A few New Mexico dragonflies

(Odonata, Epiprocta)

In 2025 I split my web page on the Odonata into two pages. This one shows my images of dragonflies. The other page shows my images of damselflies (Zygoptera).

If you're trying to identify a dragonfly or damselfly in the Albuquerque area, I recommend Bosque Bill's web page. I also find it useful to check a web site with Arizona dragonflies and damselflies. Every time I see a new dragonfly or damselfly, I refer to the images on both sites. Even so, I've been wrong about IDs many times.

With that warning: species are shown alphabetically within taxonomic level. If you see an error, please let me know via the contact tab at the top of the page.

Aeshnidae: Common Green Darner (Anax junius)

In my pictures of pairs in tandem, the females are also ovipositing (laying eggs).

Corduliidae: Baskettail (Epitheca)

Baskettails are Easterners and while they do extend to New Mexico, I'm a little surprised to have found a couple in Albuquerque.

Gomphidae: White-Belted Ringtail (Erpetogomphus compositus)

Gomphidae: Plains Clubtail (Gomphurus externus)

Gomphidae: Pale Snaketail (Ophiogomphus severus)

Gomphidae: Brimstone Clubtail (Stylurus intricatus)

Gomphidae: Russet-tipped Clubtail (Stylurus plagiatus)

This species has the habit of hanging vertically off the tips or edges of leaves. The adults (not photos yet) have blue eyes. The males have pronounced "clubs" at the ends of their abdomens, but on the females this feature is almost absent.

Libellulidae: Western Pondhawk (Erythemis collocata)

Libellulidae: Widow Skimmer(Libellula luctuosa)

One way to tell female widow skimmers from immature males: the females have dark wingtips and the males don't.

Libellulidae: Common Whitetail (Libellula lydia)

I took my two photos of a female common whitetail as she hovered above a slough, bending down her abdomen to deposit eggs in the water.

Libellulidae: Twelve-Spotted Skimmer (Libellula pulchella)

This dragonfly's name refers to the male's three black spots per wing (times four wings).

Libellulidae: Flame Skimmer (Libellula saturata)

Libellulidae, Roseate Skimmer (Orthemis ferruginea)

Libellulidae, Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis)

Blue dashers have pale faces. The adult males have blue bodies, an amber tinge at the wing bases, and turquoise-colored eyes. Adult female blue dashers have black and yellow bodies and red upper eyes. As adult females grow older, their upper eyes also turn turquoise. Immature male blue dashers look a lot like adult females, but have mostly black abdomens.

Libellulidae: Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens)

Libellulidae: Eastern Amberwing (Perithemis tenera)

One way to identify this species is to notice how small it is—never more than an inch (2.5 cm) long. Too small to be a flame skimmer. Also, notice the black-rimmed white stripes on the abdomen and the greenish spots towards the front. So far, only pictures of males.

Libellulidae: Variegated Meadowhawk (Sympetrum corruptum)