Illinois Odonata Checklist

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Odonata of Illinois

Last updated: October 2021 by Jason Bried

Sources: INHS Insect Collection Database (https://insect.inhs.illinois.edu/), PollardBase (https://pollardbase.org/ – Illinois Odonata Survey), Odonata Central (https://www.odonatacentral.org/), personal collections & communications (Jason Bried, Tim Cashatt, Ed DeWalt, Marla Garrison, Tim Vogt) 

Notes about the list

Suborders and families are listed phylogenetically following Bybee et al. (2021) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2021.107115 

Nomenclature and English naming follows the February 2021 Checklist of North American Odonata by D. R. Paulson and S. W. Dunkle

Species marked with a double-asterisk (**) have not been reported in Illinois for many years, at least not since the North American Dot Map Project (1994–2004)

Species with dubious or unverified records (excluded from the list): Boyeria grafiana, Epitheca spinosa, Gomphurus lineatifrons, Lestes alacer, Lestes disjunctus, Leucorrhinia proxima, Macromia annulata, Ophiogomphus colubrinus, Ophiogomphus severus, Ophiogomphus susbehcha, Orthemis ferruginea, Phanogomphus descriptus, Rhionaeschna multicolor 

Possible vagrants/accidentals (included on the list): Erythemis vesiculosa, Erythrodiplax minuscula, Libellula auripennis, Libellula flavida, Tramea calverti syn. T. darwini 

Species in bold type have one or more conservation priority ratings

SE – State Endangered (Somatochlora hineana is also federally endangered)

SGCN – Species of Greatest Conservation Need in Illinois 

SWL – SGCN Watchlist in Illinois 

S1 – critically imperiled (extreme rarity or vulnerability) in Illinois

RSGCN – Regional Species of Greatest Conservation Need in the Midwest 

RWL – RSGCN Watchlist in the Midwest 

 

Suborder ZYGOPTERA – Damselflies (47 species)

  • LESTIDAE – Spreadwings (10 species) 
    • Archilestes grandis (Rambur, 1842) – Great Spreadwing
    • Lestes australis Walker, 1952 – Southern Spreadwing
    • Lestes congener Hagen, 1861 – Spotted Spreadwing
    • Lestes dryas Kirby, 1890 – Emerald Spreadwing
    • Lestes eurinus Say, 1839 – Amber-winged Spreadwing
    • Lestes forcipatus Rambur, 1842 – Sweetflag Spreadwing 
    • Lestes inaequalis Walsh, 1862 – Elegant Spreadwing
    • Lestes rectangularis Say, 1839 – Slender Spreadwing
    • Lestes unguiculatus Hagen, 1861 – Lyre-tipped Spreadwing 
    • Lestes vigilax Hagen in Selys, 1862 – Swamp Spreadwing
  • CALOPTERYGIDAE – Broad-winged Damsels (4 species)
    • Calopteryx aequabilis Say, 1839 – River Jewelwing (SWL)
    • Calopteryx maculata (Beauvais, 1805) – Ebony Jewelwing
    • Hetaerina americana (Fabricius, 1798) – American Rubyspot
    • Hetaerina titia (Drury, 1773) – Smoky Rubyspot
  • COENAGRIONIDAE – Pond Damsels (33 species)
    • Amphiagrion saucium (Burmeister, 1839) – Eastern Red Damsel
    • Argia apicalis (Say, 1839) – Blue-fronted Dancer
    • Argia fumipennis (Burmeister, 1839) – Variable Dancer
    • Argia moesta (Hagen, 1861) – Powdered Dancer
    • Argia plana (Calvert, 1902) – Springwater Dancer (RWL)
    • Argia sedula (Hagen, 1861) – Blue-ringed Dancer
    • Argia tibialis (Rambur, 1842) – Blue-tipped Dancer
    • Argia translata Hagen in Selys, 1865 – Dusky Dancer (SWL)**
    • Chromagrion conditum (Selys, 1876) – Aurora Damsel (SWL)**
    • Coenagrion resolutum (Selys, 1876) – Taiga Bluet (S1)
    • Enallagma anna Williamson, 1900 – River Bluet
    • Enallagma antennatum (Say, 1839) – Rainbow Bluet
    • Enallagma aspersum (Hagen, 1861) – Azure Bluet
    • Enallagma basidens Calvert, 1902 – Double-striped Bluet
    • Enallagma boreale Selys, 1875 – Boreal Bluet (S1)
    • Enallagma carunculatum Morse, 1895 – Tule Bluet
    • Enallagma civile (Hagen, 1861) – Familiar Bluet
    • Enallagma divagans Selys, 1876 – Turquoise Bluet (S1)
    • Enallagma ebrium (Hagen, 1861) – Marsh Bluet
    • Enallagma exsulans (Hagen, 1861) – Stream Bluet
    • Enallagma geminatum Kellicott, 1895 – Skimming Bluet
    • Enallagma hageni (Walsh, 1863) – Hagen’s Bluet
    • Enallagma signatum (Hagen, 1861) – Orange Bluet
    • Enallagma traviatum Selys, 1876 – Slender Bluet
    • Enallagma vesperum Calvert, 1919 – Vesper Bluet
    • Ischnura hastata (Say, 1839) – Citrine Forktail
    • Ischnura kellicotti Williamson, 1898 – Lilypad Forktail (S1, SWL)
    • Ischnura posita (Hagen, 1861) – Fragile Forktail 
    • Ischnura ramburii (Selys, 1850) – Rambur’s Forktail (S1, SWL)
    • Ischnura verticalis (Say, 1839) – Eastern Forktail
    • Nehalennia gracilis Morse, 1895 – Sphagnum Sprite
    • Nehalennia irene (Hagen, 1861) – Sedge Sprite
    • Telebasis byersi Westfall, 1957 – Duckweed Firetail (S1, SWL)**

Suborder ANISOPTERA – Dragonflies (102 species)

  • AESHNIDAE – Darners (12 species)
    • Aeshna canadensis Walker, 1908 – Canada Darner (SGCN)
    • Aeshna clepsydra Say, 1839 – Mottled Darner**
    • Aeshna constricta Say, 1839 – Lance-tipped Darner
    • Aeshna umbrosa Walker, 1908 – Shadow Darner
    • Aeshna verticalis (Hagen, 1861) – Green-striped Darner (S1, SWL)
    • Anax junius (Drury, 1773) – Common Green Darner
    • Anax longipes Hagen, 1861 – Comet Darner
    • Basiaeshna janata (Say, 1839) – Springtime Darner
    • Boyeria vinosa (Say, 1839) – Fawn Darner
    • Epiaeschna heros (Fabricius, 1798) – Swamp Darner
    • Nasiaeschna pentacantha Selys in Förster, 1900 – Cyrano Darner
    • Rhionaeschna mutata (Hagen, 1861) – Spatterdock Darner (SGCN, RSGCN)
  • PETALURIDAE – Petaltails (1 species)
    • Tachopteryx thoreyi (Hagen in Selys, 1859) – Gray Petaltail (S1, SWL, RSGCN)
  • GOMPHIDAE – Clubtails (26 species)
    • Arigomphus cornutus (Tough, 1900) – Horned Clubtail (S1, SWL, RWL)**
    • Arigomphus furcifer (Hagen in Selys, 1878) – Lilypad Clubtail**
    • Arigomphus lentulus (Needham, 1902) – Stillwater Clubtail (S1, SWL)
    • Arigomphus maxwelli (Ferguson, 1950) – Bayou Clubtail (S1, SWL)**
    • Arigomphus submedianus (Williamson, 1914) – Jade Clubtail
    • Arigomphus villosipes (Selys, 1854) – Unicorn Clubtail
    • Dromogomphus spinosus (Selys, 1854) – Black-shouldered Spinyleg
    • Dromogomphus spoliatus (Selys, 1854) – Flag-tailed Spinyleg
    • Erpetogomphus designatus  Hagen in Selys, 1858 – Eastern Ringtail
    • Gomphurus externus (Hagen in Selys, 1858) – Plains Clubtail
    • Gomphurus fraternus (Say, 1839) – Midland Clubtail
    • Gomphurus hybridus (Williamson, 1902) – Cocoa Clubtail (S1, SWL)
    • Gomphurus vastus (Walsh, 1862) – Cobra Clubtail
    • Gomphurus ventricosus (Walsh, 1863) – Skillet Clubtail (SWL, RSGCN)**
    • Hagenius brevistylus Selys, 1854 – Dragonhunter
    • Ophiogomphus rupinsulensis (Walsh, 1862) – Rusty Snaketail
    • Phanogomphus exilis (Selys, 1854) – Lancet Clubtail
    • Phanogomphus graslinellus (Walsh, 1862) – Pronghorn Clubtail
    • Phanogomphus militaris (Hagen in Selys, 1858) – Sulphur-tipped Clubtail (S1)
    • Phanogomphus quadricolor (Walsh, 1863) – Rapids Clubtail**
    • Phanogomphus spicatus (Hagen in Selys, 1854) – Dusky Clubtail (SWL)
    • Progomphus obscurus (Rambur, 1842) – Common Sanddragon
    • Stylurus amnicola (Walsh, 1862) – Riverine Clubtail
    • Stylurus notatus (Rambur, 1842) – Elusive Clubtail (SGCN)
    • Stylurus plagiatus (Selys, 1854) – Russet-tipped Clubtail (RWL)
    • Stylurus spiniceps (Walsh, 1862) – Arrow Clubtail
  • CORDULEGASTRIDAE – Spiketails (4 species)
    • Cordulegaster bilineata (Carle, 1983) – Brown Spiketail (S1, SWL)**
    • Cordulegaster diastatops (Selys, 1854) – Delta-spotted Spiketail**
    • Cordulegaster erronea Hagen in Selys, 1878 – Tiger Spiketail (S1, SWL)**
    • Cordulegaster obliqua (Say, 1839) – Arrowhead Spiketail
  • MACROMIIDAE – Cruisers (5 species)
    • Didymops transversa (Say, 1839) – Stream Cruiser
    • Macromia alleghaniensis Williamson, 1909 – Allegheny River Cruiser (S1, SWL)
    • Macromia illinoiensis Walsh, 1862 – Swift River Cruiser
    • Macromia pacifica Hagen, 1861 – Gilded River Cruiser (S1)
    • Macromia taeniolata Rambur, 1842 – Royal River Cruiser
  • CORDULIIDAE – Emeralds (12 species)
    • Dorocordulia libera (Selys, 1871) – Racket-tailed Emerald (S1) 
    • Epitheca costalis (Selys, 1871) – Slender Baskettail
    • Epitheca cynosura (Say, 1839) – Common Baskettail
    • Epitheca princeps Hagen, 1861 – Prince Baskettail
    • Epitheca spinigera (Selys, 1871) – Spiny Baskettail**
    • Neurocordulia molesta (Walsh, 1863) – Smoky Shadowdragon
    • Neurocordulia obsoleta (Say, 1839) – Umber Shadowdragon**   
    • Neurocordulia xanthosoma (Williamson, 1908) – Orange Shadowdragon (S1, SWL)
    • Neurocordulia yamaskanensis (Provancher, 1875) – Stygian Shadowdragon (S1, SWL)**
    • Somatochlora hineana Williamson, 1931 – Hine’s Emerald (SE, SGCN, RSGCN)
    • Somatochlora linearis (Hagen, 1861) – Mocha Emerald
    • Somatochlora tenebrosa (Say, 1839) – Clamp-tipped Emerald**
  • LIBELLULIDAE – Skimmers (42 species)
    • Celithemis elisa (Hagen, 1861) – Calico Pennant
    • Celithemis eponina (Drury, 1773) – Halloween Pennant
    • Celithemis fasciata Kirby, 1889 – Banded Pennant
    • Celithemis verna Pritchard, 1935 – Double-ringed Pennant (S1, SWL)**
    • Dythemis fugax Hagen, 1861 – Checkered Setwing
    • Dythemis velox Hagen, 1861 – Swift Setwing
    • Erythemis simplicicollis (Say, 1839) – Eastern Pondhawk
    • Erythemis vesiculosa (Fabricius, 1775) – Great Pondhawk
    • Erythrodiplax minuscula (Rambur, 1842) – Little Blue Dragonlet**
    • Erythrodiplax umbrata (Linnaeus, 1758) – Band-winged Dragonlet
    • Ladona deplanata (Rambur, 1842) – Blue Corporal
    • Ladona julia (Uhler, 1857) – Chalk-fronted Corporal**
    • Leucorrhinia frigida Hagen, 1890 – Frosted Whiteface (S1, SWL)**
    • Leucorrhinia intacta (Hagen, 1861) – Dot-tailed Whiteface
    • Libellula auripennis Burmeister, 1839 – Golden-winged Skimmer
    • Libellula cyanea Fabricius, 1775 – Spangled Skimmer
    • Libellula flavida Rambur, 1842 – Yellow-sided Skimmer
    • Libellula incesta Hagen, 1861 – Slaty Skimmer
    • Libellula luctuosa Burmeister, 1839 – Widow Skimmer
    • Libellula pulchella Drury, 1773 – Twelve-spotted Skimmer
    • Libellula quadrimaculata Linnaeus, 1758 – Four-spotted Skimmer
    • Libellula semifasciata Burmeister, 1839 – Painted Skimmer
    • Libellula vibrans Fabricius, 1793 – Great Blue Skimmer
    • Nannothemis bella (Uhler, 1857) – Elfin Skimmer (SE, SGCN, RSGCN)
    • Pachydiplax longipennis (Burmeister, 1839) – Blue Dasher
    • Pantala flavescens (Fabricius, 1798) – Wandering Glider
    • Pantala hymenaea (Say, 1839) – Spot-winged Glider
    • Perithemis tenera (Say, 1839) – Eastern Amberwing
    • Plathemis lydia (Drury, 1773) – Common Whitetail
    • Sympetrum ambiguum (Rambur, 1842) – Blue-faced Meadowhawk
    • Sympetrum corruptum (Hagen, 1861) – Variegated Meadowhawk
    • Sympetrum costiferum (Hagen, 1861) – Saffron-winged Meadowhawk
    • Sympetrum danae (Sulzer, 1776) – Black Meadowhawk (S1, SWL)
    • Sympetrum internum Montgomery, 1943 – Cherry-faced Meadowhawk
    • Sympetrum obtrusum (Hagen, 1867) – White-faced Meadowhawk
    • Sympetrum rubicundulum (Say, 1839) – Ruby Meadowhawk
    • Sympetrum semicinctum (Say, 1839) – Band-winged Meadowhawk
    • Sympetrum vicinum (Hagen, 1861) – Autumn Meadowhawk
    • Tramea calverti (darwini) Muttkowski, 1910 – Striped Saddlebags
    • Tramea carolina (Linnaeus, 1763) – Carolina Saddlebags
    • Tramea lacerata Hagen, 1861 – Black Saddlebags
    • Tramea onusta Hagen, 1861 – Red Saddlebags