More Information

This page presents the dragonflies found at Point Pleasant listed within families alphabetically by common name, but scientific names are included for those who are interested. Notes included here giving an idea of when, where and how easily they might be found at Point Pleasant are based on personal observations at the site. Clicking any of the linked names will take you to the Odonata Central information page for that particular species or if no information page exists, the Odonata Central photo page for that species.

Darner Family (Aeshnidae)

• Common Green Darner (Anax junius) -- commonly seen flying over prairie or wetland in search of food; can be seen feeding in large numbers in late summer/early fall likely preparing for migration or en route from elsewhere; depending on the time of day in late summer they may also be hanging on the vegetation along the edges of the trail and take off to fly over the prairie as you approach
• Shadow Darner (Aeshna umbrosa) -- as the name implies, most likely in late afternoon, early evening. I encountered only one in 2019 flying low along the mowed trail in early evening
• Swamp Darner (Epiaeschna heros) -- can be seen in numbers hunting near trees on east side of the preserve in June, perhaps into July

Clubtail Family (Gomphidae)

• Common Sanddragon (Progomphus obscurus) -- I saw two or three of these along the trail on the east side in July
• Pronghorn Clubtail (Phanogomphus graslinellus) -- I found only one of these in 2019 very near the parking lot
• Rusty Snaketail (Ophiogomphus rupinsulensis) -- abundant along the trail on the east side of the preserve in late June, early July

Cruiser Family (Macromiidae)

• Swift River Cruiser (Macromia illinoiensis) -- very common flying up and down the trail on the east side of the preserve in July and August
• There may be one or more other species of cruisers present at Point Pleasant. This is still being studied.

Emerald Family (Corduliidae)

• Mocha Emerald (Somatachlora linearis) -- most likely to be seen in solitary flight looping up and around grabbing prey items out of the air

Skimmer Family (Libellulidae)

• Black Saddlebags (Tramea lacerata) -- I did not see large numbers of these but they might be seen any time of the summer flying over the prairie in search of food; although skimmers, the saddlebags are "fliers" and hunt from the air
• Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) -- typically a very common dragonfly in our area, I did not see these in as large a number as I do most places; look for them perched along the trail on the east and and north sides of the prairie
• Blue-Faced Meadowhawk (Sympetrum ambiguum) -- in 2019 I saw only 2 blue-faced meadowhawks, both on the north side of the preserve nearer the wetlands in September
• Calico Pennant (Celithemis elisa) -- I saw only one of these in 2019 though they are likely reasonably abundant near the wetland
• Carolina Saddlebags (Tramea carolina) -- I saw only one of these in 2019 perched near the trees north of the trail on the north side of the prairie near the wetland
• Common Whitetail (Plathemis lydia) -- the most abundant dragonflies all along the trail as you leave the parking lot; you will see them taking off and flying short distances to perch again as you approach along the trail during much of the summer
• Eastern Amberwing (Perithemis tenera) -- I saw only a couple of these little skimmers perched in the tall grass near the wetland
• Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis) -- another dragonfly typically very common in our area but in smaller numbers at Point Pleasant during the summer of 2019 than I would have expected -- seen along the trail on the east side of the prairie
• Halloween Pennant (Celithemis eponina) -- look for these perched at the tips of tall grass or branches perhaps especiallly on the north and west sides of the prairie
• Painted Skimmer (Libellula semifasciata) -- I saw only one in 2019 perched on the end of a low tree branch near the signage overlooking the river on the east side of the prairie at the end of June
• Ruby Meadowhawk (Sympetrum rubicundulum) -- common in the wetland, late summer to early fall
• Twelve-spotted Skimmer (Libellula pulchella) -- can be seen all along the trail in June, July and August
• Variegated Meadowhawk (Sympetrum corruptum) -- I saw only one of these near a flooded area on the between the prairie and the agricultural fields on the west side of the preserve
• Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens) -- another flier in the skimmer family, these gold-colored dragonflies will most likely be seen hunting over the prairie or wetland; I was surprised to see them only at one point in the summer of 2019, hunting near the trail on the east side of the preserve
• Widow Skimmer (Libellula luctuosa) -- a fairly common species anywhere along the way but perhaps most numerous on the north side of the prairie