Dragonflies of California (Odonata)

CALIFORNIA DRAGONFLIES & DAMSELFLIES
aka
CALIFORNIA ODONATA
"messengers of summer and heralds of the sun" - H. Lons, poet and zoologist

=!= The companion website for Dragonflies (Anisoptera) of California =!=

Click here to go to Dragonflies of the Southwest website or Click here to go to Dragonflies of Jalisco

View an hour long webinar originally done for the Sonoma Land Trust in 2024 on the Language of the Land: Dragonflies in CALIFORNIA (English) by Kathy Biggs and Sandra von-Arb

The on-line guide is located below the links to dragonfly guides and essentials.
Below the guide links are other links to information about their life cycles, sightings and to other CA related dragonfly websites.

Updated - November 2024
- click image for more information

by Kathy Biggs & Sandra von Arb 2024
5.5" x 8.5"

...

Enter the
CALIFORNIA DRAGONFLIES
BOOK STORE

Click here to go to the
descriptive and photographic
pages for
DRAGONFLIES
ANISOPTERA

Heavy-bodied; usually larger than damselflies;
wings held open when perched;
eyes very close together;
strong fliers;
about 74 species

Click here to go to the
identification 'key' -
use this to
identify a dragonfly or damselfly
in hand or from a photo.
PHOTO IDENTIFIER/

IN-HAND FIELD KEY
for CALIF. DRAGONFLIES
Click above to open and use at home.
Alternately, open and print this printable 17 pg PDF file
to take into the field as an aid in making dragonfly identifications.

Click here to go to the
descriptive and photographic
pages for
DAMSELFLIES
ZYGOPTERA

Slender-bodied, most smaller than dragonflies;
wings held together when perched;
eyes far apart;
weak flyers;
about 40 species

Click here to download a PDF Checklist of California Dragonfly Species (198kb).
Be certain to set your printer to landscape orientation before printing out this tri-fold, double-sided checklist.

Download a PDF key to California's Migratory Dragonflies
This should be printed out landscape, and is best printed back to back on cardstock (769kb).

Click here to see a list of dragonfly related
PROGRAMS,
FIELDTRIPS,
FESTIVALS and MEETINGS

This site is 100% privately maintained.
If you've found it helpful,
a donation to help keep it on the web would be appreciated,
thanks! K. Biggs

Use this link to share this site on Facebook
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Links to other websites with Ode images taken within California

Sightings by Year Sightings current to 2000 can be accessed on iNaturalist.
2020 First & Last dates + county/state records only, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000,
1999 & 1998 Sightings are available in the CalOdes Discussion Group site's Files section.
Click here for a short history of Dragonflies in California

I encourage you to join the CalOdes dragonfly discussion group.
This group is used to find new distribution records, flight data and where we may help each other learn more about dragonflies.

A Facebook Western Odonata group was formed in 2013. Click on image above link to check it out!
Click here to go to Kathy Biggs' Press Kit with links to newspaper articles and reviews, etc.
and/or
Here is the story of how Kathy fell into the clutches of Odonata and became an author!!

Click here to go to Dragonfly FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Click here to go to a series of photos depicting the dragonfly life cycle.
&/or click here for more emergence images/stories.

Clicking on this link below will take you to an essay with photos providing some general information on dragonflies,
Damsels and Dragons - the Insect Order Odonata (Ron Lyons)

Dragonfly hotspots in CA!

Click here to see a list and info on places to go to find dragonflies in California

Click here to read the article An Interview with Kathy Biggs, on Dragonflies, Dragonfly Ponds and how She Became an Author

Chick here to visit our Bigsnest Wildlife Pond Website.
On this website you will find information on building a pond to attract dragonflies and other wildlife. Enjoy! - Kathy Biggs

This site is proud to have been selected for the following award:

I'm glad you enjoy the dragonflies and damselflies too! THANK- YOU for visiting!!
Email Kathy by clicking here

Kathy Biggs, Azalea Creek Publishing

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