Types of Dragonflies

Understanding the different types of dragonflies helps the beginner enthusiast with dragonfly identification.

Dragonfly Resources The Aeshnoidea Aeshnidae - Darners Cordulegastridae - Spiketails Gomphidae - Clubtails Petaluridae - Petaltails The Libelluloidea Emeralds Libellulidae - Skimmers and more Macromiidae - Cruisers More Dragonfly Facts Dragonfly Pictures

Since there are over three hundred species of dragonflies in the United States, and many species are region specific, no introduction can claim to be comprehensive.

Purchasing a guide to dragonflies in your area will help fill in the blanks omitted here.

Dragonflies and damselflies are in the scientific order Odonata. Dragonflies are normally larger than damselflies and their wings lay flat like an airplane when they are at rest. Most damselflies at rest keep their wings closed against their body or a bit above the body. The exception would be spreadwing damselflies.

The types of dragonflies discussed here are based on the families in the dragonfly suborder, Anisoptera. Anisoptera consists of two different superfamilies, Aeshnoidea and Libelluloidea.

These two superfamilies are further broken down into seven smaller families, with families of dragonflies typically sharing similar physical characteristics.

Dragonfly identification begins by looking at the different parts of the insect, i.e., the face, the eyes, the thorax and the abdomen. By picking up on specific characteristics of the parts, it becomes easier to place a dragonfly into a specific family and then species.

The links in the box point to pictures and descriptive information about different dragonfly families and species.

© 2006. Patricia A. Michaels