on bottom; female: subgenital plate deeply cleft male: these appendages only finely toothed; female: plate with tiny tooth or none wing veins reddish, overall brownish red; male: hamuli forked for about 1/4 visible length, rear branch 4 times as stout as inner, face cherry red with clear black line bottom quarter of lower lip; 21Jun-18Sep wing veins not reddish, little or no black on lower lip or lower edge of black indistinct reddish throughout, pale stripes on thorax; male: hamuli forked for about 1/3 visible length, rear branch barely twice as stout as inner, female: subgenital plate tips upturned against rear of segment 9, face yellowish red 13Jun-24Sep abdomen with black side triangles, usually linked into a line with triangle-jagged top; initially yellow-brown turning red with age, male: hamuli forked for less than 1/4 its visible length, rear branch 2-3 times as stout as inner, frons white upper lip yellow-white, female: face greenish white 20Jun- 29Oct wings tinged with dark yellow over basal half, larger area and darker on hindwings; brown, small pale yellow spots behind head 1Jul-1Oct wings clear, yellow only on costal strip or at extreme base legs black; only Sympetrum with no red anywhere on male, only black and yellow 3Jul-26Sep legs more or less yellow legs entirely yellow; yellow when young all red when mature, slender, thin legs 24Jul-3Nov legs striped with black on sides; brownish red, wings with yellow veins at tips 14Jul-14Sep Corduliidae: M4 and Cu1 in forewing parallel to divergent these veins convergent at wing margin forewing triangle 3 cells, wings >30 mm; brownish, no visible spots or stripes, flies only briefly after dusk 7Jun-30Jul triangles and subtriangles each of a single cell, tiny (24 mm); black with reddish lower lip and pale yellow spot on thorax 19May-11June wings with blotchy smoky brown spots at base, nodus and end; hindwing triangle 2-celled, large, brown hairy thorax 7Jun- 20Aug no such spots hindwings with opaque brown spots at base; brownish, face yellowish 25May-7Jul illustrations for 26-29 hind wing with 2 cubito-anal crossveins with 1 such crossvein black abdomen 2x(male) to 3x(female) as wide at end as at waist; male with white abdominal ring segment 2 and sometimes 3, green eyes; female yellow-brown segments 1 and 2, brown eyes; 18May-21Jul metallic green with green eyes, abdomen only twice as wide at widest point as at narrowest 24May8Aug brown Epitheca (Tetragoneuria): T-spot on frons clearly defined; male: upper appendages each with small sharp spine projecting downward at about 2/5th of its length 8May-10Jul T-spot indistinct or incomplete (usually base only) male: upper appendages with outer tip bent downward, with a bump on upper side where slope begins, no crossbar on frons T-spot, female: vulva ends cylindrical extending to margin of segment 9; stocky 6May-18Jul large triangular basal spot rear wings only, row of yellow spots each side of abdomen; male: without such a bump, female: ends conical extending well beyond margin of segment 9; hairy thorax 5Jun-

L.intacta L.proxima L.patricia

28a 28c Sympetrum internum

28b S.rubicundulum

S.obtrusum

S.semicinctum 28d S.danae 18e S.vicinum S.costiferum 29a 29b Neurocordulia yamaskanensis Williamsonia fletcheri Epicordulia (Epitheca) princeps 29c Helocordulia uhleri Somatochlora 31 29d Dorocordulia libera

Cordulia shurtleffi Epitheca 30 E.spinigera 30a E.canis

E.cynosura

18Jul Somatochlora: upper lip yellowish, often with black band across front border, face below suture mostly yellow; Somatochlora tenebrosa brilliant bronze and green thorax, male: scythe-shaped appendages 1Jul-9Sep upper lip black, if partly yellow with no such black band 31a 31a middle segments with clear rings of white about 1/10th their length; one pale stripe/spot on side of 31b metallic green thorax no such white rings 31c 31b thorax stripe barely distinguishable; male: lower appendage squared off, nearly parallel to its widely S.cingulata forking tip, female: appendages viewed from side straightish below, much more convex on upper margin (Tremblant 24Jun-4Sep) yellow elongate spot each side of thorax; male: lower appendage elongate-triangular, strongly S.albicincta tapering to single upturned tip, female: appendages about equally convex on upper and lower margins, 26Jun-1Sep 31c two side stripes on thorax 31d only one such stripe; face blackish green with 3 yellow spots, thorax metallic green with brownS.franklini violet markings 23May- 29Aug 31d each thorax stripe represented by round spot; face blackish blue 6Jun-30Aug S.minor these spots elongated 31e 31e first thorax stripe narrower and much longer than 2nd; face brownish yellow with black markings on S.walshi frons, lower lip black 18Jun-1Sep this stripe shorter, about 1/2 thorax height, usually narrower than 2nd 31f 31f both thorax stripes bright yellow and sharply defined 31g these stripes dull yellow and ill-defined 31h 31g middle segments with pale spots at front bases; brown with metallic sheen 27May-27Aug S.forcipata these segments with no pale spots; yellowish face, barely visible yellow bars on metallic green S.elongata thorax with light brown hairs (Tremblant 8Jun-30Aug) 31h male: upper appendages very hairy, tips recurved, female: subgenital plate triangular in profile, taper S.williamsoni pointed and erect; dark with patches of dark yellow, hairy thorax (Tremblant 21Jun-15Sep) male: upper appendages not hairy, not recurved at tips, lower curved upwards, female: subgenital S.kennedyi plate broadly triangular, not erect; blackish face with some pale yellow, hairy thorax 5Jun-11Jul male: upper appendages not hairy, not recurved at tips, lower not curved upwards, female: subgenital S.incurvata plate cylindrical; segment 2 with single small pale spot each side, little thorax hair (19Jul-30Aug) illustrations for 30-31 main page 31