Odonate Terminal Appendages

Identifying female versus male dragonflies and damselflies can be challenging but it’s a little easier when you know how to differentiate their terminal appendages. This permanent page in my blog features photo-illustrated identification guides for most of the common species of odonates found in Virginia, and even some of the uncommon to rare species.

Dragonflies (Suborder Anisoptera)

Clubtail Family (Gomphidae)

• Ashy Clubtail dragonfly (male, female)
• Black-shouldered Spinyleg dragonfly (female, male)
• Cobra Clubtail dragonfly (male, female)
• Common Sanddragon dragonfly (female, male)
• Eastern Ringtail dragonfly (female, male); female
• Lancet Clubtail dragonfly (male, female)
• Russet-tipped Clubtail dragonfly (male, female)
• Sable Clubtail dragonfly (male, female)
• Spine-Crowned Clubtail dragonfly (male, female)
• Unicorn Clubtail dragonfly (male, female)

Cruiser Family (Macromiidae)

Stream Cruiser dragonfly (female, male)

Darner Family (Aeshnidae)

• Common Green Darner dragonfly (female, male)
• Shadow Darner dragonfly (male, female)
• Springtime Darner dragonfly (male, female)
• Swamp Darner dragonfly (female, male)

Emerald Family (Corduliidae)

• Common Baskettail dragonfly (female, male)
• Fine-lined Emerald dragonfly (male)
• Mocha Emerald dragonfly (male, female)
• Prince Baskettail dragonfly (male)
• Slender Baskettail dragonfly (male)

Petaltail Family (Petaluridae)

Gray Petaltail dragonfly (male, female)

Skimmer Family (Libellulidae)

• Autumn Meadowhawk dragonfly (male, female)
• Banded Pennant dragonfly (male, female)
• Bar-winged Skimmer dragonfly (male)
• Black Saddlebags dragonfly (male, female)
• Blue Corporal dragonfly (male, female)
• Blue Dasher dragonfly (male, female)
• Blue-faced Meadowhawk dragonfly (male, female)
• Calico Pennant dragonfly (male, female)
• Eastern Pondhawk dragonfly (female, male)
• Great Blue Skimmer dragonfly (male, female)
• Halloween Pennant dragonfly (male, female)
• Needham’s Skimmer dragonfly (male, female)
• Painted Skimmer dragonfly (male, female)
• Spangled Skimmer dragonfly (female, male)
• Slaty Skimmer dragonfly (female, male)
• Swift Setwing dragonfly (male, female)
• Twelve-spotted Skimmer dragonfly (male, female)
• Wandering Glider dragonfly (male, female)
• Widow Skimmer dragonfly (female, male)
• Yellow-sided Skimmer dragonfly (female, male)

Spiketail Family (Cordulegastridae)

• Arrowhead Spiketail dragonfly (male, female) Updated for 2022!
• Brown Spiketail dragonfly (male, female)
• Tiger Spiketail dragonfly (male)
• Twin-spotted Spiketail dragonfly (male, female) Updated for 2022!

Damselflies (Suborder Zygoptera)

Broad-wing Family (Calopterygidae)

• American Rubyspot damselfly (female, male)
• Ebony Jewelwing damselfly (male, female)

Spreadwing Family (Lestidae)

• Great Spreadwing damselfly: male; female (single); female (in tandem)
• Slender Spreadwing damselfly: male; female
• Southern Spreadwing damselfly: male; female
• Sweetflag Spreadwing damselfly (male)

Pond Damsel Family (Coenagrionidae)

Generally speaking, members of the Pond Damsel Family are too small to see their terminal appendages clearly in most photographs. Although I could collect specimens and take macro photographs, it would be difficult to improve upon the excellent digital scans created by Gayle and Jeanelle Strickland and others.

Genus Argia (Dancers)

• Blue-fronted Dancer (Argia apicalis): female | full-size JPG; male | full-size JPG
• Variable Dancer (Argia fumipennis): female | full-size JPG; male | full-size JPG
• Powdered Dancer (Argia moesta): female | full-size JPG; male | full-size JPG
• Blue-tipped Dancer (Argia tibialis): female | full-size JPG; male | full-size JPG
• Dusky Dancer (Argia translata): male | full-size JPG

Genus Enallagma (American Bluets)

• Familiar Bluet (Enallagma civile): female | full-size JPG; male | full-size JPG
• Big Bluet (Enallagma durum): female | full-size JPG; male | full-size JPG
• Stream Bluet (Enallagma exsulans): female | full-size JPG; male | full-size JPG
• Orange Bluet (Enallagma signatum): female | full-size JPG; male | full-size JPG
• Slender Bluet (Enallagma traviatum): female | full-size JPG; male | full-size JPG

Genus Ischnura (Forktails)

• Fragile Forktail (Ischnura posita): female | full-size JPG; male | full-size JPG
• Rambur’s Forktail (Ischnura ramburii): female | full-size JPG; female | full-size JPG; male | full-size JPG
• Eastern Forktail (Ischnura verticalis): male and females [Source Credit: Ed Lam]; male and females | full-size JPG [Source Credit: Western Odonata Scans in Life]