Two teneral dragonflies were observed near Mulligan Pond during a photowalk at Jackson Miles Abbott Wetland Refuge, Fairfax County, Virginia USA. I was able to photograph the first one I spotted; the second flew away as soon as I approached it.
This dragonfly is either Ashy Clubtail (Phanogomphus lividus) or Lancet Clubtail (Phanogomphus exilis). Based upon the short, faded yellow markings on the dorsal side of abdominal segments eight and nine (S8-9), this individual is probably an Ashy Clubtail dragonfly. Less reliably, the 18 April date of the spotting also suggests Ashy Clubtail (for Northern Virginia).
18 APR 2017 | JMAWR | Ashy Clubtail or Lancet Clubtail (female)
Both Ashy- and Lancet Clubtail dragonflies were formerly classified as members of the genus Gomphus. Both species were reclassified recently as Phanogomphus. In the world of taxonomic classification, there are “lumpers” and “splitters.” Score one for the splitters!
Notice the first photo shows the wings folded above the abdomen. I spotted the teneral dragonfly when it flew toward me from the pond shoreline. The dragonfly rested in this location for a few minutes before it flew to a new spot (shown below) where it perched briefly with its wings unfolded. The last time I saw the dragonfly, it was flying toward the forest alongside the pond.
The other teneral dragonfly that I saw — “the one that got away” — was perched on the lawn near the walking path around the lake; it flew toward the forest when I moved closer to take some photographs.
18 APR 2017 | JMAWR | Ashy Clubtail or Lancet Clubtail (female)
(See a full-size version of the original photo, without annotation.)
This specimen is a female, as indicated by her rounded hind wings and terminal appendages.
All female dragonflies have two cerci (superior appendages); in contrast all male dragonflies have two cerci and one epiproct (inferior appendage), collectively called “claspers.” Contrast the appearance of the terminal appendages of this female Ashy Clubtail with a male of the same species.
The last photo in the set is a wider view that shows how well-camouflaged the dragonfly was perched on the lawn around the pond.
18 APR 2017 | JMAWR | Ashy Clubtail or Lancet Clubtail (female)
The Backstory
I was surprised to discover a Lancet Clubtail dragonfly near Mulligan Pond during late-June 2016. Knowing that Ashy Clubtails can be found in the same habitats preferred by Lancet Clubtails, I decided to look for Ashy Clubtails at Jackson Miles Abbott Wetland Refuge beginning in mid-April 2017. Apparently Mulligan Pond is a good place for both species, because I spotted two Ashy Clubtails the first time I went looking for them. Ah, if only odonate hunting were always so easy!
Post Update
As far as I know, this is the first record for this species at this location. A new record for Ashy Clubtail (Phanogomphus lividus) at Jackson Miles Abbott Wetland Refuge was submitted to the Odonata Central records database on 22 April 2017.
Copyright © 2017 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.
Tags: Ashy Clubtail dragonfly, cerci, claspers, discovery, epiproct, Family Gomphidae (Clubtails), female, Jackson Miles Abbott Wetland Refuge, Lancet Clubtail dragonfly, Mulligan Pond, Phanogomphus exilis, Phanogomphus lividus, teneral, terminal appendages
walter sanford's photoblog 
April 24, 2017 at 6:41 am |
[…] are around are hard to find. Fellow dragonfly enthusiast and blogger Walter Sanford recently did a posting about some Ashy Clubtail dragonflies (Phanogomphus lividus) that he had spotted at Jackson Miles […]
April 5, 2018 at 4:03 am |
[…] This individual is a female, as indicated by its rounded hind wings and terminal appendages. […]