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Nearby Nature - Northern Virginia Dragonflies & Damselflies

 
 
Skimmers (Family Libellulidae) - This is a large and common group of dragonflies. Skimmers get their name from the behaviour of females, which skim across the waters surface periodically dipping the tip of the abdomen into the water to deposit eggs. These are large, showy dragonflies with long wings that are often brightly colored. Males are usually more colorful than females. Most skimmer species live around slow moving water, such as ponds and wetland pools.
 
Widow Skimmer
Common Whitetail
Libellula pulchella
Painted Skimmer Dragonfly
Four-spotted Skimmer
Blue Corporal
           
Spangled Skimmer
 
Needham"s Skimmer
Great BLue Skimmer
Slaty Skimmer
Yellow-sided Skimmer
Golden-winged Skimmer
           
Autumn Meadowhawk
Eastern Amberwing
Blue Dasher
Eastern (Common) Pondhawk
Black Saddlebags
Carolina Saddlebags
           
Four-spotted Pennant          
         
 
Darners (Family Aeshnidae)
 
         
           
Clubtails (Family Gomphidae)
 
Russet-tipped Clubtail
Ashy Clubtail
     
       
 
Spiketails (Family Cordulegastridae)
 
         
 
DAMSELFLIES
   
Broad-wing Damselflies (Family Calopterygidae): Large and showy, members of this family have rounded wings that are not sharply narrowed at the base. Most species have black or half-black wings. All live near streams where they are usually found perched horizontally on vegetation fairly low to the ground.
 
Ebony Jewelwing
     
     
       
Spreadwing Damselflies (Family Lestidae): Large, slender damselflies with clear wings. They prefer prefer still water habitats, although some species can be found near slow-moving water. They hold their wings partly open when perched, usually on stems with their body angled down.
Southern Spreadwing
     
     
       
Pond Damselflies (Family Coenagrionidae):The largest group of damselflies in our area, nearly all species have clear wings that narrow at the base. Small to medium-sized, they typically perch horozontally with their wings pressed together over the back. While many are found near ponds, members of this diverse family frequent a variety of habitats, including wetlands and streams.
 
Atlantic Bluet
Familiar Bluet
Ramuer's Forktail
 
 
       
Fragile Forktail
Variable Dancer