Checklist of Montana dragonflies & damselflies

2009·6.1 MB·English

by  Kohler, Nathan S

About this Checklist deposit the eggs of further generations. This period
 River Bluet S c  Emma’s Dancer NW,SW,SC o
Dragonflies and Damselflies belong to the insect of adult activity is called the Flight Season. Following
Enallagma anna M J J A S O N Argia emma M J J A S O N
order Odonata, which is split into two suborders: each species is a phenogram [ M J J A S O N ], and
Anisoptera – Dragonflies and Zygoptera highlighted in red are the months (May – Nov.) when  Familiar Bluet NE,SE c
– Damselflies. This checklist includes 53 species of one might expect to see that species during the year. Enallagma civile M J J A S O N Dragonflies (Anisoptera)
Dragonflies and 29 species of Damselflies which are
 Tule Bluet S c
known to occur within the state of Montana. Each Species Observed through Oct. 2009 Darners Aeshnidae
Enallagma carunculatum M J J A S O N
species is listed under its family name and genus.
Mosaic Darners Aeshna
Common and scientific names are current with those  Alkali Bluet S u
set by the Checklist Committee of the Dragonfly Damselflies (Zygoptera) Enallagma clausum M J J A S O N  Black-tipped Darner NW u
Society of the Americas. Aeshna tuberculifera M J J A S O N
Broad-winged Damsels Calopterygidae  Northern Bluet S c
 Sedge Darner NW,SW u
Distribution Jewelwings Calopteryx Enallagma annexum M J J A S O N
Aeshna juncea M J J A S O N
To the right of each common name, one or more  River Jewelwing NW,SW u  Boreal Bluet S c
of the following regions will be listed to show the Calopteryx aequabilis M J J A S O N Enallagma boreale M J J A S O N  Subarctic Darner NW,SW r
approximate distribution of the species within the Aeshna subarctica M J J A S O N
 Marsh Bluet S c
state.  Canada Darner NW u
S – statewide Rubyspots Hetaerina Enallagma ebrium M J J A S O N
Aeshna canadensis M J J A S O N
NW – northwest NC NE  American Rubyspot NC,SC,NE,SE c  Hagen’s Bluet NE,SE c
SW – southwest NW Hetaerina americana M J J A S O N Enallagma hageni M J J A S O N  Lake Darner NW,SW u
NC – northcentral Aeshna eremita M J J A S O N
 Rainbow Bluet NE,SE u
SC – southcentral SC SE Spreadwing Damsels Lestidae  Variable Darner S c
NE – northeast SW Enallagma antennatum M J J A S O N
SE – southeast Pond Spreadwings Lestes Aeshna interrupta M J J A S O N
 Spotted Spreadwing S c Forktails Ischnura  Zigzag Darner NW,SW u
Abundance Lestes congener M J J A S O N  Pacific Forktail NW,SW,NC,SC c Aeshna sitchensis M J J A S O N
To the far right of each common name, one of
 Northern Spreadwing S c Ischnura cervula M J J A S O N  Lance-tipped Darner S u
the following will be listed to show the relative
abundance of the species within the state. Lestes disjunctus M J J A S O N  Western Forktail S c Aeshna constricta M J J A S O N
c – common  Sweetflag Spreadwing SE o Ischnura perparva M J J A S O N  Paddle-tailed Darner S c
Present in large numbers, are widespread, and Lestes forcipatus M J J A S O N  Eastern Forktail NC, NE, SE u Aeshna palmata M J J A S O N
should be seen if you look in the right habitat.
u – uncommon  Lyre-tipped Spreadwing S c Ischnura verticalis M J J A S O N  Shadow Darner S c
Present, but due to their low numbers, behavior, Lestes unguiculatus M J J A S O N Aeshna umbrosa M J J A S O N
habitat, or distribution, they are not easily seen.  Emerald Spreadwing S c Red Damsels Amphiagrion
However, an average observer should be able to Lestes dryas M J J A S O N  Western Red Damsel S c Neotropical Darners Rhionaeschna
find them by looking in the right place at the right Amphiagrion abbreviatum M J J A S O N  California Darner NW,SW,SC,SE c
time.
o – occasional Pond Damsels Coenagrionidae Rhionaeschna californica M J J A S O N
Present in low numbers, but are not expected Eurasian Bluets Coenagrion Sprites Nehalennia  Blue-eyed Darner NW,SW,NC,SC,SE u
to be seen without a special effort to find them.  Prairie Bluet NC o  Sedge Sprite NW,SE u Rhionaeschna multicolor M J J A S O N
At least a few are seen each year within their
Coenagrion angulatum M J J A S O N Nehalennia irene M J J A S O N
specific habitats.
Green Darners Anax
r – rare  Subarctic Bluet NW o
Dancers Argia  Common Green Darner S c
Not expected to be seen every year. They occur Coenagrion interrogatum M J J A S O N
in low numbers, may also be secretive or hard to  Paiute Dancer SW u Anax junius M J J A S O N
 Taiga Bluet S c
identify, and may be unreported for several Argia alberta M J J A S O N
Coenagrion resolutum M J J A S O N
years.  Variable Dancer NE,SE o Clubtails Gomphidae
Seasonal Occurrence American Bluets Enallagma Argia fumipennis M J J A S O N Pond Clubtails Arigomphus
While dragonfly and damselfly larvae are present  Arroyo Bluet NE,SE u  Vivid Dancer NW,SW,SC,SE u  Horned Clubtail SE u
within their aquatic habitats throughout the year, Enallagma praevarum M J J A S O N Argia vivida M J J A S O N Arigomphus cornutus M J J A S O N
the adults emerge at specific times to mate and
Common Clubtails Gomphus  Mountain Emerald NW,SW c Pondhawks Erythemis
 Pronghorn Clubtail NW,NC,NE,SE u Somatochlora semicircularis M J J A S O N  Western Pondhawk SW o
CHECKLIST OF
Gomphus graslinellus M J J A S O N  Ocellated Emerald NW,SW u Erythemis collocata M J J A S O N
 Plains Clubtail NE,SE u Somatochlora minor M J J A S O N
Meadowhawks Sympetrum
Gomphus externus M J J A S O N  Brush-tipped Emerald NW o
 Variegated Meadowhawk S c MONTANA
Somatochlora walshii M J J A S O N
Hanging Clubtails Stylurus Sympetrum corruptum M J J A S O N
 Plains Emerald SE r
DRAGONFLIES &
 Brimstone Clubtail SE r  Red-veined Meadowhawk S u
Somatochlora ensigera M J J A S O N
Stylurus intricatus M J J A S O N Sympetrum madidum M J J A S O N
DAMSELFLIES
Baskettails Epitheca  White-faced Meadowhawk S c
Ringtails Erpetogomphus
 Spiny Baskettail NW c Sympetrum obtrusum M J J A S O N
 Eastern Ringtail NC r
Epitheca spinigera M J J A S O N  Striped Meadowhawk S c
Erpetogomphus designatus M J J A S O N
Sympetrum pallipes M J J A S O N
Skimmers Libellulidae  Cherry-faced Meadowhawk S c
Snaketails Ophiogomphus
Whitetails Plathemis
Sympetrum internum M J J A S O N
 Pale Snaketail NW,SW,NC,SC,SE c
 Common Whitetail NW,SW,SC,SE c  Saffron-winged Meadowhawk S c
Ophiogomphus severus M J J A S O N
Plathemis lydia M J J A S O N
Sympetrum costiferum M J J A S O N
 Sinuous Snaketail NW,SW u
 Band-winged Meadowhawk S c
Ophiogomphus occidentis M J J A S O N Corporals Ladona
Sympetrum semicinctum M J J A S O N
 Chalk-fronted Corporal NW c
Spiketails Cordulegastridae  Black Meadowhawk NW,SW,NC,SC c
Ladona julia M J J A S O N
Spiketails Cordulegaster Sympetrum danae M J J A S O N
 Pacific Spiketail NW u King Skimmers Libellula  Autumn Meadowhawk NW, SW u
Cordulegaster dorsalis M J J A S O N  Four-spotted Skimmer S c Sympetrum vicinum M J J A S O N
Libellula quadrimaculata M J J A S O N
Cruisers Macromiidae Rainpool Gliders Pantala
 Flame Skimmer NW,SW,NC,SC u
River Cruisers Macromia  Wandering Glider SE r
Libellula saturata M J J A S O N
 Swift River Cruiser SE r Pantala flavescens M J J A S O N
 Eight-spotted Skimmer NW,SW,SC,SE c
Macromia illinoiensis M J J A S O N
Libellula forensis M J J A S O N
 Twelve-spotted Skimmer S c
Emeralds Corduliidae
Libellula pulchella M J J A S O N More Information:
Common Emeralds Cordulia
This checklist was developed by Nathan S. Kohler and
 American Emerald NW,SW,SC c Coburn Currier and contains information obtained from their
Whitefaces Leucorrhinia
own observations as well as information from the databases
Cordulia shurtleffii M J J A S O N
 Belted Whiteface NW,SW,SC c of The Montana Natural Heritage Program at: http://www.
Leucorrhinia proxima M J J A S O N mtnhp.org/tracker and OdonataCentral (University of Texas Flame Skimmer Photo by Nate Kohler
Striped Emeralds Somatochlora at Austin) at: http://www.odonatacentral.org
 Dot-tailed Whiteface NW,SW,SC,SE c Additional distribution data were gathered from dot maps
 Ringed Emerald NW,SW u
Leucorrhinia intacta M J J A S O N published by T.W. Donnelly: Distribution of North American
Somatochlora albicincta M J J A S O N Odonata Parts I-III, Bulletin of American Odonatology, Vol. 7,
 Hudsonian Emerald NW,SW o  Hudsonian Whiteface NW,SW,SC u No. 4 & Vol. 8, No. 1-3, 2004.
Leucorrhinia hudsonica M J J A S O N Recommended guide books for this region: Dragonflies and
Somatochlora hudsonica M J J A S O N Damselflies of the West by Dennis Paulson, Dragonflies
 Crimson-ringed Whiteface NW u
 Whitehouse’s Emerald SW r through Binoculars by Sidney W. Dunkle, and Damselflies of
Leucorrhinia glacialis M J J A S O N Alberta by John Acorn.
Somatochlora whitehousei M J J A S O N
A taxonomic photo collection of Montana’s Dragonflies and
 Boreal Whiteface SW u
Damselflies can be viewed at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ December 2009
Leucorrhinia borealis M J J A S O N gyr/collections/