Dragonflies

Canada Darner | Fawn Darner | Green Darner | Lance-tipped Darner | Shadow Darner | Springtime Darner | Dragonhunter | Boreal Snaketail | Dusky Clubtail | Lilypad Clubtail | Arrowhead Spiketail | Common Baskettail | Prince Baskettail | Swift River Cruiser | Eastern Pondhawk | Chalk-fronted Corporal | Dot-tailed Whiteface | Widow Skimmer | Twelve-spotted Skimmer | Blue Dasher | Common Whitetail | White-faced Meadowhawk | Ruby Meadowhawk | Yellow-legged or Autumn Meadowhawk | Black Saddlebags | Eastern Amberwing | Halloween Pennant

Damselflies

Ebony Jewelwing | River Jewelwing | American Rubyspot | Emerald Spreadwing | Sweetflag Spreadwing | Slender Spreadwing | Lyre-tipped Spreadwing | Blue-fronted Dancer | Variable Dancer | Powdered Dancer | Rainbow Bluet | Tule Bluet | Boreal Bluet | Familiar Bluet | Subarctic Bluet | Marsh Bluet | Stream Bluet | Hagen’s Bluet | Orange Bluet | Eastern Forktail | Sedge Sprite

Damsel or Dragon?

Dragonflies and damselflies are two related groups (suborders) that make up the insect order Odonata. Although very similar in many ways, they are also very easy to distinguish.

Dragonfly adults have a rather robust body, and perch with wings held out to the side. Their eyes are huge, often meeting at the top of the head. The bodies of damselfly adults are quite slender, and for most species the wings are folded together over their abdomen while at rest. While their eyes are very large, they are set somewhat to the side of the head rather than dominating the front.

Dragonflies are swift and strong fliers, reminiscent of tiny airplanes, while damselflies have a rather fluttering flight.

Their aquatic nymph stage is also quite distinct. Damselflies have three leaf-like gills at the tip of their abdomen, while the more robust dragonfly nymphs lack these. Damselfly nymphs swim with a side-to-side “snake-like” motion, while dragonflies spurt water out through the anus to swim with a “jet-propulsion” type of movement.

Dragonflies


Family Aeshnidae (Darners)

Dragonflies in this family are large-bodied insects with noticeable finger-like projections at the end of their long abdomens and possess large compound eyes which meet each other at the top of the head. They are strong fliers, difficult to catch and most perch in a vertical position.

Canada Darner

Scientific name: Aeshna canadensis

Length: 64 -73 mm

Description: a large brown dragonfly with two stripes on each side of the thorax and relatively large spots on segments three to ten; the first stripe has a deep notch and resembles a thorn. On males, the abdominal spots are blue; the stripes are often blue at the top transitioning to green at the bottom. Females have the same markings but may be all blue, green or yellow. The face is pale green with no heavy black line. Males have paddle-shaped claspers with a row of tiny bumps along the top.

Canada darner, female
Canada darner, female © Bev Edwards
Canada darner in flight
Canada darner, male © Gary Yankech CC BY-ND 2.0

Habitat: lakes, swamps, beaver ponds and streams – often seen patrolling shorelines and in darner swarms

Flight Season: end of June to beginning of October

Range: common across Ontario, except for southwestern Ontario, where it is uncommon

True Fact: The markings on this species darken when it is cold becoming brown or grey instead of blue, green or yellow.

Fawn Darner

Scientific name: Boyeria vinosa

Length: 60 -71 mm

Description: fairly uniform brown, two bright yellow to white spots on each side of thorax, smaller and paler yellowish spots on abdomen, wings dark brown at base

Fawn darner
Fawn darner, female © Stephen Durrenberger CC BY-ND 2.0
Fawn darner dragonfly
Fawn darner, male © Stylurus CC BY-NC 2.0

Habitat: shady streams and rivers, adults may also patrol ponds and lakes

Flight Season: June to October

Range: southern and central Ontario, west to Manitoba but south of boreal forest and absent north of Lake Superior

True Fact: This species may land on people’s legs while attempting to lay eggs (this is the source of the myth that dragonflies sting).

Green Darner

Scientific name: Anax junius

Length: 68 – 98 mm

Description: solid green thorax (hence name), abdomen bluish for males and reddish-brown for females

Green darner dragonfly, female
Green darner, female © Noah Cole
Green darner dragonfly, male
Green darner, male © Noah Cole

Habitat: lakes, ponds, marshes, slow streams

Flight Season: May to October

Range: southern and central Ontario to north shore area of Georgian Bay, west to Lake of the Woods areabut south of the boreal forest

True Fact: A large proportion of this species is migratory. Green darners returning from migration are often seen earlier in spring than other dragonflies. Their larvae develop in summer, emerge late in the season and fly south to the southern United States, Mexico or the Caribbean before returning in spring. This species is the only North American darner that usually lays eggs (oviposits) while the male clasps the female, flying in tandem.

Lance-tipped Darner

Scientific name: Aeshna constricta

Length: 65 – 73 mm

Description: male and female with blue to green diagonal stripes on thorax, not outlined in black, abdomen with many bold blue marks (female may have green or yellow marks), cerci (paired,finger-like extensions on tip of abdomen) large and lance -shaped (hence name) on females

Lance-tipped darner dragonfly, female
Lance-tipped darner, female © Bev Edwards
Lance-tipped darner dragonfly, male
Lance-tipped darner, male © Scott King CC BY 2.0

Habitat: often in seasonal ponds, especially marshy ponds and slow-moving streams

Flight Season: July to October

Range: southern and central Ontario to the northeastern shore of Lake Superior, and also reported from Lake of the Woods area

True Fact: Females are as brightly coloured as the males, and patrol over water like them, perhaps to avoid harassment. To avoid overtures from other amorous males, females will sometimes fly with their abdomens inclined downward.

Shadow Darner

Scientific name: Aeshna umbrosa

Length: 64 – 73 mm

Description: relatively dark darner, thorax with stripes outlined in black, light markings on abdomen pale and fairly small

Shadow darner, dragonfly
Shadow darner, female © Scott King CC BY 2.0
Shadow darner in flight
Shadow darner, male © Douglas Mills CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Habitat: somewhat shaded streams, ponds, and other water bodies, adults may be found in upland clearings and other open areas

Flight Season: June to October

Range: throughout Ontario except extreme northwest

True Fact: This species is one of the last seen in autumn. It regularly flies in shaded areas and is active until dark.

Springtime Darner

Scientific name: Basiaeschna janata

Length: 53 – 64 mm

Description: fairly small early-season darner, thorax with bright yellow to white diagonal stripes, abdomen blue-spotted (may be green-spotted for females).

Springtime darner female laying eggs in water
Springtime darner, female © Linda Gilbert CC BY-NC 2.0
Springtime darner dragonfly
Springtime darner, male © Dan Irizarry CC BY-NC 2.0

Habitat: prefers forest lakes and ponds, and shaded, gently-flowing rivers and streams

Flight Season: May to July

Range: throughout Ontario north to southern boreal forest area


Family Gomphidae (Clubtails)

These dragonflies are named for the enlarged posterior abdominal segments in many species (most pronounced in males, females have a somewhat thicker abdomen).

Dragonhunter

Scientific name: Hagenius brevistylus

Length:73 – 90 mm

Description: large dragonfly, black and yellow, long legged, small head, in flight abdomen tip may be curled down; male with green eyes, yellow face, thorax boldly striped yellow and black, abdomen black with yellow patches on sides of basal segments and near tip of abdomen with small yellow side spots in between; female similar colour and pattern to male but much more yellow on abdomen sides

Dragonhunter dragonfly
Dragonhunter, female © Per VerDonk CC BY-NC 2.0
Dragonhunter dragonfly
Dragonhunter, male © Janet Nelson

Habitat: usually streams and rivers with moderate to fast current, sometimes lakes

Flight Season: June to September

Range: throughout the Great Lakes region west to Manitoba, including southern edge of boreal forest

True Fact:This species is well named, as it preys on dragonflies and damselflies. A particular favourite is reported to be the ebony jewelwing damselfly. They also prey on butterflies. This species is the largest of the clubtails.

Boreal Snaketail

Scientific name: Ophiogomphus colubrinus

Length: 41 – 48 mm

Description: bright green with distinct markings, dark facial stripes; male eyes green crossed by four narrow black lines, thorax mostly green, brownish abdomen with many greenish spots, enlarged “club” at tip; female similar coloration but abdomen thicker with less prominent club at tip, sides of abdomen marked with white

Boreal snaketail dragonfly
Boreal snaketail, female © Melissa McMasters CC BY 2.0
Boreal snaketail dragonfly
Boreal snaketail, male © Joe Carney CC BY-NC 2.0

Habitat: clear, fast-flowing streams and rivers with gravelly or rocky beds

Flight Season: May to September

Range: all of Ontario north of Georgian Bay from Ottawa River in the east to Manitoba border in the west

True Fact: This northerly species is most active in morning and mid-afternoon, not mid-day. Females lay eggs in riffles or upstream of riffles in fast-moving streams and rivers.

Dusky Clubtail

Scientific name: Gomphus spicatus

Length: 46 – 50 mm

Description: fairly slender clubtail, blue eyes, thorax with black and yellow stripes, abdomen mostly black with yellowish, rear-pointed markings, overall greyish (females may be brown as well)

Dusky clubtail dragonfly
Dusky clubtail, female © Joshua Mayer CC BY-SA 2.0
Dusky clubtail dragonfly
Dusky clubtail, male © Greg Lasley CC BY-NC 2.0

Habitat: prefers marshy or boggy ponds and lakes

Flight Season: May to August

Range: throughout Ontario extending into boreal forest

True Fact: While newly-emerged adults and mature females hunt in woodland clearings, males perch along the shore on the ground, on water lily pads or other low vegetation.

Lilypad Clubtail

Scientific name: Arigomphus furcifer

Length: 46 – 54 mm

Description: fairly slender, eyes blue, black stripes on thorax, abdomen with yellowish marking

Lilypad clubtail dragonfly
Lilypad clubtail, female © Guy Lemelin CC BY-NC 2.0
Lilypad clubtail dragonfly
Lilypad clubtail, male © Peter Waycik CC 0.0

Habitat: lakes, ponds and slow-moving streams with floating vegetation such as lily pads

Flight Season: May to August

Range: through southern Ontario to south part of Georgian Bay

True Fact: As its name suggests, males of this species like to perch on lily pads, but also on other low vegetation, rocks and sandy shores.


Family Cordulegastridae (Spiketails)

Large dragonflies, with black to brown bodies and with conspicuous yellow markings on the thorax and abdomen, are typical of the Spiketail family.

Arrowhead Spiketail

Scientific name: Cordulegaster obliqua

Length: 72 – 81 mm

Description: large spiketail, eyes green, thorax dark brown with two bold yellow stripes on each side and two smaller ones on the front, abdomen black with striking yellow arrowhead markings on abdomen; female similar but with long, pointed ovipositor extending beyond tip of abdomen (therefore named spiketail)

Arrowhead spiketail dragonfly
Arrowhead spiketail, female © Gillian Mastromatteo CC-BY-NC 2.0
Arrowhead spiketail dragonfly
Arrowhead spiketail, male © Stephen Durrenberger CC-BY-NC 2.0

Habitat: small, usually muddy streams in forests, often in streams with only a series of pools in drier weather, often in areas where skunk cabbage is present

Flight Season: May to July

Range: southern Ontario to north shore of Georgian Bay, west to Sault Ste Marie area

True Fact: Males perch on twigs or stems along water or patrol by flying low, and often cover the entire length of small streams. A meeting between males will often result in a chase or sometimes a mid-air fight, with each attempting to seize and bite the other.

Family Corduliidae (Emeralds)

Common Baskettail

Scientific name: Epitheca cynosura

Length: 38 – 43 mm

Description: small, brownish dragonfly, row of yellow spots along sides of abdomen, eyes red and grey for much of life but bright emerald green when fully mature; small to large basal spot on the wing (near the body); large wing spots on some make their flight seem “fluttery”

Common baskettail dragonfly, female
Common baskettail, female © Melissa McMasters CC BY 2.0
Common baskettail dragonfly, male
Common baskettail, male © Lisa Brown CC BY-NC 2.0

Habitat: marshes and marshy lakes and ponds, slow-moving streams and rivers

Flight Season: May to August

Range: southeastern and southwestern Ontario to north shore area of Georgian Bay; in the northwest Rainy River to Lake of the Woods

True Fact: The patrolling beat of males may be only 15 metres, which he covers by flying back and forth frequently. After mating, the female carries her eggs in a “basket” at the tip of her abdomen, which she places in floating vegetation such as algae.

Prince Baskettail

Scientific name: Epitheca princeps

Length: 59 –75 mm

Description: fairly large and elegant-looking, eyes bright green at full maturity, eyes of female may be red over grey: thorax brown with small yellow spots low on sides, usually with three spots on each wing.

Prince baskettail dragonfly
Prince baskettail, female © Gillian Matromatteo CC BY-NC 2.0
Prince baskettail dragonfly
Prince baskettail, male © Ken Slade CC BY-NC 2.0

Habitat: quiet waters, in large ponds, lakes and rivers

Flight Season: June to September

Range: throughout southern Ontario to north shores of Georgian Bay, also west of Lake Superior but south of boreal forest

True Fact: This species often feeds in swarms in open areas. Pairs attach while flying over water, and may copulate in flight. Females form an egg mass, then fly over water and drop the mass gradually, dragging out a long string of eggs.


Family Macromiidae (Cruisers)

Fast-flying, usually up and down streams or along lake shores, these large brown to black dragonflies have large eyes (sometimes brilliant green), usually a pale stripe on each side of the thorax, pale spots or rings on the abdomen and long legs.

Swift River Cruiser

Scientific name: Macromia illinoiensis

Length: 65-76 mm

Description: a large-sized strong flier, dark brown to black with green eyes, a solitary yellow stripe on each side of thorax and small yellowish spots along the abdomen including a very large spot near the posterior end. The abdomen is slightly clubbed in males

Swift river cruiser dragonfly
Swift river cruiser, female © Jerry Oldenettel CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Swift river cruiser dragonfly
Swift river cruiser, male © Melissa McMasters CC BY 2.0

Habitat: streams and rivers with slow to fast currents, muddy to rocky bottoms

Flight Season: June to September

Range: southern and central Ontario to Sault Ste Marie, west from Thunder Bay district to Manitoba border

True Fact: Males are quick, like a missile, when pursuing females in lengthy chases.

Family Libellulidae (Skimmers)

The skimmers are a large, diverse family of brightly coloured dragonflies that often have boldly patterned wings. Large compound eyes come together at the centre of the head, giving a helmet-like appearance.

Eastern Pondhawk

Scientific name: Erythemis simplicicollis

Length: 38 – 44 mm

Description: medium size skimmer; green face, females and young males have green thorax without black stripes, abdomen with square dark spots, males become bluish grey with maturity

Eastern pondhawk dragonfly
Eastern pondhawk, female © Lisa Brown CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Eastern pondhawk dragonfly
Eastern pondhawk, male © Dan Irizarry CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Habitat: quiet waters such as ponds and lakes that have floating vegetation

Flight Season: May to September

Range: southern Ontario to northern shores of Georgian Bay; west of Lake Superior in Rainy River area

True Fact: This species often perches on the ground. In fact, ground-foraging tiger beetles sometimes encounter and eat them. They feed on damselflies and dragonflies from its own size to smaller, foraging until dark.

Chalk-fronted Corporal

Scientific name: Ladona julia

Length: 38 – 45 mm

Description: rather stout, black markings at base of wings, lighter-coloured shoulder bars that are white in males, grey in females and tan in newly emerged adults or tenerals, male with white base of abdomen

Chalk-fronted corporal dragonfly
Chalk-fronted corporal, female © Aaron Carlson CC BY-SA 2.0
Chalk-fronted corporal dragonfly
Chalk-fronted corporal, male © Judy Gallagher CC BY 2.0

Habitat: lakes and ponds, including bog lakes, prefers muddy bottom

Flight Season: May to September

Range: (throughout southern Ontario, west to the Manitoba border and north into southern reaches the boreal forest

True Fact: This species often perches on the ground and on sides of trees facing the sun. They are often found far from the water. With males guarding by hovering over them, females lay eggs by tapping their abdomen on the water, moving a short distance between taps

Dot-tailed Whiteface

Scientific name: Leucorrhinia intacta

Length: 29 – 33 mm

Description: small, male black with white face and yellow dot on abdomen, female and immature dark brown with yellow markings on thorax and abdomen, most posterior mark on abdomen a distinct yellow dot

Dot-tailed whiteface dragonfly
Dot-tailed whiteface, female © Sankax CC BY-SA 2.0
Dot-tailed whiteface dragonfly
Dot-tailed whiteface, male © David Allen CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Habitat: lakes and ponds with emergent vegetation

Flight Season: May to August

Range: throughout southern Ontario to north shore of Georgian Bay, west from Lake Superior to Manitoba border

Widow Skimmer

Scientific name: Libellula luctuosa

Length: 42 – 50 mm

Description: males’ wings with wide black basal patches, white marks beyond when mature, dark brown eyes, face and thorax, pale top of abdomen; females lighter in colour, top of abdomen with black stripe becoming broader towards rear, this stripe bordered by yellow stripes

Widow skimmer dragonfly
Widow skimmer, female © Peter Gorman CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Widow skimmer dragonfly
Widow skimmer, male © Ken Slade CC BY-NC 2.0

Habitat: slow-moving parts of streams, ponds and lakes, prefers muddy bottoms

Flight Season: May to September

Range: southern Ontario north to southern Georgian Bay

True Fact: While hovering during patrol flights, this species may jerk abdomen up and down. Males and females are commonly seen in open areas quite far from water

Twelve-spotted Skimmer

Scientific name: Libellula pulchella

Length: 52 – 57 mm

Description: male and female with three black spots on each wing, white patches between these spots in mature male, male with light grey abdomen as it matures, continuous pale stripes along sides of brownish abdomen in female

Twelve-spotted skimmer dragonfly
Twelve-spotted skimmer, female © Ken Slade CC BY-NC 2.0
Twelve-spotted skimmer dragonfly
Twelve-spotted skimmer, male © Noah Cole

Habitat: lakes and ponds with marshy borders, slow streams

Flight Season: June to October

Range: southern Ontario to north shore of Georgian Bay, west of Lake Superior but absent from its north shore and from the boreal forest

True Fact: Males are aggressive and chase other species and well as their own. During competitive displays, males will hover face-to-face. This species is a strong flier, and large numbers have been seen flying south, so this species is suspected to be migratory.

Blue Dasher

Scientific name: Pachydiplax longipennis

Length: 28 – 45 mm

Description: fairly small, male with green eyes and striped black and yellow thorax, abdomen becoming blue as it matures and tipped with black; female eyes red but becoming green as it ages, thorax with yellow stripes alternating with black, abdomen with narrow, parallel yellow streaks

Blue dasher dragonfly
Blue dasher, female © Matthew O’Donnell CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Blue dasher dragonfly
Blue dasher, male © JD CC BY-SA 2.0

Habitat: ponds, lake bays, marshes, bogs; prefers standing water with aquatic vegetation

Flight Season: May to October

Range: southeastern Ontario along St. Lawrence River to southwestern Ontario, north to southern Georgian Bay; Lake of Woods area west of Lake Superior

True Fact: This species often perches with wings held forward and down, often seen on trees. Both sexes defend small feeding territories away from water.

Common Whitetail

Scientific name: Plathemis lydia

Length: 42 – 48 mm

Description: eyes and face dark brown, male with white or powder blue abdomen, each wing with wide black patch near wingtip and narrower black stripe at base, female and immature male have brown abdomen with white or yellow triangular spots along sides, female with three black spots on each wing

Common whitetail dragonfly
Common whitetail, female © Sankax CC BY-NC 2.0
Common whitetail dragonfly
Common whitetail, male © Jim the Photographer CC BY C 2.0

Habitat: almost any standing or slow water body, including ponds and marshes

Flight Season: May to September

Range: southern Ontario to north shore of Georgian Bay, in north west from Rainy River district to Manitoba, absent north of Lake Superior

True Fact: This is a common and widespread dragonfly. Common whitetails often perch on open ground, rocks or logs. They are strongly territorial, and males will elevate abdomens in face to face flight displays.

White-faced Meadowhawk

Scientific name: Sympetrum obtrusum

Length: 31 – 39 mm

Description: mature males appear overall red and black with white face, small orange patch at base of wings, black, triangular, lateral markings on abdomen; females and immature males similar pattern on abdomen but yellowish to brown face

White-faced meadowhawk dragonfly
White-faced meadowhawk, female © Suzanne Labbé CC BY-NC 2.0
White-faced meadowhawk dragonfly
White-faced meadowhawk, male © Victor Fazio CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Habitat: ponds, lakes, marshes, bogs, slow streams

Flight Season: June to October

Range: throughout Ontario north to James Bay, absent from extreme northwest

True Fact: This species’ copulation is lengthy, and pairs are often seen in “wheels” (female’s abdomen curled forward beneath male). The eggs are dropped from above into shallow water or in dry areas that will flood later in fall or spring.

Ruby Meadowhawk

Scientific name: Sympetrum rubicundulum

Length: 33 – 34 mm

Description: male overall red with sharply contrasting black triangular markings on abdomen, light brown or yellowish face; female tan or olive in colour; difficult to distinguish from white-faced meadowhawk in field

Ruby meadowhawk, female © Bev Edwards
Ruby meadowhawk dragonfly
Ruby meadowhawk, male © Jim Lemon CC BY-NC 2.0

Habitat: marshes and marshy ponds, ditches and lakeshores

Flight Season: June to September

Range: southern Ontario north to southeastern shores of Georgian Bay

True Fact: This species oviposits by dropping eggs into vegetation along water, and also lays eggs directly in water.

Autumn Meadowhawk

Scientific name: Sympetrum vicinum

Length: 31 – 35 mm

Description: male overall red, abdomen with less black than most other meadowhawks, female yellowish with a projecting scoop, the sub genital plate, near the tip of the abdomen (visible in side view). Unlike other adult meadowhawks, this species has yellow or light brown legs.

Autumn meadowhawk dragonfly
Autumn meadowhawk, female © Harry Adams
Autumn meadowhawk dragonfly
Autumn meadowhawk, male © Joshua Mayer CC BY-SA 2.0

Habitat: ponds, lakes, slow streams, wooded habitats

Flight Season: July to November

Range: southern Ontario to north of Georgian Bay, in far west Rainy River to Lake of the Woods

True Fact: This species flies late into autumn, until the first heavy frost. The females form balls of eggs, which the pair in tandem drop from several centimetres up.

Black Saddlebags

Scientific name: Tramea lacerata

Length: 51 – 55 mm

Description: hind wings with broad black band near base (some suggest they resemble theatre comedy masks facing each other across the abdomen), overall black or dark brown appearance, yellow squarish marks near tip of abdomen, female and immature male show more yellow dorsally on abdomen

Black saddlebags dragonfly
Black saddlebags © Anne Purvis CC BY-NC 2.0
Black saddlebags dragonfly
Black saddlebags © Noah Cole

Habitat: shallow open lakes, ponds, ditches with much vegetation, including temporary ponds

Flight Season: May to October

Range: southern Ontario to south shore of Georgian Bay and Bruce peninsula

True Fact: This species has a large territory, often exceeding 30 metres along shoreline. As it flies over, the black bands (saddlebags) can be observed to identify this species. They are very migratory, often found with green darners in autumn swarms.

Eastern Amberwing

Scientific name: Perithemis tenera

Length: 20 – 25 mm

Description: small, stocky dragonfly with orange legs. The orange-brown abdomen is spindle-shaped with pale narrow rings. The male’s wings are uniformly orange with red stigmas; whereas the female’s wings are clear with brown patches

Eastern amberwing dragonfly
Eastern amberwing, female © Lisa Brown CC BY-NC 2.0
Eastern amberwing dragonfly
Eastern amberwing, male © Noah Cole

Habitat: wetlands, lakes and slow streams

Flight Season: June to September

Range: typically found in Ontario’s Carolinian area, southern Ontario and eastern Ontario

True Fact: Often mimics wasps by pumping its abdomen and waving its wings up-and-down.

Halloween Pennant

Scientific name: Celithemis eponina

Length: 36 – 42 mm

Description: wings are pale orange with rusty-brown spots; males have red-orange stigmas and the top of the male’s abdomen has orange/red markings, females and immature males have yellow markings

Halloween pennant dragonfly
Halloween pennant, female © Don Burkett CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Halloween pennant dragonfly
Halloween pennant, male © Noah Cole

Habitat: often seen perched on the tips of twigs and other vegetation sometimes far from water

Flight Season: beginning of June to end of September

Range: usually found south of the Canadian Shield

True Fact: When perched atop vegetation, the forewings are often held higher than the hindwings. Butterfly-like flight.


Damselflies

Family Calopterygidae (Broad-winged Damselflies)

This showy group of damselflies possess wide, heavily-veined wings which taper gradually at the base and are not stalked or petioled. The coloured wings, usually black, are held closed or together over the top of their metallic-coloured bodies. On hot days, broadwings are the only damselflies to obelisk by holding their abdomens toward the sun.

Ebony Jewelwing

Scientific name: Calopteryx maculata

Length: 39 – 57 mm

Description: large damselfly with metallic green body, male has black wings; female has white dot at tip of brownish wings

Ebony jewelwing damselfly
Ebony jewelwing, female © Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren CC BY 2.0
Ebony jewelwing damselfly
Ebony jewelwing, male © Noah Cole

Habitat: edges of often shaded streams and rivers

Flight Season: May to September

Range: throughout southern Ontario, from Lake Superior west to Manitoba south of boreal forest

True fact: in partly shaded places, males perch in sunny locations to be even more obvious

River Jewelwing

Scientific name: Calopteryx aequabilis

Length: 43 – 59 mm

Description: large damselfly with metallic green body, male has translucent wings with a dark black section at the tip of wing; female, similar to male; translucent brown wings and a white dot at the very tip of the wings

River jewelwing damselfly
River jewelwing, female © Kathy and Dave Biggs CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
River jewelwing damselfly
River jewelwing, male © Kathy and Dave Biggs CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Habitat:along streams and rivers and nearby forest edge

Flight Season: May to September

Range: throughout Ontario

True fact: River jewelwings can easily be differentiated from ebony jewelwings, where ebony jewelwings have entirely dark wings,  river jewelwings’ wingtips look like they have been dipped in ink.

American Rubyspot

Scientific name: Hetaerina americana

Length: 38 – 46 mm

Description: large damselfly, male has bright red patch at base of wings, female usually with paler orangeish wash at base of wings, male and female with small white spot at tip of wings

American rubyspot damselfly
American rubyspot, female © Judy Gallagher CC BY 2.0
American rubyspot damselfly
American rubyspot, male © Noah Cole

Habitat: streams and rivers with emergent vegetation

Flight Season: June to October

Range: southwestern Ontario

True fact: Groups of this species congregate at dusk during emergence of mayflies.

Family Lestidae (Spread-winged Damselflies)

Species of this family of damselflies possess stalked, clear wings which are held spread-out and slightly to the side.

Emerald Spreadwing

Scientific name: Lestes dryas

Length: 32 – 40 mm

Description: rather stocky body, top of thorax and abdomen in male bright metallic green, thorax pale on sides, female duller than male but top of thorax metallic green with pale sides, top of abdomen metallic green

Emerald spreadwing damselfly
Emerald spreadwing, female © Ed Shaw CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Emerald spreadwing damselfly
Emerald spreadwing, male ©Thomas Bresson CC BY 2.0

Habitat: shallow ponds and marshes that often dry up in late summer

Flight Season: May – September

Range: southwestern and southeastern Ontario

True Fact: Like other spreadwings, as their name suggests they perch with wings somewhat outstretched. This makes them the exception to the “rule” that damselflies perch with wings folded back tightly over their abdomen.

Sweetflag Spreadwing

Scientific name: Lestes forcipatus

Length: 33 – 44 mm

Description: similar to other spreadwings, female with large ovipositor, only species with tip of ovipositor (egg-laying appendage) extending to or beyond tip of cerci (paired, finger-like appendages or projections at the tip of the abdomen).

Sweetflag spreaadwing damselfly
Sweetflag spreadwing, female © Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren CC BY 2.0
Sweetflag spreaadwing damselfly
Sweetflag spreadwing, male © Bob Danley CC BY 2.0

Habitat: temporary and permanent ponds, marshy areas, quiet streams

Flight Season: June to September

Range: southwestern and eastern Ontario, west of Lake Superior south of boreal forest

True Fact: Eggs laid in incisions in live stems of rushes, cattails, sedges and sweetflag up to a metre or two above shallow water or mud.

Slender Spreadwing

Scientific name: Lestes rectangularis

Length: 37 – 53 mm

Description: long-bodied and slender, abdomen nearly twice as long as wings, thorax with pale shoulder stripes and yellow sides, lack of pruinosity (a bluish, greyish or whitish, waxy to powdery bloom on the abdomen) at tip of abdomen

Slender spreadwing damselfly
Slender spreadwing, female © Suzanne Labbé CC BY 2.0
Slender spreadwing damselfly
Slender spreadwing, male © Fyn Kynd CC BY 2.0

Habitat: shaded ponds or quiet areas of streams, marshy waters

Flight Season: June – October

Range: south-eastern and south-western Ontario

True Fact: This species may emerge in great numbers from some wetlands.

Lyre-tipped Spreadwing

Scientific name: Lestes unguiculatus

Length: 31 – 44 mm

Description: male with blue eyes, covered with powdery bluish-white coloration when mature, separated from other spreadwings by S-shaped terminal appendage on abdomen (hence name “lyre-tipped”); female with blue or brown eyes, much stouter than slender male

Lyre-tipped spreadwing damselfly
Lyre-tipped spreadwing, female © Bev Edwards
Lyre-tipped spreadwing damselfly
Lyre-tipped spreadwing, male © Bob Danley CC BY 2.0

Habitat: open, usually temporary wetlands and ponds

Flight Season: June to September

Range: throughout most of Southern Ontario to northern part of Great Lakes area

True Fact: Population is severely affected by drought, but is quick to populate newly-flooded areas.

Family Coenagrionidae (Pond or Narrow-winged Damselflies)

Species in this large family are small and brightly coloured. They possess clear, narrow wings which appeared stalked at the base and which are held closed over the body.

Blue-fronted Dancer

Scientific name: Argia apicalis

Length: 33 – 40 mm

Description: male: clear blue, unpatterned thorax separates it from other dancers, blue eyes, abdomen with blue tip; female: usually blue to brown

Blue-fronted dancer damselfly
Blue-fronted dancer, female © Katja Schulz CC BY 2.0
Blue-fronted dancer damselfly
Blue-fronted dancer, male © Victor Fazio CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Habitat: rivers and streams, prefers wide muddy rivers

Flight Season: June to August

Range: southwestern Ontario to Lake Simcoe and south

True Fact: Often perches on ground or low in vegetation, pairs usually lay eggs on floating, horizontal material.

Variable Dancer

Scientific name: Argia fumipennis violacea

Length: 29 – 34 mm

Description: male only damselfly in Ontario with general violet colour, thorax with thin black, forked shoulder stripes and paler sides, abdomen violet with black markings and blue tip; females with brown head, light brown thorax with forked black stripes, brownish abdomen with black stripe

Variable dancer damselfly
Variable dancer, female © Bev Edwards
Variable dancer damselfly
Variable dancer, male © Judy Gallagher CC BY 2.0

Habitat: small streams, ditches, small ponds with much vegetation

Flight Season: June to September

Range: central, south western and south eastern Ontario

True Fact: Pairs may submerge while laying eggs.

Powdered Dancer

Scientific name: Argia moesta

Length: 37 – 42 mm

Description: mature males become whitish, abdomen blackish with paler tip; females have two colour forms (polymorphic), either completely brown, or dark blue on head, thorax and tip of abdomen

Powdered dancer damselfly
Powdered dancer, female © J.N. Stuart CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Powdered dancer damselfly
Powdered dancer, male © Aaron Carlson CC BY-SA 2.0

Habitat: prefers rocky shores of lakes, streams and rivers

Flight Season: June to September

Range: central, south western and south eastern Ontario, west to Manitoba south of boreal forest

True Fact: Pairs or female alone lay eggs on surface or submerged for up to 30 minutes and more than a metre under water, females may eat other damselflies including their own species

Rainbow Bluet

Scientific name: Enallagma antennatum

Length: 27 – 33 mm

Description: male is distinguished by combination of orange colour on face, greenish thorax with black shoulder stripes, and blue abdomen (darker above), fine black stripe on yellow legs;Female pale yellowish green, thorax and abdomen dark above

Rainbow bluet damselfly
Rainbow bluet, female © Kurt Hennige CC BY-NC 2.0
Rainbow bluet damselfly
Rainbow bluet, male © Joanne Redwood CC BY-NC 2.0

Habitat: quiet streams and rivers with emergent vegetation along edge, also lakes especially near stream inlets or outlets

Flight Season: June to August

Range: south-eastern and south-western Ontario

True Fact: Females of this species have been reported to submerge to lay eggs, pairs oviposit along edge of water in vegetation

Tule Bluet

Scientific name: Enallagma carunculatum

Length: 26 – 37 mm

Description: commonly found in marshes in the north; males eyes blue with black top, blue thorax broadly striped with black, abdomen with black patches(approximately equal amount of black and blue); female: may be brown or blue

Tule bluet damselfly
Tule bluet, female © Eugene Zelenko CC BY-SA 2.0
Tule bluet damselfly
Tule bluet, male © Luke Armstrong CC BY-NC 2.0

Habitat: slow streams and rivers, ponds and lakes especially where cattails present

Flight Season: June to September

Range: central and south western Ontario, also Lake of the Woods regions west of Lake Superior

True Fact: Major predator of mayflies and small flies, may be seen on wing well out over open water.

Boreal Bluet

Scientific name: Enallagma boreale

Length: 28 – 36 mm

Description: male has blue eyes with black cap, abdomen predominantly blue with faint dots in blue near tip of abdomen; female: may be brown or blue

Boreal bluet damselfly
Boreal bluet, female © Dan Mullen CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Boreal bluet damselfly
Boreal blue male appendages © Bev Edwards

Habitat: boggy or marshy lakes, ponds and slow stream

Flight Season: May to August

Range: present throughout Ontario, but more common in the north

True Fact: Sometimes are numerous in open areas of forests.

Familiar Bluet

Scientific name: Enallagma civile

Length: 28 – 39 mm

Description: abundant and widespread, mostly blue with fairly thin black humeral stripe on thorax, post-ocular spots (behind front of eyes) rather large and somewhat triangular, long cerci (appendages beyond abdomen) visible with good dorsal view; females similar pattern but may be brown or blue

Familiar bluet damselfly
Familiar bluet, female © Anita Gould CC BY-NC 2.0
Familiar bluet damselfly
Familiar bluet, male © Lisa Brown CC BY-NC 2.0

Habitat: standing or slow-moving water such as ponds or slow streams, also newly-created habitats

Flight Season: May to October

Range: south eastern and south western Ontario

True Fact: This species may be extremely abundant at some sites. The males arrive at water and remain in large numbers until late afternoon. Mating is most frequent around mid-day. During egg-laying, the female backs underwater while the pair is in tandem, but the male releases her before his head submerges, clasping her again when she surfaces.

Subarctic Bluet

Scientific name: Coenagrion interrogatum

Length: 28 – 33 mm

Description: far northern species, both sexes with wide blue shoulder stripes, usually divided into two rectangles and two squares, male with eyes black over blue, alternating blue and black abdomen, female duller than male, may be blue or green

Subarctic bluet damselfly
Subarctic bluet, female © Isabel Apkarian CC BY-NC 2.0
Subarctic bluet damselfly
Subarctic bluet, male © Bruce Ripley CC BY-NC 2.0

Habitat: fens, bogs and marshes especially when sphagnum moss is present

Flight Season: June to July

Range: northern and north western Ontario, absent from southeastern and southwestern Ontario

True Fact: This species has the most northerly range of the bluets. Copulating pairs of this species often perch in shrubs as high as head height.

Marsh Bluet

Scientific name: Enallagma ebrium

Length: 28 – 34 mm

Description: very common in northern areas; male mostly blue colouration, distinguished from Boreal, Northern and Familiar bluets by teardrop-shaped spots behind eyes joined by a small occipital bar resembling a dumbbell, distinguished from Hagen’s bluet by C-shaped terminal appendages

Marsh bluet damselfly
Marsh bluet eyespots, female © Bev Edwards
Marsh bluet damselfly
Marsh bluet, male © Fyn Kynd CC BY 2.0

Habitat: lakes, marshes, ponds and quiet streams

Flight Season: May to September

Range: Ontario north to southern tip of James Bay, in northwest to Manitoba south of the boreal forest region

True Fact: Males may be found in large numbers perching on shoreline plants or mats of algae, not usually found over open water.

Stream Bluet

Scientific name: Enallagma exsulans

Length: 31 – 37 mm

Description: slender bluet, usually around streams and rivers, abdomen primarily black with blue near tip, greenish hue on thorax and head, spots behind eyes narrowly connected to form a narrow dumbbell shape

Stream bluet damselfly
Stream bluet, female © Paul Bedell CC BY-NC 2.0
Stream bluet damselfly
Stream bluet, male © Dan Irizarry CC BY-NC 2.0

Habitat: prefers streams and rivers

Flight Season: June to September

Range: southern Ontario to north shore of Georgian Bay, absent

Hagen’s Bluet

Scientific name: Enallagma hageni

Length: 27 – 33 mm

Description: small, common bluet especially in northern areas, postocular spots (behind eyes) show as a dumbbell shape; male eyes blue with black cap, striped blue and black thorax, abdomen alternates black and blue; female may be light brown, green or blue, eyes light brown or greenish with brown cap

Hagen's bluet damselfly male appendages
Hagen’s bluet, male appendages © Mike Hannisian CC BY-NC 2.0
Hagen's bluet damselfly in flight
Hagen’s bluet, male © Guy Lemelin CC BY-NC 2.0

Similar Species: almost identical to Marsh Bluet, only differ in shape of terminal appendages

Habitat: ponds, marsh-bordered lakes, quiet streams

Flight Season: May to September

Range: throughout Ontario south of boreal forest region

True Fact: During egg-laying, like several other bluets the female will submerge, crawling around underwater vegetation.Upon resurfacing, the waiting male (or another) will re-attach to form a tandem pair again.Males seem to act as lifeguards, pulling floating females from water (for the purpose of mating, of course!).

Orange Bluet

Scientific name: Enallagma signatum

Length: 28 – 37 mm

Description: male eyes orange, thorax orange with black stripes, abdomen mostly black with orange rings, female similar pattern but brown eyes and dull yellow to orange in paler areas, young adults may be blue

Orange bluet damselfly
Orange bluet, female © Ryan Hodnett CC BY 2.0
Orange bluet damselfly
Orange bluet, male © Judy Gallagher CC BY 2.0

Habitat: lakes, ponds, slow streams, and tolerates somewhat polluted areas

Flight Season: June to October

Range: central, south eastern and south western Ontario

True Fact: At water, this species’ peak activity is late afternoon, and stays active until dark.Females or even the pair in tandem may submerge during egg-laying for ten to twenty minutes.

Eastern Forktail

Scientific name: Ishnura verticalis

Length: 29 – 33 mm

Description: male thorax is yellowish green with black stripes; yellowish-green abdomen is black on top and ends with a blue and black patterned tip; adult females are a powdery purplish-blue with variable black markings; young females are orange with black markings

Eastern forktail damselfly, female
Eastern forktail, female © Melissa McMasters CC BY 2.0
Eastern forktail damselfly
Eastern forktail, male © Chris Earley

Habitat: this damselfly is found in most wetlands

Flight Season: May to October

Range: southern half of Ontario

True Fact: This species is one of our most common damselflies. It can be seen quite far from water.

Sedge Sprite

Scientific name: Nehalennia irene

Length: 26 – 27 mm

Description: male; metallic green above and light blue below; the tip of the abdomen is blue with metallic green spots; female is similar to the male but yellowish underparts and with only a small bit of blue on the tip of the abdomen

Sedge sprite damselfly
Sedge sprite, female © OwenMartin12 CC BY-NC 2.0
sedge sprite damselfly
Sedge sprite, male © Judy Gallagher CC BY 2.0

Habitat: vegetated wetlands and damp fields

Flight Season: June to August

Range: southern two-thirds of Ontario

True Fact: In some locations, this tiny damselfly can be very abundant but hard to see amongst the vegetation.

Resources

Dragonflies cover spread ON Nature magazine dragonflies

Authors: Dan Schneider and Peter Pautler

Dan Schneider is an interpretive naturalist and outdoor education teacher with the Grand River Conservation Authority.

Peter Paulter is an environmental educatation specialists with the Grand River Conservation Authority.

Original Dragonflies ON Nature article author: Nancy Clark

Contributor: Noah Cole