Russet-tipped Clubtail dragonfly (male)

A Russet-tipped Clubtail dragonfly (Stylurus plagiatus) was spotted near Mulligan Pond during a photowalk at Jackson Miles Abbott Wetland Refuge (JMAWR). Russet-tipped Clubtail is a new species on my life list of odonates. As far as I know, this is the first official record of Russet-tipped Clubtail at JMAWR.

Mulligan Pond is located along Dogue Creek, a tributary of the Potomac River. According to Chris Hill, current president of the Dragonfly Society of the Americas, Stylurus plagiatus “is a species of bigger rivers.” Chris speculates this Russet-tipped Clubtail probably emerged from the Potomac River and flew upstream along Dogue Creek to JMAWR.

22 SEP 2016 | JMAWR | Russet-tipped Clubtail (male)

This individual is a male, as indicated by the large russet-colored club at the end of his abdomen, and his terminal appendages.

22 SEP 2016 | JMAWR | Russet-tipped Clubtail (male)

I turned my camera at an unusual angle (somewhere between landscape and portrait) in order to get a better view of the dragonfly’s face, shown below. “Hanging Clubtails” is the common name for the genus Stylurus. As the name suggests, hanging clubtails typically perch with their abdomen hanging down, in contrast with many genera of clubtails that perch horizontally on the ground.

22 SEP 2016 | JMAWR | Russet-tipped Clubtail (male)

The last photo is my favorite of the set.

22 SEP 2016 | JMAWR | Russet-tipped Clubtail (male)

Copyright © 2016 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.

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Tags: Clubtail Family, Dogue Creek, Gomphidae, Jackson Miles Abbott Wetland Refuge, male, Mulligan Pond, Potomac River, Russet-tipped Clubtail dragonfly, Stylurus plagiatus, terminal appendages, wildlife photography