ANNOTATED CHECKUST OF KANSAS DRAGONFLIES

This list includes only those species for which one of the authors has seen an extant specimen. Some historical species for which material has been lost are thus not listed.

Entries are Comprised of: Genus species (Author), Date Species Was Described - Common Name (Ref. 22) / Abundance & Distribution / Probable Flight Dates / Habitat / [References, bold if ref. contains pictures]

Key to abbreviations: C = common; UC= uncommon; VC= very common; R = rare; SINC= Species in Need of Conservation; E = east; W = west; N = north; S = south; KS = Kansas

ODONATA (ANISOPTERA) - DRAGONFllES - 80 SPECIES

PETALURIDAE - PETALTAILS - 1 SPECIES
1. Tachopteryx thoreyi (Hagen in Selys) 1858 - Gray Petaltail / R. Listed as SINCin KS. One Record from Chautauqua Co. / June &July. / Nymphs in wooded hillside seeps. Adults in sunny openings. / [ 9, 14,20,21]

AESHNIDAE - DARNERS - 9 SPECIES
2. Aeshna constricta Say 1839 - Lance-tipped Darner / UC but statewide./ Sept. to Oct. Ponds, slow streams, open areas. Often flies at dusk. / [20, 21, 24]

3. Aeshna multicolor Hagen 1861 - Blue-eyed Darner / C, more numerous W but statewide. / May to Mid-Aug./ Often seen patrolling open fields. / [20, 21, 24]

4. Aeshna umbrosa Walker 1908 - Shadow Darner / C statewide. / Mid-Aug. to Mid-Oct. / Shaded places near small pools. / [14, 20, 21, 24]

5. Anax junius (Drury) 1770 - Common Green Darner / VC throughout state. / Late Apr. to Mid Oct. / Nearly all slow moving waters. Often in large numbers. Oviposit in tandem. [5, 9, 20 ,21 ,24]

6. Anax tongipes Hagen 1861 - Comet Darner / R. Recorded from Jefferson and Crawford Co's. / June to Early Sept. / Preference for fishless ponds. / [5, 9, 20, 21]

7. Basiaeshchna janata (Say) 1839 - Springtime Darner / C in SEKS./ Apr. to June. / Early season on streams & rivers. Often seen at dusk. / [14, 20, 21, 24]

8. Boyeria vinosa (Say) 1839 - Fawn Darner / R. Cherokee Co. in extreme SEKS./ May to Sept. / Large, shady streams & rivers. Flies at dusk. / [9, 14, 20, 21, 24]

9. Epiaeschna heros (Fabricius) 1798 - Swamp Darner / UC in E & SE./ May to Aug./ Shaded pools & slow streams. / [9, 20, 21, 24]

10. Nasiaeschna pentacantha (Rambur) 1842 - Cyrano Darner / C in E half of KS./ June &July / Streams & lake edges in wooded areas. / [9, 14, 20, 21, 24]

GOMPHIDAE - CLUBTAIlS - 18 SPECIES
11. Arigomphus lentulus (Needham) 1902 - Stillwater Clubtail / UC SE KS / June to July / Farm ponds and lakes. / [20, 21]

12. Arigomphus submedianus (Williamson) 1914 - Jade Clubtail / C in E half. / May to July / Lakes & ponds./ [20, 21]

13. Dromogomphus spinosus Selys 1854 - Black-shouldered Spinyleg / C in SE KS./ June to Sept. / Streams & rivers, sometimes lakes. /[9, 14, 18, 20, 21, 24]

14. Dromogomphus spoliatus (Hagen in Selys) 1858 - Flag-tailed Spinyleg / C in SE third. / June to Sept. / Ponds, lakes & sometimes slow streams. / [18, 20, 21]

15. Erpetogomphus designatus Hagen in Selys 1858 - Eastern Ringtail / C statewide but more numerous to S. / July to Aug./ Rivers and streams. / [18, 20, 21]

16. Gomphus (Gomphurus) externus Hagen in Selys 1858 - Plains Clubtail / C throughout. / June to Aug./ Rivers & streams with muddy bottoms. / [18, 20, 21, 24]

17. Gomphus (Gomphurus) ozarkensis Westfall 1975 - Ozark Clubtail / UC in SE corner: Chautauqua, Cherokee & Wilson Co's. / April to June / Ozark streams & Caney River./ [13, 27]

18. Gomphus (Gomphurus) vastus Walsh 1862 - Cobra Clubtail / UC in SE KS./ May to early Aug./ Large streams & rivers. / [18, 20, 21, 24]

19. Gomphus (Gomphus) graslinellus Walsh 1862 - Pronghorn Clubtail / C in E half. / May to July / Ponds, lakes, slow streams. / [18, 20, 21, 24]

20. Gomphus (Gomphus) militaris Hagen in Selys 1858 - Sulpher-tipped Clubtail / C across state. / June to July / Ponds. / [18, 20, 21]

21. Hagenius brevistylus Selys 1854 - Dragonhunter / UC extreme SE corner. / June to Sept. / Clear streams. Nymphs in leaf packs. / [9, 14, 20, 21, 24]

22. Ophiogomphus rupinsulensis (Walsh) 1862 - Rusty Snaketail / R Cherokee Co. / May to June / Clear streams. / [6, 20, 21, 24] [Cook & Daigle, 1985 (Ref. 6) determined that Missouri and Arkansas specimens previously assigned to O. rupinsulensis were a new species, O. westfalli. This could be true as well of the Kansas specimens, but there was insufficient material available to us at this time to make a definitive assessment given the slight differences between the species descriptions.

23. Ophiogomphus severus Hagen 1874 - Pale Snaketail / UC in extreme W tier of Co's. / July to Aug./ Rivers. / [20, 21, 24]

24. Progomphus obscurus (Rambur) 1842 - Common Sanddragon / C & widespread. June to Aug./ Sandy rivers and streams. / [5, 9, 18, 20, 21]

25. Stylogomphus albistylus (Hagen in Selys) 1878 - Least Clubtail / R. Cherokee Co. / June &July / Clear streams with shallow rapids. / [14, 20, 21, 24]

26. Stylurus amnicola (Walsh) 1862 - Riverine Clubtail / R in NE KS./ June to July / Medium sized sand-bottomed rivers. / [14, 18, 20, 21, 24]

27. Stylurus intricatus (Hagen) 1858 - Brimstone Clubtail / UC across KS./ June to Aug. / Sand/silt-bottomed, slow-moving rivers. / [18, 20, 21, 24]

28. Stylurus plagiatus (Selys) 1854 - Russett-tipped Clubtail / UC E half. / June to Aug. / Still areas of silt/sand-bottomed streams & rivers. / [9, 18, 20, 21, 24]

CORDULEGASTRIDAE - SPIKETAILS - 1 SPECIES
29. Cordulegaster obliqua (Say) 1839-Arrowhead Spiketail / R (elusive), Montgomery & Chautauqua Co's. / May to July / Small woodland streams & spring runs. / [9, 14, 18, 20, 21, 24]

CORDULIIDAE (MACROMIINAE) - CRUISERS - 4 SPECIES
30. Didymops transversa (Say) 1839 - Stream Cruiser / UC in E KS/ Apr. to July / Rivers and lakes / [5, 9, 20, 21, 26]

31. Macromia illinoiensis Walsh 1862 - Illinois River Cruiser / C in E KS/ May to Sept. / Rivers and creeks. / [5, 9, 14, 18, 20, 21, 26] [Donnelly & Tennessen, 1994 (Ref. 8) assigned M. georgina as a subspecies of illinoiensis.]

32. Macromia pacifica Hagen 1861- Gilded River Cruiser / UC in E half of KS/ July to Aug. / Creeks. / [18, 20, 21]

33. Macromia taeniolata Rambur 1842 - Royal River Cruiser / R. in E KS / May to Aug. / Rivers & lakes. / [9, 14, 20, 21]

CORDULIIDAE (CORDULIINAE) - EMERALDS - 9 SPECIES
34. Epitheca costalis Muttkowski 1911 - Stripe-winged Baskettail / UC E KS / Apr. to June / Ponds & lakes / [9, 20, 21]

35. Epitheca cynosura (Say) 1839 - Common Baskettail / UC statewide / Apr. to June / Lakes & ponds / [5, 9, 20, 21, 26]

36. Epitheca petechialis Muttkowski 1911- Dot-winged Baskettail / UC in W KS / Apr. to June / Lakes & ponds. / [18, 20, 21]

37. Epitheca princeps (Hagen) 1861 - Prince Baskettail / C & widespread in E 2/3 of KS / May to Aug. / Lentic habitats. Patrolling flights. / [5, 9, 20, 21. 26]

38. Neurocordulia molesta (Walsh) 1863 - Smoky Shadowdragon / UC in E 1/3 of KS / June to July I Large & medium-sized rivers. Crepuscular flier. / [20, 21]

39. Neurocordulia xanthosoma (Williamson) 1908 - Orange Shadowdragon / UC in E 1/3 of KS / June to Aug. / Streams & rivers. Crepuscular. / [18, 20, 21]

40. Somatochlora linearis (Hagen) 1861 - Mocha Emerald / UC in E 1/3 of KS / June to Aug./ Shaded streams. / [9, 14, 20, 21, 26]

41. Somatochlora ozarkensis Bird 1933 - Ozark Emerald / R. SINC in KS. Record from Woodson Co. is only one from outside Ozark Plateau. / June / Woodland streams. / [20, 21]

42. Somatochlora tenebrosa (Say) 1839 - Clamp-tipped Emerald / R. One site in Chautauqua Co. / July / Woodland spring run. / [5, 14, 20, 21, 26]

LIBELLULIDAE - SKIMMERS - 38 SPECIES
43. Brechmorhoga mendax (Hagen) 1861 - Pale-faced Clubskimmer / R. One record from Sedgwick Co. / May to June / Fly beats along rivers. / [20, 21]

44. Celithemis elisa (Hagen) 1861 - Calico Pennant / C in E KS / May to Sept. / Ponds. Red & brown with brown spotted wings. / [5, 9, 20, 21, 26]

45. Celithemis eponina (Drury) 1773 - Halloween Pennant / C statewide, more numerous in E / June - Sept. / Ponds, lakes. / [5, 9, 20, 21, 26]

46. Celithemis fasciata Kirby 1889 - Banded Pennant / UC in SE KS - Crawford & Woodson Co's. / June to Aug. / Ponds & lakes. / [9, 20, 21]

47. Celithemis verna Pritchard 1935 - Double-ringed Pennant / R in SE KS - One site in Crawford Co. / Apr. to Aug. / Ponds, lakes. / [9, 21]

48. Dythemis fugax Hagen 1861 - Checkered Setwing / UC in S tier of Co's. / June to Aug. / Sand bottomed rivers & ponds. / [20, 21]

49. Dythemis velox Hagen 1861 - Swift Setwing / UC in SE KS - Crawford Co. / June to Sept. / Ponds, lakes, slow streams. / [20, 21]

50. Erythemis simplicicollis (Say) 1839 - Eastern Pondhawk / VC statewide / May to Sept. / Nearly any still waters. / [5, 9, 14, 20, 21, 26]

51. Leucorrhinia intacta (Hagen) 1861 - Dot-tailed Whiteface / R. Cheyenne & Wallace Co's. in extreme NW KS / June / Spring-fed ponds. / [5, 20, 21, 26]

52. Libellula comanche Calvert 1907 - Comanche Skimmer / R. SW KS - Meade Co. / June to Aug / Rivers. / [20, 21]

53. Libellula composita (Hagen) 1873 - Bleached Skimmer / R. SW KS - Meade Co. / May to July / Rivers. / [20, 21]

54. Libellula cyanea Fabricius 1775 - Spangled Skimmer / UC SE corner of KS / May to Sept. / Ponds & Lakes. / [20, 21]

55. Libellula deplanata Rambur 1842 - Blue Corporal / R. SE corner of KS. One record in Cherokee Co. / Apr. to May / Ponds. / [20, 21]

56. Libellula flavida Rambur 1842 - Yellow-sided Skimmer / R. SE KS. One record from Chautauqua Co. / June to July / Wooded spring run. / [20, 21]

57. Libellula incesta Hagen 1861 - Slaty Skimmer / UC in SE KS / June to Aug. / Ponds. / [5, 9, 20, 21, 26]

58. Libellula luctuosa Burmeister 1839 - Widow Skimmer / VC statewide / June to Sept. / Nearly everywhere. / [14, 20, 21, 26]

59. Libellula Lydia Drury 1770 - Common Whitetail / VC statewide / Apr. to Oct. / Nearly everywhere. / [5, 9, 14, 20, 21, 26]

60. Libellula pulchella Drury 1773 - Twelve-spotted Skimmer / VC statewide / May to Sept. / Nearly everywhere. / [5, 20, 21, 26]

61. Libellula saturata Uhler 1857 - Flame Skimmer / R. One record from Morton Co. in SW KS / June to Aug. / Still water & pools of rivers. / [20, 21]

62. Libellula semifasciata Burmeister 1839 - Painted Skimmer / R. One record, Crawford Co., SE / Apr. to July / Ponds, slow streams. / [5, 9, 20, 21, 26]

63. Libellula subornata (Hagen) 1861 - Desert Whitetail / UC in W 1/2 of KS / June to July / Marshes & pools. / [20, 21]

64. Libellula vibrans Fabricius 1798 - Great Blue Skimmer / UC in SE KS / June to Aug. / River pools. / [9, 20, 21, 26]

65. Orthemis ferruginea (Fabricius) 1775 - Roseate Skimmer / R. One record in Osage Co. / June to July / Ponds, temporary pools. / [9, 20, 21]

66. Pachydiplax longipennis (Burmeister) 1839 - Blue Dasher / VC statewide / May to Sept. / Still waters. / [5, 9, 14, 20, 21, 26]

67. Pantala flavescens (Fabricius) 1798 - Wandering Glider / C statewide / June to Sept. / Open, still waters. / [5, 9, 14, 20, 21, 26]

68. Pantala hymenaea (Say) 1839 - Spot-winged Glider / C statewide/ May to Sept./ Open, still waters. / [9, 14, 20, 21, 26]

69. Perithemis tenera (Say) 1839 - Eastern Amberwing / C statewide / May to Sept. / Ponds, lakes, slow streams. / [5, 9, 20, 21, 26]

70. Sympetrum ambiguum (Rambur) 1842 - Blue-faced Meadowhawk / UC E 1/2 of KS / Late June to Oct. / Temporary & permanent ponds. / [9, 20, 21, 26]

71. Sympetrum corruptum (Hagen) 1861 -Variegated Meadowhawk / C statewide / Apr. to Oct. but most numerous in fall / Ponds. / [9, 14, 20, 21, 26]

72. Sympetrum costiferum (Hagen) 1861 - Saffron-winged Meadowhawk / UC across state, mostly N half / July to Oct. / Weedy ponds & marshes. / [20, 21, 26]

73. Sympetrum internum Montgomery 1943 - Cherry-faced Meadowhawk / UC across state, most numerous in N / July to Sept. / Weedy ponds. / [20, 21, 26]

74. Sympetrum obtrusum (Hagen) 1867 - White-faced Meadowhawk / UC in N 1/2 of KS / Aug. to Oct. / Ponds. / [14, 20, 21, 26] 

75. Sympetrum occidentale fasciatum Walker 1951 - Western Meadowhawk / C in W 3/4 of KS/ June to Oct./ Weedy ponds./ [20, 21]

76. Sympetrum rubicundulum (Say) 1839 - Ruby Meadowhawk / UC across state / July to Sept. / Ponds. / [5, 14, 20, 21, 26]

77. Sympetrum vicinum (Hagen) 1861 - Yellow-legged Meadowhawk / C across state / July to Oct. / Weedy ponds. / [5, 14, 20, 21, 26]

78. Tramea carolina (Linnaeus) 1763 - Carolina Saddlebags / UC in SE KS – Crawford Co. / May to Oct. / Le ntic waters, hawks in open areas. / [5, 9, 20, 21]

79. Tramea lacerata Hagen 1861 - Black Saddlebags / C statewide / June to Oct. / Lentic waters. / [9, 20, 21, 26]

80. Tramea onusta Hagen 1861 - Red-mantled Saddlebags / C across KS except NW corner / June to Sept. / Lentic waters. / [9, 20, 21, 26]