There are 20 species of dragonflies and 12
species of damselflies that have been identified by various people
over the years on Audubon Kern River Preserve property. Dragonflies
and damselflies as with most insects only fly when it is warm to
hot. Watching dragonflies is best when the temperature is almost
unbearable. Almost always near visible water some dragonflies and
damselflies may appear in very unlikely places. One species of
dragonfly has been seen on the preserve every month of the year...
the Variegated Meadowhawk. Enjoy a new hobby, watch the dragonflies
on the preserve.
Places to look. The Miller ditch (the irrigation
ditch at the first cattle guard at the entrance to the preserve) is
a good place to look for large dragonflies. The South Fork Kern
River bridge on Fay Ranch Road is a good place to see American
Rubyspots. The easement road is a good place to look for a variety
of dragons and damsels when it is flooded.
NOTE: There is no collecting, fishing, or hunting on the preserve. If you see any animal or plant on the preserve, please take
only pictures and memories. Do not disturb nesting birds. Do not go
off trail.
Dragonflies -
Anisoptera
status refers to species
frequency on the Kern River Preserve only
other names
Status: Common
blue darner,
Aeschna multicolor
Native
Status: Common
Size: Large
Length - 60-74 mm (2.5-3") Wing span - 86-100 mm Eye color - males: powder blue; females:
greenish brown Face color - male: powder blue with brown line
across face, female: facial line light brown Thorax color - male: broad uniform blue stripes on
black Abdomen color - male: mosaic of black, brown and light
blue; female: brown, black and green Stigma color - male: dark gray; female:
coffee Appendages - forked Markings - spots on segment 10 palest; female: bump under first
segment Habitat - lakes, ponds, slow streams, canals Behavior - patrols wet grasslands and ponds Flight period - March through December RANGE - British Columbia to Baja California all west
of Rockies, east to Illinois in narrowing band, also
occurs throughout Mexico and Central America
Length - 63-84 mm Wing span - 92-103mm Eye color - male: green, female: brown Face color - male: yellow-green,
Thorax color - male: solid green, female:
similar Abdomen color - male: light blue - wide
dark stripe on top, female: purplish brown with
green Stigma color - light tan Habitat - fields, ponds, canals Behavior - patrols wet grasslands and ponds;
oviposits in tandem Flight period - March through December Range - Canada from southern British Columbia
east to Nova Scotia, and throughout the entire U.S.
extending south into Mexico and Central America, migratory
Length - 46-55 mm Wing span - 61-70 mm Eye color - light blue gray Face color - male: white female: ivory Thorax color - pale
yellow-green with four
distinct brownish stripes,
"white
belt"; female similar but with no white belt Abdomen color - pale gray with dark rings,
golden clubbed tail (no club on female) Stigma color - dark brown
Behavior - hovers
over water while tapping
abdomen to the water surface Habitat - desert streams, creeks, rivers with
good sand load, saltbush scrub in sandy washes Flight period - April through October Range - northern Oregon east to Wyoming and
south to northern Baja California and Sonora,
Mexico. In all but far northern California
Pacific Spiketail
Cordulegaster dorsalis Native Status: Rare Size: large
Length - 70-85 mm Wing span - 86-105 mm Eye color - turquoise Face color - pale green Thorax color - dark
with twowide yellow stripes
on the top and sides Abdomen color - black with yellow spots on
segments 2-9 Stigma color - dark brown
Behavior - between flights hangs from perches
like mosaic darners. Habitat - wooded streams, creeks Flight period - May through October Range - found from British Columbia to
California to New Mexico to Montana.
Length - 52 - 63 mm Wing span - 68 - 88 mm Eye color - gray Face color - pale gray female:
pale face Thorax color - bluish-gray
with two brown
stripes Abdomen color - mostly black with 2 pale gray
spots above segments 2-6; narrow abdomen tapering
to club-shaped, segments 1-5 have smaller gray spots;
all previous spots fade with age; segment 7 has
large spots that do not fade Wing color - male: clear, female: wing tips
brown
Stigma color - male: brown Habitat - moving waters of rivers and streams Behavior - perches hanging, patrols
waterways;
females oviposit in rippled rivers Flight period - April - November Range - Valleys & foothills in California,
Southwestern U.S. and Great Plains.
Length - 39 - 42 mm Wing span - 60 - 65 mm Eye color -
male: deep blue eyes; female: green/reddish gray Face color - male: bright green face, female:
greenish white Thorax color -
male: pruinose blue; immature like female with
thorax last to turn blue; female: emerald green Abdomen color -
male: pruinose blue; female: green with top central
black stripe; green fades to yellowish distally Stigma color -
male: dark yellow stigma edged in black; immature: no dark patches/spots/bands on wings Appendages -
male: dark; female yellow Habitat - ponds, pools of creeks Behavior - low perches or or near aquatic
vegetation; may hold wings forward, but mostly flat; species
eats other dragonflies Flight period - February - October Range - southern British Columbia east to
Alberta, extending to southern California
Length - 49 - 51 mm Wing span - 77 - 80 mm Eye color - male: reddish black; female:
rusty gray Face color - male: rusty black;
female: 2 yellow spots on black background Thorax color - male: pruinose blue 2 oval
marks on side;
female: brown; straight yellow side stripe dashed Abdomen color - male: pruinose blue;
female: dark brown with dashed yellow side stripe Wing color - male: two irregular black spots
with two white patches next to the spots on forewing
and three white spots on each hind wing;
female: similar but color not as bright Stigma color - black Habitat - ponds, lakes, ditches Behavior - flies frequently Flight period - April - October Range - southern British Columbia east to
Montana, extending south to California (except in
So. Cal) east to Nebraska.
Length - 40 - 50 mm Wing span - 76 - 80 mm Eye color - reddish black Face color - male: black
female: pale yellow
or brown Thorax color - male: pruinose blue/black,
female: black and yellow Abdomen color - male: pruinose blue, female:
black and yellow Stigma color - dark Markings - wing color dark in center half and
clear or white outer half Habitat - ponds, lakes, marshes, river and
creek pools Behavior - active flier
by still water;
males combat regularly;
two or more males will
defend the same territory; femalestap abdomens
in water while
hovering near the surface Flight period - April - October Range - United States except
along the Rocky Mountain
swath.
Also found in northern Mexico and eastern Canada. In
California not found in the eastern part of the
state but the range is expanding.
Length - 40 - 48 mm Wing span - 65 - 75 mm Eye color - reddish black Face color - male: peachy tan female: tannish
coffee Thorax color - male: mature male is brown
with pruinose white on rear top;
female: brown with 2 white stripes with yellow spot
at base; immature like female Abdomen color - male: pruinose white;
female: brown on top with yellow-white and black
dashes on sides Wing color - male: 1/3 dark band bounded by
clear areas; dark strip on front of wings extend
from center; hindwing with small white patch behind
strip; female: 3 dark wing spots; Immature male like
female except tip of wings clear not brown Habitat - marshes and streams Behavior - perches vegetation or rocks
hanging over the edge of waterways Flight period - March - October Range - most of the U. S. except for
the Southwest desert
Length - 50 - 60 mm Wing span - 85 - 93 mm Eye color - red-orange Face color - male: red-orange female:
paler red-orange Thorax color - male: red-orange female:
paler red-orange with ivory streak on back Abdomen color - male: red-orange
female: paler red-orange Stigma color - male: red streak along
leading edge from center to orange stigma, red
veins; female: dark orange Wing color - male: reddish-orange inside
half, clear outer half with some red in veins;
female: leading edge orange relatively clear on rest
of wing Habitat - still and slow waterways Behavior - perches over water then dashes out
to grab insects Flight period - February - December Range - southwestern Idaho west and south to
southern California, throughout the southwestern
U.S., and east to Wyoming.
Length - 32 - 42 mm Wing span - 50 - 60 mm Eye color -
male: turquoise; female: red with green and black
below Face color - white with black "nose" Thorax color -
male: pruinose blue, striped blue and white thorax;
female: yellow and black Abdomen color -
male: pruinose blue tapering to black at tail;
female: yellow and black Stigma color - dark Wing color - clear with a patch of amber near
the body on the hind wing Habitat - slow streams and ponds Behavior - perches with wings held forward or
flat Flight period - March - November Range - southern British Columbia east to
Ontario, extending south through the U.S. from
southern California east to Florida and in the
Bahamas.
Length - 45 - 55 mm Wing span - 90 - 95 mm Eye color - male: red; female: tan/brown Face color - male: red; female: tan Thorax color - male: red or olive-brown;
female: tan/brown Abdomen color - male: intricate pattern of
red and black; female: tan/brown Stigma color - dark Wing color - male: rusty color on inner part
of otherwise clear wing; female: clear Habitat - rocky streams Behavior - perches on midstream rocks Flight period - February - early December Range - southwestern US from California to
Texas
Length - 44 - 51 mm Wing span - 81 - 91 mm Eye color - red Face color - yellowish Thorax color - bluish white Abdomen color - golden yellow-brown with dark
pattern along abdomen top Stigma color - golden Wing color - clear Habitat - open still waters (even temporary);
frequently found in yards Behavior - gliding flight; vagrant, migrant Flight period - March - December Range - worldwide
Length - 43 - 51 mm Wing span - 85 - 95 mm Eye color - reddish on top with bluish below Face color - male: red female:
yellow Thorax color - golden brown Abdomen color - golden with brownish spots
down central line from thorax to tail Stigma color - reddish Wing color - clear forewing, small basal spot
next to abdomen on otherwise clear hindwing Habitat - ponds, lakes,
river backwaters, yards, desert washes Behavior - continuous flier, seldom perch Flight period - March - October Range - Much of North America, also
Antilles, Central and South America, Galapagos.
Length - 34 - 43 mm Wing span - 60 - 66 mm Eye color - red fading to pink below with
dark spots Face color - light peach Thorax color - white stripes on a reddish
brown background, yellow spot at base of stripes Abdomen color - really variable,
red-gray-orange-golden-brown-white-black mosaic
pattern, white spots running from thorax to tail tip
at base of abdomen Stigma color - brownish Wing color - clear with reddish or orange
veins at leading edge Habitat - all slow water, desert washes Behavior - the most common dragonfly that
perches on sticks, trees, and anyplace it has a good
field of view Flight period - year round, migratory Range - British Columbia east to
Ontario, extending south through much of the U.S. to
Florida and west to southern California. Migrates to
Honduras in Central America. Also occurs in eastern
Asia.
Length - 31 - 40 mm Wing span - 52 - 60 mm Eye color - red Face color - male: red female: orange-red Thorax color - male: red with two white spots
at base, female: orange-red with two white spots at
base Abdomen color - male: red female: orange-red Stigma color - red Wing Color - 1/4 red toward center with
otherwise clear wing, veins on leading edge red Habitat - ponds, lakes Behavior - perches with wings often held down
and forward Flight period - March - early December Range - southern British Columbia down the
west coast of the U.S. all the way to Chile and
Argentina in South America
Length - 40 - 45 mm Wing span - 60 - 68 mm Eye color - male: female: Face color - male: dark red, female:
dull yellow Thorax color - male: red stripes female:
tawny Abdomen color - male: dark red, blackish
spots on top of segments 8-9, dark below, female:
tan Stigma color - dark red Leg color - black Markings - red wing “stripe” to dark red
stigma Habitat - ponds, marshes, lakes Behavior - perches with wings often held down
and forward Flight period - April - September Range - local in parts of Northwest
Territories of Canada east to Manitoba, extending
south into the U.S. to central California, Idaho,
and Montana.
Length - 28 - 36 mm Wing span - 45 - 55 mm Eye color - male: dark rusty red; female: red
over green Face color - male: dark rusty red; female:
light gold Thorax color - male: brownish red with 3
uneven black stripes; female: greenish-yellow with 3
uneven black stripes Abdomen color - black on segments 8-9; male:
vermilion over black female: gold over black Stigma color - deep blackish red Wing color - male: mostly clear with hind
wing having a rusty orange semicircle in the half
near the body; female: clear with small golden
patches near the body on the leading edge of the
wings Leg color - black Habitat - weedy ponds, lakes Behavior - perches low on vegetation Flight period - April - November Range - Central part of North America,
from coast to coast. In
California in the hilly and mountainous areas
Length - 34 - 38 mm Wing span - 56 - 62 mm Eye color - male: rusty red female: tangerine
red Face color - pale Thorax color - light stripes on top of
reddish brown thorax in males; female base color is
golden Abdomen color - male: red above black below;
female: golden above black below Stigma color - red Wing color - clear with one rusty or golden
vein, velvety spots at junction with thorax Habitat - ponds, lakes, grassland Behavior - tandem oviposit Flight period - April - November Range - British Columbia east to Alberta,
extending south into the U.S. to California except
southern California then east to Texas.
Length - 47 - 55 mm Wing span - 92 - 100 mm Eye color - burnished deep red Face color - deep golden Thorax color - velvety black-red Abdomen color - black with a reddish cast;
males have two yellow spots on top and females have
six yellow spots Stigma color - dark Wing color - clear with broad black saddle
mark in basal area with white veins on hind wing Habitat - small ponds, lakes and reservoirs
but can be found almost anywhere, usually in open
areas. Behavior - patrols extensively, tandem
oviposit; usually perch horizontally;
migratory Flight period - March - November Range - most of North America,
excluding the upper
midwest
Length - 40 - 46 mm Eye color - male: maroon; female: tawny Face color - male: maroon; female: ivory Thorax color - male: metallic red with creamy
colored striping; female: green metallic also with
creamy stripes Abdomen color - male: burnished deep maroon;
female: metallic green on top, tan below Stigma color - female: white Wing color - male: ruby red basal 1/3,
female: amber spot that is sometimes red Appendages - 1-2 toothed lobes Habitat - open streams, rivers Behavior - perches on rocks or logs in the
middle of a stream Flight period - late February - December Range - every state of the USA except
Washington and Idaho, also found in Mexico and
southeast Canada
Length - 34 - 40 mm Eye color - blue Face color - pale Thorax color - greenish gray with tan sides,
4 dark spots on underside Abdomen color - greenish gray with tan sides Stigma color - dark brown Appendages - lower short 1/2 size of upper
appendages Habitat - heavily vegetated ponds, streams Behavior - oviposits in tandem in vegetation
1-3 inches over water Flight period - May - December Range - British Columbia east to Nova Scotia,
and south to New Jersey, New Mexico, and California
Native Status: Uncommon Size: medium/large,
slender with short wings in proportion to the length
Length - 48- 58 mm Eye color - male: blue; female: brown Thorax color - brown with bluish stripes on
top, 2 incomplete side stripes Abdomen color - brown with the last two
segments pruinose blue end Stigma color - pale on clear wings Appendages - upper semicircular, lower short Habitat - slow streams with alders/willows Behavior - tandem oviposits in vegetation
that overhangs slow streams, perches on
vegetation with wings spread Flight period - June - December Range - south-central Washington south
to Baja California, Arizona, and New Mexico, and
east to western Idaho
Length - 24 - 30 mm Eye color - brown Face color - male: hairy black head Thorax color - male: hairy black thorax,
female: pale peach to reddish; thorax tawny Abdomen color - male: bright red abdomen that
barely extends beyond wings; black on top; 7-10
segments Habitat - mountain lakes, marshes, slow
streams Flight period - April - September Range - British Columbia east to Saskatchewan
and south to Oklahoma, Nevada, and California
Length - 24 - 29 mm Eye color - male: red with black spots,
female: Face color - male: red; female:
orange-red Thorax color - thorax red with black Abdomen color - male: red abdomen extends
well beyond wing tips, female: orange-red with black
on top Habitat - shallow algae covered water;
valleys; deserts; eggs laid in algae mats Flight period - March - December Range - Most of California to Texas as far
north as southern Kansas
Length - length 34 -
40 mm Eye color - male: lavender with black on top; female:
yellowish tan Face color - male: lavender to blue; female:
yellowish tan Thorax color - male: lavender to blue;
thoracic side stripe pinched at middle, top stripe
on thorax unique - very narrow & straight; female:
yellowish tan or more rarely male-like; top thoracic
stripe very thin Abdomen color - male: lavender and black with
no side triangles, blue 'tail' segments 8-10 can
have short black vertical stripes sides of segments
8 & 9 Stigma color - pale stigma Habitat - rocky streams, rivers Behavior - males perch on rocks or logs
jutting above rushing streams or on the nearby
shoreline rocks, and sometimes vegetation Flight period - March - October Range - eastern British Columbia and
Alberta south to Nebraska, Nevada, and California
except southern CA
Length - 30 - 40 mm Eye color - male: blue with large dark eye
spots; female: tan with large dark eye spots Face color - male: blue female: tan Thorax color -
male: blue & black ; top black stripe urn shaped; side stripe
tapers at rear Abdomen color - black & blue; black arrows on
side near front segments 3-5; segments 2-4 black
band at rear; segments 8-10 all blue; immatures -
whitish gray; females; tan & gray (sometimes colored
like male)
Stigma color - light brown Appendages - black Habitat - seeps, streams Behavior - wanders Flight period - year round - during any
prolonged warm spell Range - eastern British Columbia and Alberta
south to Texas, New Mexico, and Baja California
Length - 29 - 39 mm Eye color - small comma-shaped eyespots Face color - male: female: Thorax color - male: blue with black
shoulder stripe Abdomen color - more blue than black, most
black on segments 6-7; third segment more than 50%
blue; Segments 8-9 completely blue Stigma color - dark Appendages - upper longer than lowers; 'tail
end' appears triangular Habitat - still waters near ag fields;
vegetated ponds; brackish waters; found regularly in
disturbed areas; cattle troughs Behavior - flies low over water; tandem oviposit
on underwater vegetation Flight period - all year Range - statewide
Length - 29 - 37 mm Eye color - male: blue; female: tan Face color - male: blue; female: tan Thorax color - male: blue with top stripe
wide and black; female: tan / black Abdomen color - male: 3rd segment greater
than 50% black; segments 8 & 9 blue female: Stigma color - dark Appendages - upper forked; top fork longest Habitat - lakes, ponds, streams, pools of
rivers Flight period - early March - end of December Range - widespread
Length - 24 - 31 mm Eye color - small eyespots point inward Thorax color - male: top has 2 blue-green
(immature green) stripes Abdomen color - male: sides on segments 8 &
9(usually) barely touch top and bottom;
female: immature orange & black with segments 1-3
mostly orange; becomes all pale pruinose at maturity Appendages - lower forked Habitat - weedy ponds, creeks Behavior - females lay eggs solo; only mate
once, then curl their 'tail' down to signal when
approached by other males signaling that they are
not interested in sex Flight period - early March - early November Range - southern British Columbia east to
Manitoba and south to Texas and California except Imperial County
Length - 23 - 30 mm Eye color - female: pinkish-orange Face color - male: female: Thorax color -
nymph: tan or greenish;
male: 4 tiny blue spots in each corner on top of
black thorax; female: immature shows stripes on top Abdomen color - male: abdomen black with blue
"tail" markings that touch top & bottom;
long hairs extend from prothorax toward the midline;
abdomen tip pattern - 2 narrow blue rings bracketing
segment 8 Stigma color - pale Appendages - upright 'fork' Habitat - weedy ponds & streams Flight period - February to November Range - southern British Columbia east to
Alberta, and south to New Mexico and Baja California
Native Status: Uncommon Size: very small and
delicate
Length - 21 - 26 mm Eye color - small circular eyespots Face color - male: female: Thorax color - male: dark, blue sides,
female: immature - pale coral, mature female
greenish blue Abdomen color - male: blue patches on top and
lime below Stigma color - white margin at back Appendages - top bent down Habitat - lakes, ponds, seeps Behavior - lays eggs in tandem Flight period - March-November in our area Range - eastern Oregon east to Kansas
and south to Texas, Baja California, and Guatemala,
all of California except northern coast
REFERENCES
2003. Dragonflies and Damselflies of California.
Univ. of Calif. Press, Berkeley.
Abbott, J.C. 2007. OdonataCentral: An online resource for the
distribution and identification of Odonata. Texas Natural
Science Center, The University of Texas at Austin. Available
at
http://www.odonatacentral.org. (Accessed: October 13,
2010).
Biggs, K. 2006. Dragonflies of California: A Beginner's Pocket
Guide. Azalea Creek Publ., Sebastopol, CA.
The Kern River Preserve is managed by
Audubon California for the preservation of one of California’s
largest contiguous cottonwood-willow riparian forests and the
wildlife it supports.
Audubon Kern River Preserve supporters provide financial and volunteer support for Preserve outreach, education, wildlife habitat protection & stewardship.
