Dragonflies and Damselflies of Oregon and Washington

The species found in Oregon and Washington are listed below. If I have been able to photograph the species I provide a link. Click here for county records for each state.

My photos were primarily taken with natural light and a natural setting. You can find high resolution scanner images of voucher specimens of most of these species on Dennis Paulson's site. Jim Johnson and Ray Bruun have obtained excellent results using flash.

Photos were taken by Dennis Deck unless otherwise specified. Send comments or corrections to Dennis at dennis.d.deck@gmail.com

Dragonflies (Family Anisoptera)

Petaltails (Subfamily Petaluridae)

Black Petaltail (Tanypteryx hageni)

Darners (Subfamily Aeshnidae)

Common Green Darner (Anax junius)
Matrix Darner species (Aeshna/Rhionaeshna sp.)
Blue-eyed Darner (Rhionaeschna multicolor) Formerly Aeshna.
California Darner (Rhionaeschna californica) Formerly Aeshna.
Canada Darner (Aeshna canadensis)
Lance-tipped Darner (Aeshna constricta)
Variable Darner (Aeshna interrupta)
Sedge Darner (Aeshna juncea)
Paddle-tailed Darner (Aeshna palmata)
Zigzag Darner (Aeshna sitchensis) Recent Oregon state record 1999
Subarctic Darner (Aeshna subarctica) Recent Oregon state record in 1999.
Black-tipped Darner (Aeshna tuberculifera) Rare in Oregon
Shadow Darner (Aeshna umbrosa)
Walker's Darner (Aeshna walkeri) 2012 WA record, rare in OR.

Clubtails (Subfamily Gomphidae)

White-belted Ringtail (Erpetogomphus compositus)
Columbia Clubtail (Gomphurus lynnae) Recently recognized as a species in 1983.
Pacific Clubtail (Gomphus kurilis)
Pronghorn Clubtail (Gomphus graslinellus) One location in region.
Grappletail (Octogomphus specularis)
Bison Snaketail (Ophiogomphus bison)
Great Basin Snaketail (Ophiogomphus morrisoni)
Sinuous Snaketail (Ophiogomphus occidentis)
Pale Snaketail (Ophiogomphus severus severus)
Olive Clubtail (Stylurus olivaceus)

Spiketails (Subfamily Cordulegastridae)

Pacific Spiketail (Cordulegaster dorsalis)

Cruisers (Subfamily Macromiidae)

Western River Cruiser (Macromia magnifica)

Emeralds (Subfamily Corduliidae)

Beaverpond Baskettail (Epitheca canis)
Spiny Baskettail (Epitheca spinigera)
American Emerald (Cordulia shurtleffi)
Ringed Emerald (Somatochlora albicincta)
Ocellated Emerald (Somatochlora minor)
Mountain Emerald (Somatochlora semicircularis)
Brush-tipped Emerald (Somatochlora walshii) Recent Oregon state record in 1998.

Skimmers (Subfamily Libellulidae)

Western Pondhawk (Erythemis collacata)
Widow Skimmer (Libellual luctuosa)
Eight-spotted Skimmer (Libellual forensis)
Twelve-spotted Skimmer (Libellual pulchella)
Comanche Skimmer (Libellula comanche)
Bleached Skimmer (Libellula composita)
Hoary Skimmer (Libellula nodisticta)
Four-spotted Skimmer (Libellula quadrimaculata)
Flame Skimmer (Libellula saturata)
Common Whitetail (Plathemis lydia) Considered Libellula by some authors.
Desert Whitetail (Plathemis subornata) (considered Libellula by some authors)
Chalk-fronted Corporal (Ladona julia) Considered Libellula by some authors.
Crimson-ringed Whiteface (Leucorrhinia glacialis)
Hudsonian Whiteface (Leucorrhinia hudsonica)
Dot-tailed Whiteface (Leucorrhinia intacta)
Belted Whiteface (Leucorrhinia proxima) (Unconfirmed) Formerly Red-waisted Whiteface.
Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis)
Red Rock Skimmer (Paltothemis lineatipes) Recent state record 2001.
Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens)
Spot-winged Glider (Pantala hymenaea)
Variegated Meadowhawk (Sympetrum corruptum)
Saffron-winged Meadowhawk (Sympetrum costiferum)
Black Meadowhawk (Sympetrum danae)
Cardinal Meadowhawk (Sympetrum illotum)
Cherry-faced Meadowhawk (Sympetrum internum)
Red-veined Meadowhawk (Sympetrum madidum)
White-faced Meadowhawk (Sympetrum obtrusum)
Striped Meadowhawk (Sympetrum pallipes)
Band-winged Meadowhawk (Sympetrum semicinctum)
Autumn Meadowhawk (Sympetrum vicinum) Formerly Yellow-legged Meadowhawk.
Black Saddlebags (Tramea lacerata)
Red Saddlebags (Tramea onuesta)

Damselflies (Family Zygoptera)

Jewelwings (Subfamily Calopterygidae)

River Jewelwing (Calopteryx aequabilis)
American Rubyspot (Hetaerina americana)

Spreadwings (Subfamily Lestidae)

Spreadwing species (Lestes and Archilestes)
California Spreadwing (Archilestes californica)
Spotted Spreadwing (Lestes congener)
Northern Spreadwing (Lestes disjunctus) Formerly Common Spreadwing.
Emerald Spreadwing (Lestes dryas)
Sweetflag Spreadwing (Lestes forcipatus)
Black Spreadwing (Lestes stultus) Recent Oregon state record 2000.
Lyre-Tipped Spreadwing (Lestes unguiculatus)

Pond damsels (Subfamily Coengrionidae)

Western Red Damsel (Amphiagrion abbreviatum)
Vivid Dancer (Argia vivida)
California Dancer (Argia agrioides)
Paiute Dancer (Argia alberta)
Emma's Dancer (Argia emma)
Sooty Dancer (Argia lugens)
Aztec Dancer (Argia nahuana)
Bluet species (Enallagma sp.)
Taiga Bluet (Coenagrion resolutum)
Northern Bluet (Enallagma annexum)
River Bluet (Enallagma anna)
Boreal Bluet (Enallagma boreale)
Tule Bluet (Enallagma carunculatum)
Familiar Bluet (Enallagma civile) Recent Oregon state record in 1998.
Alkali Bluet (Enallagma clausum)
Western Forktail (Ischnura perparva)
Pacific Forktail (Ischnura cervula)
Black-fronted Forktail (Ischnura denticollis)
Swift Forktail (Ischnura erratica)
Sedge Sprite (Nehalennia irene) Recent Oregon record 2001.

Other large insects along the river or marsh

Giant Stonefly (Pteronarcys sp.)
Antlion (family Myrmeleontidae )
Western Cicada Killer (Sphecius grandis)

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