THE DRAGONFLIES OF NEW MEXICO

A SIMPLIFIED ODONATA LIST
SHOWING DISTRIBUTION BY COUNTY

Compiled by
Robert R. Larsen


Updated July 24, 2005
Web page by KJ Herman
PLEASE NOTE: This site undergoes occasional updating and remodeling.
Any weird messages within the table is temporary (hopefully).
All the links work - I think, if not please let me know.
kjherman19@yahoo.com
(I believe Bitter Lake NWR official Odonata list is now up to 102,
the unofficial list may be at 115+)

Bitter Lake NWR Dragonfly Festival


Map Notes Photo Credits


Families: Aeshnidae Gomphidae Cordulegastridae Macromiidae Corduliidae Libellulidae

Notes   County Key    County Map

The Anisoptera (Dragonflies)

Family Aeshnidae : Darners

Aeshna – Mosaic Darners
Aeshna californica
California Darner 		Male 4 Female 4 CH.
Aeshna constricta:
Lance-tipped Darner		 Male1 Female1 CH.
Aeshna dugesi: Male Female ED, GR, LI, CH, OT.
Aeshna interrupta:
Variable Darner
 Male1
Female1
Female green 4		 SM.
Aeshna interrupta lineata: Male 4    
 		 RA, SA, SI.
Aeshna juncea:
Sedge Darner		 Female TA.
Aeshna multicolor:
Blue-eyed Darner		 NMDN
Female1 Male2
GR, CA, CH, CO, DB, DA,
LE, LI, MO, OT, QU, BE,
RA, SJ, SM, SA, SF, SI, SO,
TA, UN, GU, ED, MC, VA,
RO, CU, LU.
Aeshna palmata:
Paddle-tailed Darner 		Male 4 Female 4 RA, TA, MC, CA, CI, SM.
Aeshna persephone:
Persephone's Darner		 Male GR, LI.
Aeshna umbrosa:
Shadow Darner		 Male1 Female1 CO, ED, RA, SA.
Aeshna umbrosa umbrosa: ED, OT, LI.

Anax - Green Darners
Anax junius:
Common Green Darner		 NMDN
F & M ovipositing 5 		CA, CH, DA, ED, GR, RA,
SJ, SM, SI, SO, GU, DB,
CU, RO, LI, OT, LE, QU,
UN
Anax walsinghami:
Giant Darner		 Male 4  Female 4  
Female top 4		 CH, ED, OT.

Oplonaeshna – Riffle Darner
Oplonaeshna armata:
Riffle Darner		 Male 4 Female 4  CA, SM, SO, BE, GR,
OT, SI, LI.

Family Gomphidae: Club Tails

Dromogomphus – Spinylegs
Dromogomphus spoliatus:
Flag-tailed Spinyleg		 Male 1 CH.

Erpetogomphus - Ringtails
Erpetogomphus compositus:
White-belted Ringtail		 Male 4 Female 4 CA, GR, CH.
Erpetogomphus crotalinus:
Yellow-legged Ringtail		   ED, CA, GR.
Erpetogomphus designatus:
Eastern Ringtail		 Male   CH, ED, GU, SM, SO.
Erpetogomphus heterodon:
Dashed Ringtail
 Male 6 CA, GR.
Erpetogomphus lampropeltis
lampropeltis: 		Male 4 CA, GR.
Erpetogomphus lampropeltis natrix: Male 6 CA, GR.

Gomphus – Common Clubtails
Gomphus externus:
Plains Clubtail		 Female1 CH, ED, HA, SO, GU.
Gomphus militaris:
Sulphur-tipped Clubtail		 NMDN   Male1 CH, ED, HA, SO, GU, UN

Ophiogomphus – Snaketails
Ophiogomphus arizonicus:
Arizona Snaketail		 Male & Female  CA, GR.
Ophiogomphus severus:
Pale Snaketail		 Male 4 Female1 SM, CO, SA, LI, RA, SO,
TA, CH.
Ophiogomphus severus severus: SM, SA.

Phyllogomphoides – Leaftails
Phyllogomphoides albrighti:
Five-striped Leaftail		 Male GR, RA.
Phyllogomphoides stigmatus:
Four-striped Leaftail
 Male  CH.

Progomphus – Sanddragons
Progomphus borealis:
Gray Sanddragon
 male 4 female 4
pair in wheel 4 		CH, BE, DA, GR, GU.
Progomphus obscurus:
Common Sanddragon 		Male1 CH, GU, QU.

Stylurus – Hanging Clubtails
Stylurus intricatus:
Brimstone Clubtail
 Sketches Male 4 Female 4 BE, CH, ED, SA.
Stylurus plagiatus:
Russet-tipped Clubtail
 Male 4  Female 4 HI, GR, DA, OT, ED, LE.

Family Cordulegastridae:   Spiketails
Cordulegaster diadema:
Apache Spiketail
 Female   GR.
Cordulegaster dorsalis:
Pacific Spiketail
 Male 4 
Young Male 4  Female 4  
Desert Race		 RA.

Family Macromiidae:  Cruisers

Macromia – River Cruisers
Macroma annulata:
Bronzed River Cruiser
 NMDN CH, DB, GU.

F amily Corduliidae:    Emeralds

Epitheca – Baskettails
Epitheca costalis:
Stripe-winged Baskettail
 Male Female RO.
Epitheca petechialis:
Dot-winged Baskettail
 Male   CH, ED, GU, OT, UN, DB.

Neurocordulia – Shadowdragons
Neurocordulia xanthsoma:
Orange Shawdowdragon
ED

Somatochlora – Striped Emeralds
Somatochlora semicircularis:
Mountain Emerald
 Male 4 Female 4 SM, TA.

F amily Libellulidae: Skimmers

Brachymesia – Tropical Pennants
Brachymesia gravida:
Four-spotted Pennant 		NMDN  Male   
Female  Juvenile		 CH, ED, DB.

Brechmorhoga – Clubskimmers
Brechmorhoga mendax:
Pale-faced Clubskimmer
 Male 4 Male side 4
Female 4 		ED, GR, OT, SI, CH, GU,
LI.

Celithemis – Small Pennants
Celithemis eponina:
Holloween Pennant 		NMDN  Male1 CH, DB, LI, UN, GU, OT.
Celithemis fasciata:
Banded Pennant
 Male1  Male1  CH.

Dythemis – Setwings
Dythemis fugax:
Checkered Setwing
 Female1 CH, DB, ED, GU, GR.
Dythemis nigrescens:
Black Setwing
 Male1 Female1 CH.
Dythemis velox:
Swift Setwing
 NMDN Male 
im Female  		 CH, ED, GU, DB.

Erythemis – Pondhawks
Erythemis collocata:
Western Pondhawk
 Male 4 Female 4
Young Male 4 		CH, CA, CO, DB, DA, ED,
GR, GU, LE, OT, SJ, SM,
SA, SF, SO, TA, UN, LI,
MC, QU.
Erythemis simpliciollis:
Eastern Pondhawk
 NMDN Male1 Female1
CH, LI, GU, UN.
Erythemis vesiculosa:
Great Pondhawk
 Male1 CH, UN.

Erythrodiplax – Dragonlets
Erythrodiplax berenice:
Seaside Dragonlet		 Male1 Female1 CH, RA, GU.
Erythrodiplax berenice berenice:

   CH, GU
Erythrodiplax connata:

 Female   CH, GR
Erythrodiplax minuscula:
Little Blue Dragonlet
 Male1  Female1   CH.

Leucorrhinia – Whitefaces
Leucorrhinia intacta:
Dot-tailed Whiteface

 Male 4
Female-mature 4
Female-immature 4 		SJ

Libelula – King Skimmers
Libellula comanche:
Comanche Skimmer
 Male 4 Males 4
Male-young 4
Female-side 4 Females 4 		CH, ED, GU, DB, OT.
Libellula composita:
Bleach Skimmer
 Males 4 Males 4
Pairs 4		 CH, SO, ED, GU.
Libellula croceirpennis:
Neon Skimmer
 Male 4 Male 4
Female-Top 4 Female-side 4 		CH, GU, OT.
Libellula forensis:
Eight-spotted Skimmer
 Male 4 Female 4
NewlyEmerged 4		 BE, CH, CO, DA, MO,
SJ, SM.
Libellula luctuosa:
Widow Skimmer
 Male1 Male 4
Young Male 4
Female 4 		CH, GR, CO, ED, GU,
MO, OT, SJ, UN, QU,
DB, CU, LI.
Libellula lydia:
Common Whitetail		 Male1 Female1
Male 4  Female 4		 BE, CH, CO, GR, RA,
SJ, SM, SI, SO, UN, GU,
QU, SA.
Libellula nodisticta:
Hoary Skimmer
 Male 4 Female 4
Tandem 4		 CA, GR, LI, SM, SO.
Libellula pulchella:
Twelve-spotted Skimmer
 Male 2, Male 1 Male 4
Female 4 Female 1
Immature Male 4		 CH, LI, SO, CO, RA, SJ,
SM, SA, UN, GU, HI, ED,
SF.
Libellula quadrimaculata:
Four-spotted Skimmer
 Male 1   Male 4  
Female 4 		RA, SM, SA, SO, TA.
Libellula saturata:
Flame Skimmer
 NMDN
Male 4 Male 4  
Female 4  Female 4 		CH, LI, OT, CA, CO,
DB, DA, ED, GR, GU,
HA, HI, LE, LU, SJ, SM,
SF, SI, SO, TA, QU, OT,
SF,CU, RO, UN.
Libellula subornata:
Desert Whitetail
 NMDN
Male 4    Female 4 		CH, LI, BE, CO, GR, ED,
GU, DB, UN.

Macrodiplax – Marl Pennant
Macrodiplax balteata:
Marl Pennant		 Male 4   Female 4 CH, GU, ED, DB.

Orthemis – Tropical King Skimmers
Orthemis discolor:
Orange-bellied Skimmer
 Male  Male
Female		 CH (Intermediate Form).
Orthemis ferruginea:
Roseate Skimmer
 Males 4 WinterMales 4 Female 4

CH, ED, GR, SI, SO, DB,
GU, CU.

Pachdiplax – Blue Dasher
Pachydiplax longipennis:
Blue Dasher
aka: Swift Long-Winged Skimmer
aka:  Blue Pirate
 Male 1
Males 4 Male 4
MaleEmerging 4  
Females 4
FemaleEmerging 4      
Female 1 		OT, CH, DB, DA, ED,
GR, HI, LE, QU, SJ,
SM, SI, SO, LI, UN,
GU, SA.

Paltothemis – Rock Skimmers
Paltothemis lineatipes:
Red Rock Skimmer
aka: Rusty Skimmer		 Male 4 Female 4 CA, CH, ED, GR, OT, LI.

Pantala – Rainpool Gliders
Pantala flavescens:
Wandering Glider
 Male 1 Female 1 CH, ED, HI, RA, SI, GU,
DB, RO, LU, CU, LI.
Pantala hymenaea:
Spot-winged Glider
 Male 1 Female 1   
Emerging 4 		CH, DA, OT, SM, LE,
ED, SA, SI, SO, UN,
GU, LI, LU, CU, DB.

Perithemis – Amberwings
Perithemis domitia:
Slough Amberwing		 Male 1  Female CH
Perithemis intensa:
Mexican Amberwing		 Male 4  Female 4 HI, GR.
Perithemis tenera:
Eastern Amberwing
 Male 1  Male&Female
Male&Female   		CH, DA, ED, LI, LE,
SM, SI, SO, UN, GU,
GR, QU, CU.

Pseudoleon – Filigree Skimmer
Pseudoleon superbus:
Filigree Skimmer
 NMDN Female 1
Male 4
Female 4 		 DA, GR, OT, CH, ED,
DB.

Sympetrum – Meadowhawks
Sympetrum corruptum:
Variegated Meadowhawk

 Male 1 Male 4
Wheel 4
Female 4    Female 1 		BE, CA, CH, CO, DB,
DA, ED, GR, LE, MO,
RO, LI, GU, OT, QU,
RA, SJ, SM, SA, SI, SO,
TA, UN, VA, HI, LU, SF, CU.
Sympetrum costiferum:
Saffron-wing Meadowhawk		 Male1 Female1
Pair		 ED.
Sympetrum danae:
Black Meadowhawk		 Male 4  
emergedMales 4   Female 4   Pair		 CO, SJ, SM, SA, TA.
Sympetrum illotum:
Cardinal Beadowhawk|
 Male 4    Female 4
Female 4   eggs 4
emergence 4		 CH, GR, OT, RA, SA, SO.
Sympetrum internum:
Cherry-faced Meadowhawk		 Pair 1 Female 4 RA, SA.
Sympetrum obtrusum:
White-faced Meadowhawk		 Male 1 Female 1  
Pair 4		 SA, SO, CA, CI, MC, SM.
Sympetrum occidentale:
Western Meadowhawk		 Male 4   Female 4
Female 4 w/eggs		 DB, MO, RA, SM, SA, TA,
CH, QU, SJ, SI, SO.
Sympetrum occidentale occidentale:
SA.
Sympetrum occidentale fasciatum:
CH.
Sympetrum pallipes:
Striped Meadowhawk
 Male4
imm Male Female
CO, GU, LI, MC, MO,
RA, SM, SA, TA, CH, CI.
Sympeturm semicinctum:
Band-winged Meadowhawk
 Male  Male
 SO, LI.
Sympetrum signiferum:
Spot-winged Meadowhawk
 Male Female CH.
Sympetrum vicinum:
Autum Meadowhawk
aka: Yellow-legged Meadowhawk
 NMDN
Male 1 Female 1
Male 4  
Teneral Female 4		 CH, DB, GU, ED, OT.

Tramea – Saddlebags
Tramea lacerata:
Black Saddlebags
 Male 1    Male 4  
Female 4 		 LI, LE, OT, CH, DB, DA,
ED, GU, MO, SM,
SO, UN, GR, SA, RO.
Tramea onusta:
Red Saddlebags		 Male 5 Male 6 DA, CH, ED, GR, GU,
SM, UN, LI.


Distribution Key for the New Mexico Counties

BE: BERNALILLO HA: HARDING RO: ROOSEVELT
CA: CATRON HI: HIDALGO SA: SANDOVAL
CH: CHAVES LA: LOS ALAMOS SF: SANTA FE
CI: CIBOLA LE: LEA SI: SIERRA
CO: COLFAX LI: LINCOLN SJ: SAN JUAN
CU: CURRY LU: LUNA SM: SAN MIGUEL
DA: DONA ANA MC: McKINLEY SO: SOCCARO
DB: DE BACA MO: MORA TA: TAOS
ED: EDDY OT: OTERO TO: TORRANCE
GR: GRANT QU: QUAY UN: UNION
GU: GUADALUPE RA: RIO ARRIBA VA: VALENCIA


[S.E. NM]: SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO **
[S.W. NM]: SOUTHWESTERN NEW MEXICO **

** SEE NOTES

(Click on map for larger version)

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To contact Robert Larsen: roblrsn@yahoo.com

Robert R. Larsen Cooperative Research Biologist
(Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge Odonata Survey)
Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge
P.O. Box 7, Roswell, New Mexico 88202-0007

THE DRAGONFLIES OF NEW MEXICO NOTES

Dr. Mary Alice Evans published a checklist of New Mexican Odonates in the 1995 Proceedings of the Denver museum of Natural History. Her checklist remains the only major work on New Mexican Odonata showing 60 species of Anisopterans (Dragonflies). Here, added to Mary Alice's list, are those species recorded in a little known work by Harold B. Freshley on the Upper Pecos Watershed in 1945 (University of New Mexico Thesis). Freshley's species were confirmed by the distinguished Florida Odonatologist Dr. C. Francis Byers in May 1945.

Also added are species previously collected and recorded for New Mexico by Dr. John C. Abbott and Kenneth W. Stewart published in the Entomological News, May and June 1998. New state and county records (those confirmed to date) have been added from the Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge Odonata Survey (1998), and the Lincoln County Odonata Survey (1998). The Bitter Lake Survey is a voluntary cooperative research project with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. New state records of species collected by Gordon Warrick the Refuge Biologist have been added to this list.

The Lincoln County specimens were confirmed by Dr. John C. Abbott and are in the Odonata collections at the University of North Texas, Denton, Texas. Bitter Lake specimens were confirmed by Dr. John C. Abbott of the Stroud Water Research Center; Dr. Oliver S. Flint, Jr. of the U.S. National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution; and Dr. Thomas W. Donnelly, State University of New York, and Director of the Dragonfly Society of the Americas.

Species collected in 1995 by William Maufray, Managing Director of the international Odonata Research Institute, have been added to this list. This brings the known and confirmed species of Dragonflies (Anisoptera) in New Mexico to 91.

[ ** On the list of dragonflies of New Mexico there were some that were taken in New Mexico for which no specific location was listed. Dr. John C. Abbott listed some for southeastern New Mexico, but gave no specific location in his list. For those species I had just listed them for southwestern New Mexico. Then, again, William Mauffray from the International Odonata Research Institute had collected species in southwestern New Mexico, but gave no specific county. So I had just listed that one as southwestern New Mexico. ]

Robert R. Larsen Cooperative Research Biologist
(Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge Odonata Survey)
Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge
4065 Bitter Lakes Rd., Roswell, New Mexico 88201

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Photo Credits:
1= Ode News ,
2 = Bill Radke, Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge (former Refuge Manager)
3=Gordon Warrick, Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge
(A special THANK YOU to Cara Moscardelli, a volunteer at BLNWR during spring break 2000, who scanned, labeled and e-mailed the photos taken by Bill and Gordon.)
4 = Kathy Biggs' California Dragonflies & Damselflies & Southwest Dragonflies
5 = Dave Clary, amateur photographer of Roswell, New Mexico,
supporter of Bitter Lake NWR
6 = OC=Odonata Central

NMDN = New Mexico Dragonfly Notebook

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Families: Aeshnidae Gomphidae Corduliidae Libellulidae

Notes County Key County Map

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New Mexico Dragonfly Notebook New Mexico Damselfly List

Chaves County, NM, Damselfly List Lincoln County, NM, Odonata List

ODONATA LINKS

Dragonfly Festival

Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Friends of Bitter Lake NWR, Inc.


This page created 3/25/1999
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Webmaster KJ Herman
kjherman19@yahoo.com