MIXED FAMILIES:
each of these 3 families have black with yellow markings
Field/photo key to black & yellow mixed families dragonflies
|
MIXED FAMILIES - Black and Yellow Coloration
3 CA families, each with just one species in California, totaling 3 species:
sizes: large; lengths: 54 - 85 mm
males: members of these families & genera have dark background
color with yellow markings on the thorax and abdomen; compare by markings, eye shape and color, and by appendage shapes
females: marked like the males but bodies more stout
habitats: life cycle of 2+ years in rivers, streams, seeps
behaviors: Petaltail flight weak, others very strong fliers
distribution: Petaltail in north; others almost statewide
nymph: see individual species' links
Cruisers Macromiidae - gray eyes just touch each other; single yellow stripe thorax side; long legs; body arched in powerful flight - 1 CA species
Petaltail Petaluridae - dark eyes do not touch; spots (not stripes) on thorax & abdomen; long stigma; petal-like appendages; nymph semi terrestrial, burrows in seeps - 1 CA species (uncommon)
Spiketails Cordulegasteridae - teardrop shaped blue eyes barely touch each other; thorax
- two wide yellow stripes top and each side - 1 CA species (2 races)
|
| |
|
male
female
Link to more scans and photos including in-situ and nymph/exuvia
|
Pacific Spiketail Zoraera dorsalis dorsalis
archaic name - yellow-backed biddie
genus name changed from Cordulegaster to Zoraera in 2024
size: very large, length 70 - 85 mm, wingspan 88 - 105
male: pale face; beautiful tear-drop shaped blue eyes barely touch; dark thorax with
two wide yellow stripes on the top and on the sides; abdomen dark with yellow spots on
segments 2- 9
female: like male with thicker body; long spike like ovipositor; dark wing tips
behavior: powerful flyer; both sexes hang-perch;
females oviposit into mud at stream sides in a sewing machine-like vertical up and down movement (often in shady area)
habitat: hillside small wooded streams
California flight period: April - November
California distribution: all foothills, *eastern mountains
California distribution map
Southwestern distribution map
Desert Race
*C. d. deserticola (desert race) shows more yellow - thin yellow lines between spots
comparative scans
California flight period: June 21 - August 27
California distribution: *eastern - Owens Valley area
C. d. deserticola (desert race) Eastern CA, *NV, *UT?
|
|
male
female
Link to more scans and photos including in-situ and nymph/exuvia
|
Western River Cruiser Macromia magnifica
size: very large, length 68 - 74 mm, wingspan 88 - 100
male: pale face; pearly gray eyes touch each other; dark thorax has
single yellow side stripe and only a half-length stripe on top; slightly
clubbed abdomen has squared yellow spots on top, the spot on segment 8 is the largest; very
long legs; flies with the abdomen in a slight arch
female: like male, not clubbed
nymph: sprawlers; 'spider-like'
exuvia: often found under bridge supports
habitat: lowlands streams and rivers
behavior: both sexes hang-perch; pretend to 'sting' you when held in-hand; males fly beat along river edges a foot or two off the water surface
California flight period: April - September
California distribution: all but the southern part of the state
California distribution map
Southwestern distribution map
|
|
male
female
Link to more scans and photos including in-situ and nymph/exuvia
|
Black Petaltail Tanypteryx hageni
size: large, length 54 - 61 mm, wingspan 70 - 76
male: dark eyes do not touch; black thorax has spots (not stripes);
black abdomen with variable yellow marks atop segments 2-7;
flared, petal-like, appendages; long stigma;
female: similar to male but body broader and often showing more yellow
habitat: seeps; often associated with serpentine soils and the
carnivorous Pitcher Plants (Darlingtonia)
behavior: weak flier; perch by 'clinging;' known to perch on people!
nymph are semi terrestrial building burrows in seeps
California flight period: May - August, mostly seen early in the season
California distribution: northern hills and mountains (rare)
California distribution map
Southwestern distribution map
|
