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A contribution to the study of the biodiversity of Odonata in Jalisco, Mexico
Seen and photographed by Kathy and Dave Biggs, others and found in private/museum collections or on Naturalista.mx or iNaturalist
*= go to glossary at bottom of page.
Click on links (blue text) &/or images to go to more information and other images of the species.

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For help with identifications &/or to make a photo contribution, contact Kathy Biggs or upload to Naturalista or iNaturalist

Click here to view an Excel Chart of the species in Jalisco by municipality (similar to a county).
If you find a species in a new municipality, please submit it to iNaturalist/Naturalista.mx or Kathy Biggs.

Common Name (Scientific Name) photos & description Links to maps. Jalisco distribuiton maps courtesy iNaturalist are a work in progress

Click here to see the parts of a dragonfly's body labeled Shortcut to Darners (Aeshnidae) 15 species have been documented in Jalisco. Darners have eyes that touch broadly and patterned abdomens. They seldom perch, but when they do, they hang perch on vegetation.

Clubtails (Gomphidae) - 19 species have been documented in Jalisco. Clubtails have widely separated eyes, clear wings, and often a clubbed abdomen. The males usually perch on rocks and sandbars. Most are found on moving water.

Zebra-striped Sanddragon (Progomphus clendoni) photos: male and female size: medium/large, 46-52 mm male: dark thorax sides have pale yellow stripes, top stripes form a disjointed "W"; abdomen S1-7 very narrow, expanded at tip, club of S8-10 black & preceded by thick yellow ring, pale yellow rings on middle abdomen segments; appendage tops smooth & yellow, lower appendages forked; blue-gray eyes, yellow face with dark markings female: patterned like male; small top point on S1; appendages white; wings slightly yellowed behavior: males perch on sandbars and rocks habitat: moving water with sandy and rocky areas known Jalisco flight months: 1-4,7,9,11,12 thus far Jalisco distribution map Mexican distribution map other similarly marked Sanddragons, members of the Clubtail family occur in Jalisco

Splendid Sanddragon (Progomphus zonatus) photos: scan of dead male specimen and appendages RARE - please report any sightings as they would be a state record size: large, length ~62 mm male: dark thorax with gray stripes top and sides, side stripes with middles widest and pointing away from each other; abdomen dark with thin rings S3-5, S1-7 very narrow, expanded at tip, club of S8-10 black & preceded by thick yellow ring, appendages dark with pale tips female: TBD behavior: males perch on sandbars and rocks habitat: moving water with sandy and rocky areas in higher elevations known Jalisco flight months: *NOT FOUND IN JALISCO Mexican distribution Map

Mexican Sanddragon (Progomphus mexicanus) photos: scan of dead male and appendage sketch size: medium, TBD mm male: wings slightly amber-tinted; appendages only yellow at the extreme tip and not forked; middle thoracic side stripe interrupted female: TBD behavior: males perch on sandbars and rocks habitat: moving water with sandy and rocky areas known Jalisco flight months: 1,6-8,11,12 thus far Jalisco distribution map not yet made! Mexican distribution map

"Yelapa" Sanddragon (Progomphus cf. mexicanus) photos: male size: medium, length ~51 mm male: green on thorax and yellow on the abdomen; wings slightly amber-tinted; appendages only yellow at the extreme tip and not forked; middle thoracic stripe interrupted female: TBD behavior: males perch on sandbars and rocks habitat: moving water with sandy and rocky areas, found mouth of Yelapa River, near the Yatch Club known Jalisco flight months: 1,11,12 thus far Jalisco distribution map not yet made! No Mexican distribution map Note: this represents an undescribed species; recorded twice in Yelapa in different years by different individuals

Gray Sanddragon (Progomphus borealis) photos: male and pair in mating wheel RARE in Jalisco - please report any sightings size: large, length 56 - 62 mm, wingspan 66 - 72 mm male: yellow face; thorax sides have large gray patches; dull pale yellow triangles top of very thin black abdomen; costa yellow; upper appendages yellow, lowers dark, same as Common Sanddragon; both arch abdomen when perching female: very similar to male but lacks club, abdomen more cylindrical behavior: males perch on sandbars and rocks habitat: sandy rivers, lakes known Jalisco flight months: TBD Jalisco distribution map not yet made! Mexican distribution map

Belyshev's Sanddragon (Progomphus belyshevi) photos: the 2 photographs are of an undescribed species, cf. Progomphus belyshevi - the assumption that Belyshevi's would be similar; the drawings of appendages and thorax ARE of P. belyshevi RARE in Jalisco, please report all sightings size: large, length 55-56 mm, wingspan ~66 male: much like the Gray Sanddragon with dark and gray areas on the thorax sides, sides of the thorax darker with a smaller amount of gray, middle wide dark stripe, which is joined with the femoral stripe; appendages more narrow than in Gray Sanddragon female: like male but slightly larger habitat: assumed to be sandy rivers, lakes known Jalisco flight months: TBD Jalisco distribution map Mexican distribution map

Broad-striped Forceptail (Aphylla angustifolia) photos: mature male and immature male size: large, length 62-68 mm, wingspread 74-82mm male: 3 pale stripes on side of thorax with the middle stripe narrower; abdomen narrow with a flange on S8 (males and females) female: very similar but abdomen more cylindrical, club narrower habitat: lakes, ponds and pools of intermittent streams with muddy bottoms known Jalisco flight months: 6,8,10 thus far Jalisco distribution map Mexican distribution map

Narrow-striped Forceptail (Aphylla protracta) photos: male and female size: large, length 64-66 mm male: flanged abdomen mostly russet-colored; thorax brown with narrow pale stripes; lower appendage unnoticeable female: very similar but abdomen more cylindrical, club narrower habitat: lakes, ponds and pools of intermittent streams with muddy bottoms known Jalisco flight months: 1,6,8,10 thus far Jalisco distribution map Mexican distribution map

Angle-tipped Forceptail (Phyllocycla elongata) photos: male and female RARE in Jalisco - please report any sightings size: large, length ~55 mm male: 4 pale stripes on thorax sides; abdomen thin and black with all dark club & appendages, each segment's ring twice size of preceding ring female: abdomen more cylindrical, pale area reduced; no club, pale under S9&10 habitat: streams with deep pools known Jalisco flight months: TBD Jalisco distribuiton map not yet made! Mexican distribution map Note: Phyllocycla breviphylla may be a synonym of Phyllocycla elongata; female above labeled P. breviphylla on iNaturalist

Two-striped Leaftail (Phyllocycla bifasciatus) photos: male, appendages and female size: large, length 54 mm, wingspan 67 mm male: only two stripes on sides of thorax with no hint of any other markings; pale face with dark cross stripes, pale blue eyes; middle abdominal segments have rings open at top, S7/8 with broad complete ring, club widely flanged ("leaf-like"), appendages pale with dark edges female: less colorful; abdomen more cylindrical; lacks club habitat: streams with deep pools known Jalisco flight months: 9-11 thus far Jalisco distribution map Mexican distribution map

West Mexican Leaftail (Phyllogomphoides nayaritensis) photos: males and close up of appendages size: large, length 60-68 mm male: dark thorax with mirror image “L” on top, slight yellowish cast to the 2 stripes on side, small middle stripe; pale face with dark cross stripes, pale blue eyes; middle abdominal segments have rings open at top, S7/8 with broad complete ring, club widely flanged ("leaf-like"), appendages pale with dark edges female: like male but without the widened flanges; the larva is unknown habitat: rocky and muddy rivers with moderately swift current known Jalisco flight months: 7,9,11,12 thus far Jalisco distribution map Mexican distribution map

Pacific Leaftail (Phyllogomphoides pacificus) photos: male size: large/very large, length 65-67 mm male: blue eyes widely separated; sprawling legs; well camouflaged; 5 parallel & entire bluish-white thoracic stripes; incomplete abdominal rings prior to S7 female: less colorful; abdomen more cylindrical habitat: streams with deep pools known Jalisco flight months: 7-12 thus far Jalisco distribution map Mexican distribution map

*Spine-tipped Leaftail (Phyllogomphoides apiculatus) photos: details of male head and thorax, male and female abdomen tip and appendages size: large, length 52 mm, wingspan 80 mm male: upper appendages with a small spine female: like male but with a paler frons; stigma a reddish brown habitat: streams with deep pools known Jalisco flight months: *NOT FOUND IN JALISCO YET BUT POSSIBLE Jalisco distribution map not yet made! Mexican distribution map note: formerly called the Apiculate Leaftail

Yellow-legged Ringtail (Erpetogomphus crotalinus) photos: male and female RARE in Jalisco - please report all sightings size: medium, length 45-49 mm, wingspan 60-72 mm male: yellow-green thorax lacks any dark striping; abdomen yellow with indistinct black rings, medium-sized club, yellow appendages; wings with yellow costa on both sexes female: like male but abdomen more cylindrical, S1-2 mostly green, lacks club behavior: males perch on rocks, sandbars and on branches overhanging streams habitat: moving water with riffles in the sunshine known Jalisco flight months: 7,9,11 thus far Jalisco distribution map Mexican distribution map other similarly marked Ringtails occur in Jalisco

One-striped Ringtail (Erpetogomphus bothrops) photos: male and female size: medium, 38-47 mm male: thorax green with one dark stripe; green face with blue eyes; tip of narrow ringed abdomen is greatly expanded with yellow on the underside female: thorax like male's; abdomen more cylindrical, lacks club; shows rings at abdominal segments behavior: males perch on rocks, sandbars and on branches overhanging streams habitat: moving water known Jalisco flight months: 9-12 thus far Jalisco distribution map Mexican distribution map

Straight-tipped Ringtail (Erpetogomphus elaps) photos: male RARE in Jalisco - please report all sightings size: medium, length ~41 mm, wingspan ~66 mm male: green thorax, top thoracic stripe dark, wide and short; no true side stripe; abdomen mostly dark with pale rings on S4-6, S7 with wider pale area, the top of club dark; straight blunt appendages pale; lower appendages curved to meet straight upper appendages at midpoint female: like male; abdomen more cylindrical, lacks club behavior: males perch on rocks, sandbars and on branches overhanging streams habitat: moving water known Jalisco flight months: 10&11 thus far Jalisco distribution map Mexican distribution map

Plateau Ringtail (Erpetogomphus sipedon) photos: male and female, scan of dead male RARE in Jalisco - please report all sightings size: medium, length 39-49 mm; wingspan 50-62 mm male: green thorax, top thoracic stripe dark, wide and short; no true side stripe; abdomen mostly dark with pale rings on S4-6, S7 with wider pale area, the top of club dark; straight blunt appendages pale; lower appendages curved to meet upper appendages at midpoint female: abdomen more cylindrical, lacks club behavior: males perch on rocks, sandbars and on branches overhanging streams habitat: moving water known Jalisco flight months: 6,7 thus far Jalisco distribution map Mexican distribution map

Boa Ringtail (Erpetogomphus boa) New to Jalisco list 2020 photos: male and scanned male (dead) with appendages enlarged RARE in Jalisco - please report any sightings size: medium, length 49-53 mm, wingspan ~70 mm male: blue eyes; apple to blue-green thorax with wide black 'shoulder' stripe; abdomen dark with green arrow-like marks atop S1-5, S6 with a green ring, S-9 dark on top, S10 yellow; thick bristles on upper last half of the cerci is characteristic (need to have in-hand) female: coloration as in male, but with pale areas on abdomen and legs more extensive similar species: Plateau Ringtail's cerci lack the bristles habitat: moving water known Jalisco flight months: 7 thus far habitat: moving water known Jalisco flight months: 7 thus far Jalisco distribution map Mexican distribution map

Plateau Clubtail (Stylurus falcatus) photos: none accessible, see male scan above RARE in Jalisco - please report all sightings size: medium, length more than 32 mm, wingspan ~60 mm male: description at this link (see Pl. I, Figs. 1-6 to the left); very dark brown, almost black abdomen with only a slight "club" on S8-9 female: patterned like the male habitat: Lago de Chapala known Jalisco flight months: 8,9 thus far Jalisco distribution map Mexican distribution map

Tehuantepec Knobtail (Epigomphus crepidus) photos: male; drawings RARE in Jalisco - please report all sightings size: medium, length ~43-55 mm wingspread ~70 mm male: knob-like appearance to "club"& appendages; dark-brownish with pale yellow or olive green stripes on the head and thorax; abdomen S1&2 olive, S3 1/3 black with top ridge yellow, S4-6 similar but with black on each, S7 2/3 yellow, S8-10 dark, appendages dark female: similar to male but markings not as well defined and without a knob at tail end habitat: lowland moist forests and rivers known Jalisco flight months: March Jalisco distribution map not yet made! Mexican distribution map

Darners (Aeshnidae) Jalisco has 15 species documented. Darners have eyes that touch broadly and patterned abdomens. They seldom perch, but when they do they hang perch on vegetation.

Common Green Darner (Anax junius) photos: tandem pair with female ovipositing; non-male-like female size: very large, 63 - 84 mm, wingspan 92 - 103 mm male: more solidly colored than Mosaic Darners; green eyes and yellow-green face; bull's eye mark top of face; solid green thorax; electric blue abdomen with wide dark stripe on top; wings can be clear or show yellowish tinge female: most are purplish brown with green; rarer form colored like male (however S2 isn't all green); eyes usually remain brown with with yellow back border; wings often yellowish tinged behavior: tandem & solo ovipositing; abdomen carried straight in flight; swarms; migrates often as immatures habitat: ponds, fields and waterways known Jalisco flight months: 3,6-12 thus far Jalisco distribution map Mexican distribution map

Amazon Darner (Anax amazili) photos: females size: very large, length 70-75mm, wingspan ~104mm male: bull's eye mark on top of frons, eyes brown-gray; solid green thorax, abdomen patterned with white spots, S1-2 pale green stripes, other segments appear patterned with wide, white spots female: similar to male but lacks stripes on S2, otherwise more boldly patterned behavior: males seen less often than females habitat: overgrown weedy ponds known Jalisco flight months: 6,7,9,10 thus far Jalisco distribution map Mexican distribution map

Blue-faced Darner (Coryphaeschna adnexa) photos: males and female size: large, length 66 - 69 mm, wingspan 88 - 108 mm male: bright blue face and eyes; green thorax with thin dark stripe; dark brown abdomen with thin green rings; appendages lack spine female: like male but with broader abdomen; wings can have amber tint; eyes show blue; appendages tend to break off habitat: ponds, usually covered with floating vegetation such as water lettuce, water hyacinth or duckweeds known Jalisco flight months: 2,4,6,7,9-12 thus far Jalisco distribution map Mexican distribution map

Mangrove Darner (Coryphaeschna viriditas) photos: male and female size: very large, length 76-85 mm, wingspan 102-120 mm male: green face with black T-spot on frons; green thorax with narrow brown stripes; abdomen streaked with green and brown female: like male but with broader abdomen habitat: mangrove marshes known Jalisco flight months: 1,6,10 thus far Jalisco distribution map Mexican distribution map

Fiery Darner (Coryphaeschna diapyra) photos: male and female size: very large, length ~75 mm, wingspan ~100 mm male: green thorax with reddish abdomen, long appendages female: like male but with brown eyes; wings can turn brown with maturity habitat: ponds and marshes known Jalisco flight months: 7,8,11 thus far Jalisco distribution map Mexican distribution map

Caribbean Darner (Triacanthagyna caribbea) photos: male and female RARE in Jalisco - please report all sightings size: medium, length ~ 63 mm male: green face with black T-spot on frons; green thorax with wide brown stripes; abdomen streaked with green and brown female: very similar in coloration to male but with wider body behavior: hang perch; crepuscular habitat: tropical forests known Jalisco flight months: 7,9 thus far Jalisco distribution map Mexican distribution map

Malachite Darner (Remartinia luteipennis) photos: male and pair in mating wheel size: very large, length 76-80 mm, wingspan 92-102 mm male: wide green stripes sides and top of thorax, pale thoracic stripes wider than brown stripes; abdomen brown with S1-2 mostly green, thin green marks rest of abdomen female: like male but eyes and face blue with very short appendages; wings become brown with maturity behavior: males fly at waist to above head level, hovering now and then habitat: ponds and streams with marshy edges known Jalisco flight months: 4-11 thus far Jalisco distribution map Mexican distribution map

Secretive Darner (Remartinia secreta) photos: males size: very large, length 78-80 mm, wingspan 92-100 mm male: like Malachite Darner but with the brown stripes as wide as, or wider, than green stripes female: unlike male almost unmarked pale yellow-green thorax; abdomen patterned with very short appendages; wings become brown with maturity behavior: secretive habitat: small pools in fern swamps; unlikely to be in the highlands known Jalisco flight months: 8,10 thus far Jalisco distribution map not yet made! Mexican distribution map

Turquoise-tipped Darner (Rhionaeschna psilus) photos: mature male & immature male size: large, length 56 - 61 mm male: patterned slender dark abdomen; S9-10 blue on the underside, S10 top has paired spots connected by a bar: sinuous green thoracic stripes; long slender appendages; inconspicuous bump under first segment female: thorax similarly marked to male; bump under first segment; spots on abdomen are small and green, S10 has paired spots connected by a bar; long appendages behavior: abdomen carried straight in flight; swarm; migrate; hang perch habitat: ponds, ditches and sluggish streams known Jalisco flight months: 1-3,8-12 thus far Jalisco distribution map Mexican distribution map

Black-tailed Darner (Rhionaeschna jalapensis) NEW 2021 photos: macho RARE IN JALISCO please report all sightings size: large, 68 mm male: fewer pale spots atop abdomen than other Rhionaeschna; stripes on thorax thin; dark line across face, blue eyes; appendages forked in side view; inconspicuous bump under first segment female: similarly marked to male; inconspicuous bump under first segment behavior: females may submerge abdomen when oviposiing habitat: small to medium ponds known Jalisco flight months: 3 thus far Jalisco distribution map Mexican distribution map

Blue-eyed Darner (Rhionaeschna multicolor) photos: male & female size: large, length 65-69 mm, wingspan 89-92 mm male: bright blue eyes; pale line across face; blue stripes on front and sides of thorax, inconspicuous bump under first segment; abdomen mosaic patterned; appendages shaped like a wrench when seen from the side female: thorax similarly marked to male; inconspicuous bump under first segment; colored as male or in greens and browns behavior: abdomen carried straight in flight; swarm; migrate; hang perch habitat: ponds, ditches and sluggish streams known Jalisco flight months: 2,3,5-11 thus far Jalisco distribution map Mexican distribution map

Pale-green Darner (Triacanthagyna septima) photos: male & female RARE in Jalisco - please report any sightings size: relatively small, length 59 - 66 mm male: pale green thorax, pale yellow legs; eyes bluish-green; thin brown abdomen with some green rings; long appendages female: very similar in coloration to male but has greenish-brown eyes; long, slender appendages; T-spot lacks a stem behavior: hang from a twig or vine with abdomen almost vertical; crepuscular feeders, roost within the jungle; come out to feed at jungle edge at dusk habitat: breed in jungle rain pools known Jalisco flight months: 5,6 thus far Jalisco distribution map Mexican distribution map

Ditzler's Darner (Triacanthagyna ditzleri) photos: male & female RARE in Jalisco - pleases report any sightings size: relatively small, length ~59 mm male: dark brown thorax with green stripes on side wider than the brown space background, middle of 3 stripes narrower, stripes atop thorax; dark brown abdomen with small pale green markings; long appendages female: very similar in coloration to male; 3 prominent spines under S10; long appendages behavior: hang perch; crepuscular habitat: tropical forests known Jalisco flight months: 8 thus far Jalisco distribution map Mexican distribution map

Bar-sided Darner (Gynacantha mexicana) photos: male and female RARE in Jalisco - please report any sightings size: large, length 75 - 81 mm male: mostly brown with pale green markings; brown or green eyes; thorax green with a dark green stripe at back end; usually with a dark brown stripe in the wings female: very similar in coloration to male; appendages longer than S9&10 similar species: Twilight Darner has lower appendage more than half the length of the uppers behavior: crepuscular (sunrise and sunset) habitat: ephemeral pools and ponds known Jalisco flight months: TBD Jalisco distribution map not yet made! Mexican distribution map

Twilight Darner (Gynacantha nervosa) photos: male (posed) size: large, length 75 - 81 mm male: tan thorax with 2 dark dots on sides; slender abdomen with thin light green rings female: similarly marking to male but with two spines on underside of abdomen S10; there is a stem on the T-spot that is not present in T. septima similar species: Bar-sided Darner has lower appendage less than half the length of the uppers behavior: swarm at twilight (crepuscular), does not fly during the daytime; eggs laid in tree holes habitat: ponds, ditches and sluggish streams known Jalisco flight months: 2,3,5,6,9-11 thus far Jalisco distribution map Mexican distribution map

Helen's Darner (Gynacantha helenga) photos: males (mature and immature) size: relatively small, length TBD male: bright yellow appendages and tip of S10; abdomen is brown with yellow-green markings that grow smaller on each segment, S1-2 have blue on them; thorax green with brown stripes female: like male; pale stigma behavior: swarm at twilight (crepuscular), does not fly during the daytime; eggs laid in tree holes habitat: TBD known Jalisco flight months: 4,6-8,10,11 thus far Jalisco distribution map not yet made! Mexican distribution map