sizes: medium, lengths 23 - 50 mm
description: males are usually blue (or violet/purplish) & black;
perch with wings held well up and over back, sail-like;
leg hairs 2X as long as space between them;
4th leg joint has 2 rows stiff bristles;
eyes often a dark blue color but not black;
side stripe on thorax often pinched or split
females: 2 forms - most common is tan or gray where male is blue; other is like male;
no vulvar spine on segment 8
nymph: robust
behavior: flight `dance-like' (up & down); 'clap' wings when approached;
alight more frequently in open spaces on rocks &/or wood rather than on vegetation;
more likely at moving waters;
tandem oviposit with male in 'sentinel' position
eggs laid on surface mats of algae, floating vegetation or on wood

size: small/medium, length 30 - 40 mm

male: vivid blue & black markings; thorax top stripe has wide urn shape; side thoracic stripe pinched at mid-length; middle abdomen segment sides have small backwards pointing arrow-shaped/triangular black streaks; blue tip surrounds segments 8-10; when cool coloring becomes more purple; immatures - milky gray

female: tan/gray & black or male-like

habitat: seeps, streams; wanders

CA flight period: capable of flight whenever there is a prolonged warm spell

CA distribution: common statewide

CA distribution map

Southwestern distribution map

size: small, length 27 - 35 mm

male: brilliant sky-blue; thorax shoulder stripe variably forked (lower stripe can be only interrupted); blue and black abdomen with pale spots usually at side of black ring, blue "tail" segments 8-10; distance between lower appendages from above greater than width of individual appendages, no inward pointing lobe on appendages when viewed from above; dark wing veins and a stripe, not spot on side of seg. 2

female: less colorful, thicker bodied than male; usually tan and black, one form male-like

similar species: VERY similar to Aztec Dancer (see below):
use appendages to differentiate
California Dancer usually has a stripe on segment 2 while the Aztec has a spot;
wing vein color can be useful
Vivid Dancer is larger and has a richer blue, sometimes bluish-violet, color, dark triangles along side of abdomen

habitat: open rivers and streams

CA flight period: late February - late November

CA distribution: statewide

CA distribution map

Southwestern distribution map

size: small, length 27 - 35 mm

male: brilliant sky-blue; thorax shoulder stripe variably forked (lower stripe can be interrupted); (lower stripe can be interrupted); usually a spot, rather than a dash, on S2, S3-6 have a complete ring, S8-10 have a thin black line along bottom; distance between lower appendages from above less than width of individual appendages;
inward pointing lope on appendages when viewed from above; spot on segment 2 side (not stripe) distance between lower appendages from above less than width of individual appendages, inward pointing lobe on appendages when viewed from above; some brown veins in the wings

female: less colorful, thicker bodied than male; usually tan and black, another form male-like

similar species: VERY similar to California Dancer:
use appendages to differentiate
California Dancer usually has a stripe on segment 2 while the Aztec has a spot;
wing vein color can be useful
Vivid Dancer is larger and has a richer blue, sometimes bluish-violet, color, dark triangles along side of abdomen

habitat: open rivers and streams

CA flight period: April - November

CA distribution: sporadic statewide

CA distribution map

Southwestern distribution map

size: very small, length 27 - 32 mm

male: smaller and darker than most other dancers; dark thoracic side stripe prominent and forked; small eye-spots; abdomen mostly dark with thin contrasting blue or grayish purple rings not quite close at the top with streaks on the lower sides, middle segments black on top; immatures colored more purple; wings clear, dark veins

female: light brown/tan & black or male-like

similar species: abdomen similar to Blue-ringed Dancer, but not so distinctly marked or colorful

habitat: stream/pond arid areas

CA flight period: February - December

CA distribution: all desert areas

CA distribution map

Southwestern distribution map

size: small, length 30 - 34 mm

male: black abdomen has narrow blue rings separating sections, rings are closed at the top; blue "tail" 8-10 on top side only; thorax has wide dark side and top stripe; large eyespots; wings dark veined, sometimes amber tinged; use appendages to differentiate

female: always paler than male, showing olive-tan wherever male is blue; wings amber-tinged

similar species: abdomen similar to Paiute Dancer, but more distinctly marked,and more colorful

habitat: sunny sections of small/medium rivers

CA flight period: February - early December

CA distribution: southern Calif. and eastern desert areas

CA distribution map

Southwestern distribution map

size: small/medium, length 26 - 38 mm

male: blue or blue violet & black; pale thoracic side stripe wide and irregular in shape; dark side stripe forked; large eyespots; abdominal segments 3-6 unique with thin pale basal ring & then 3 alternating black-pale- black markings each of approximately the same width; wings clear, dark veins

female: tan where male is blue

habitat: streams & rivers, lakes

CA flight period: found once in state on May 30th

CA distribution: RARE: found once in CA, known from NV & AZ

CA distribution map

Southwestern distribution map

size: small/medium, length 34 - 40 mm

male: usually purplish but can be blue; thoracic side stripe pinched at middle, top stripe on thorax unique - very narrow & straight; abdomen lavender and black with no side triangles, blue 'tail' segments 8-10 can have short black vertical stripes sides of segments 8 & 9; wings have pale stigma; compare to other species by appendages

female: yellowish tan or more rarely male-like; top thoracic stripe very thin; pale stigma

similar species: Vivid Dancer has black triangles along side of abdomen, wide top thoracic stripe, can look 'purple' when cold, females are less 'yellowish' in coloration; Lavender Dancer (below) has split side thoracic stripe, wider top thoracic stripe.

behavior: males perch on rocks or logs jutting above rushing streams or on the nearby shoreline rocks, and sometimes vegetation

habitat: rocky streams, rivers (not likely at seeps)

CA flight period: March - October

CA distribution: all but southern Calif.

CA distribution map

Southwestern distribution map

size: small/medium length 30 - 35 mm

male: violet when mature; thoracic shoulder stripe forked; frontal stripe wide; mature males show lower half of thorax pruinose white; segment 8-10 form contrasting blue "tail" with black under 8 & 9 only; prefers shallow rocky stream areas; use appendages to differentiate

female: light brown; abdomen & thorax patterning similar to male; dark intrusions on pale tail tip

habitat: streams (even ephemeral)

CA flight period: May - October

CA distribution: southern Calif.

CA distribution map

Southwestern distribution map

size: medium, length 42 - 48 mm

male: large for a damselfly; unlike most Dancers, no blue near abdomen tip; thorax develops dark sooty blue pruinosity; noticeable pale ring around each segment, lacks blue 'tail'; eyes appear large because they lack obvious eyespots; wings can become slightly smoky, pale stigma; long-legged; immature patterned brown like female

female: thorax patterned blue or brown; pale rings abdomen

behavior: perches on rocks mid-stream

habitat: rocky streams, rivers

CA flight period: April - October

CA distribution: widespread

CA distribution map

Southwestern distribution map

size: medium, length 40 - 49 mm

male: large for a damselfly; develops chalky/powdery pale gray pruinosity with age, especially thorax; abdomen turns more solid pale gray on segments 8-10 (no blue 'tail'); use appendages to differentiate

female: coppery or sky blue thorax; older females sometimes become a bit pruinose

habitat: rocky rivers, windy lakes

CA flight period: April - November

CA distribution: southern Calif.

CA distribution map

Southwestern distribution map

description: males are usually bright blue & black patterned;
very similar in appearance to Dancers but flight not `dance-like';
wings are held folded down alongside the body, not sail-like over the back as in Dancers;
leg hairs not twice as long as space between them;
eyes often quite black on top unlike dancers which are more often a dark blue color;
the black line on side of thorax often makes a 'jag' or 'elbow' near the head;
females: several color forms: usually tan or gray where male is blue; sometimes colored male-like but usually with much less blue; have a vulvar spine on segment 8 which Dancers lack
behavior: fly low over the water & grasses along shore;
perch on vegetation with wings slightly drooping at abdomen side;
copulate in wheel position (looks more like a heart than a wheel!); can last up to 44 mins; males capable of removing sperm from female's prior matings before insemination; usually tandem oviposit, but sometimes females oviposit while single;
eggs laid at still water sites into plant tissue - usually this is floating vegetation, but females may submerge for up to an hour ovipositing;
males do not submerge with the female; can form swarms over water while ovipositing
nymph: slender, translucent, gray, brown or green; climb about on submerged vegetation along the edges of ponds; take more than 4 months to mature and about 30 mins. to transform into flying adults on emergent vegetation
habitat: still water with abundant vegetation

size: small, length 30 - 40 mm

male: third segment more than 50% blue; side stripe is undivided with a jag near the front; large blue eyespots; lower appendages longer than uppers; a darker NW Coastal form exists Identify to species by appendages shape using hand lens

female: blue on abdomen reduced to rings, or tan and black

similar species: Boreal Bluets are identical in the field; the 2 species often occur together across much of California; hybridization is known; separate to species in hand by appendages using 10X lens

habitat: cool still or slow water

CA flight period: March - early November

CA distribution: statewide

CA distribution map

Southwestern distribution map

size: small, length 30 - 40 mm

male: third segment more than 50% blue; side stripe is undivided with a jag near the front; large blue eyespots; lower appendages longer than uppers. Identify to species by appendages shape using hand lens

female: much less blue ( blue reduced to rings), or tan and black

similar species: Northern Bluets are identical in the field; the 2 species often occur together across much of California; hybridization is known; separate to species in hand by appendages using 10X lens

habitat: cool still or slow water; mostly found in mountains, not in central valley

CA flight period: end of March - end of September

CA distribution: all, more common in north

CA distribution map

Southwestern distribution map

size: small, length 30 - 40 mm

male: third segment more than 50% blue; side stripe is undivided with a jag near the front & sometimes appearing pinched (somewhat similar to a Dancer's); large blue eyespots; lower appendages only a little longer than uppers. Alkali has thin side stripe; found alkali water. Identify by appendages shape using hand lens

female: much less blue, or tan and black; entirely pale S8; rather thin humeral stripe

habitat: alkaline ponds and lakes

CA flight period: May - September

CA distribution: east of Sierra Nevada & Cascade Mts.

CA distribution map

Southwestern distribution map

size: very small, length 29 - 39 mm

male: small comma-shaped eyespots; abdominal markings more blue than black, third segment more than 50% blue; top thorax stripe dark; upper appendages longer than lowers, large and finlike with pale "button," appears splayed when seen from above; when seen from side 'tail end' appears triangular in shape; use appendages to differentiate

female: like male or tan and black

similar species: rarer River Bluet E. anna has upper appendages noticeably longer and forked, only occurs east of Sierra Nevada/Cascade Mts.
Northern, Boreal, & Alkali Bluets have lower appendages the longest; blue areas more angled than on E. civile;
Arroyo and Tule Bluet have 3rd segment more black than blue; use appendages to differentiate

behavior: Bluets fly low over water along shoreline; tandem oviposit on underwater plants floating at surface

habitat: still waters with fields nearby; also slow waters with abundant vegetation; even cattle tanks, and brackish waters; charactersitic species at disturbed areas; tolerates organic pollution

CA flight period: possibly all year in south

CA distribution: common statewide; especially common in Central Valley & so. CA lowlands

CA distribution map

Southwestern distribution map

size: medium, length 29 - 36 mm

male: middle abdominal segments about half-blue from above; usually has a black stripe along the side of S2; appendages slightly forked; uppers noticeably longer than lowers, with the top fork extending well beyond lower appendages and angled downward (without a pale button on end) - noticeable to the naked eye

female: pale areas blue or tan;uniformly black on the abdomen top

similar species: Arroyo, Tule and Familiar Bluet are similar (use CA key)
more common Arroyo Bluet E. praevarum usually averages smaller in size - per. comm. Dennis Paulson, 2010

habitat: slow streams, ditches

CA flight period: early May - September

CA distribution: east of Sierra Nevada & Cascade Mts.

CA distribution map

Southwestern distribution map

size: medium, length 27 - 34 mm

male: distinctive - middle abdominal segments about equally blue and dark from above; dark on abdominal segments forms spears which point towards the tail (other bluets' dark areas point towards head); segments 8 - 10 blue; large blue eyespots have a connecting blue line; upper appendages noticeably longer than lowers, noticeable to the naked eye; from above have inward facing 'hooks'; lower appendages held next to abdomen, appear to be 'missing'

female: pale areas blue or tan, often with greenish cast; patterning similar to male's

habitat: slow streams, pools of desert oases

CA flight period: Found once in the state on June 16 & 17

CA distribution: VERY RARE; found only ONCE; report & document all sightings; note: this record has been contested

CA distribution map

Southwestern distribution map

size: small, length 28 - 37 mm

male: 3rd segment more than 50% black; segments 3-7 more black than blue; segments 8 & 9 blue; thorax top stripe wide and dark; large pale button tip of upper appendages

female: pale areas blue or tan; no blue on tail

similar species: Arroyo Bluet has forked upper appendages

habitat: lakes, ponds, streams; especially with tules

CA flight period: January - December (possibly all year in the south)

CA distribution: common statewide

CA distribution map

Southwestern distribution map

size: small, length 29 - 37 mm

male: 3rd segment usually more than 50% black; each segment 3-7 50% less blue than the previous segment; segments 8 & 9 blue; thorax top stripe wide and dark; upper and lower appendages about the same length, upper appendages forked, top fork the longest

female: pale areas blue or tan; no blue on tail

similar species: compare to Tule Bluet by appendages;
rarer River Bluet E. anna is found east of Sierra Nevada and Cascade mts. & usually larger in size - per per. comm. Dennis Paulson, 2010

habitat: lakes, ponds, streams, pools of rivers

CA flight period: early March - end of December

CA distribution: widespread but often overlooked

CA distribution map

Southwestern distribution map

Double-striped Bluet Enallagma basidens

size: very small, very petite, length 21 - 28 mm

male: blue and black; blue eye spots connected; both top and side thoracic stripes `doubled' (thin blue line down middle of dark stripes); blue on end of 'tail' thin, appearing to contain small bluer circles; upper appendages longest and held in divergent position;

female: like male but can be pale where male is blue; has pale eye stripe

habitat: ponds, lakes, and ditches

distribution: southern species, rare in state;
found east of the Sierra Nevada and near Arizona border

flight period: end of March - October

CA distribution map

Southwestern distribution map >

size: very small, length 27 - 31 mm

male: mostly black above including segments 6&7: pale blue to turquoise markings; green tinged thorax; top pale stripe can be interrupted; tear-shaped eyespots middle abdomen segments mostly black, black markings on segment 2 are U-shaped; appendages unique (bottom of page)

female: turquoise, tan, or green; very large eyespots

habitat: slow waters in northern mountains; prefers still, shaded water

CA flight period: May - August

CA distribution: uncommon; northeastern mountains

CA distribution map

Southwestern distribution map

size: small/medium; length 30 - 35 mm

male: slender, forktail-like; black abdomen and thorax with blue markings; thorax top dark with a pair of turquoise exclamation marks (!!); blue on top of s1&2 and 3 tail-end segments 7-9: small dark stigma, large uniquely shaped eyespots - inner point faces inwards, while outer point faces forwards.

female: similar or brown, but blue on end of abdomen is only on 2 segments, part of segments 7 and 8; !! marks on top of thorax may be merged

similar species: larger than most similarly dark Forktail Ischnura species; Swift Forktail has continuous blue thoracic stripe, not !!; Pacific Forktail females can have !! but blue on abdomen end is different. use appendages to differentiate

behavior: often rests with wings held slightly open; eggs laid in leaf blades & stems

habitat: permanent pools of mud-banked streams and ponds

CA flight period: March - September

CA distribution: CA endemic; northern coastal and central valley counties

CA distribution map

Southwestern distribution map

size: small/medium, 30 - 35 mm

male: two blue stripes atop black thorax, blue on thorax sides is similar in shape to that of bluets with a dark intrusion at the rear; larger than most other forktails with bolder markings; lower appendages are noticeably longer than uppers, long enough to see thru binoculars; yellow under abdomen with thin yellow rings; dark abdomen has blue atop segments # 8 - 9; stigma bi-colored with pale at the rear; large eyespots

female: bright green thorax sides, eye spots, and underside; or colored like male; immatreus orange and black; abdomen top all dark

similar species: larger than other similarly dark Forktail species; continuous blue side stripe, not the !! of the similarly sized Exclamation Damsel; Western Forktails are much smaller and have a much more prominent blue line between the post-ocular eye spots; use appendages to differentiate

CA habitat: ponds, lakes, streams and creeks with lush vegetation, clear water

CA flight period: February - September

CA distribution: CA endemic; northern coastal and central valley counties

CA distribution map

Southwestern distribution map

size: very small, length 23 - 30 mm

male: abdomen black with blue "tail" markings that touch top & bottom; upright 'fork' at top end of tail; black thorax top has 4 tiny blue spots, 1 each "corner", thorax sides aqua-blue; use appendages to differentiate

female: immature shows stripes on top of thorax and pinkish-orange eyespot color; becomes all dark pruinose when mature; pale stigma; long hairs extend from prothorax toward the midline; abdomen tip pattern - 2 narrow blue rings bracketing segment 8; male-colored female male-like form usually has larger dots atop thorax than male; all forms under magnification show pencil hairs on the hind margin of the prothorax

similar species: Plains Forktail in AZ has much less of a 'fork'

nymph: tan or greenish

habitat: weedy ponds & creeks

CA flight period: all year in south (early date is usually Feb. in the north)

CA distribution: common statewide

CA distribution map

Southwestern distribution map

size: very small,frail; length 21 - 26 mm

male: thorax top all dark with no stripes or dots, sides blue (green in immature); small circular eyespots; blue patches on top & bottom segments 8-9 do not touch; chartreuse underside; stigma has white margin at rear; top appendages bent down.

female: immature - pale coral; mature green/blue thorax sides

similar species: the very rare San Francisco Forktail is the 'twin' to the Black Fronted (comparison photo), but has differently shaped appendages; lacks the white margin at the rear of the stigma: all 'Black-fronted' type forktails seen in the Bay Area that don't have white-margined stigma should be examined in hand. The two species have been known to hybridize. Compare in hand by appendages

habitat: lakes, ponds, seeps

CA flight period: all year in south (March is usual early date in north)

CA distribution: statewide except northern coastal area

CA distribution map

Southwestern distribution map

size: small, length 24 - 28 mm; wingspan ~28 mm

male: thorax top and abdomen dark; blue spots on segments 8 and 9; underside chartreuse; appendages up-pointing

female: cryptic brown, reddish, or male-like

similar species: very similar to Black-fronted Forktail, hence the Latin name `gemina' for twin; SF Forktail is slightly more robust; compare the two by appendages, appendages; SF Forktail lacks white margin at rear of stigma; eye spots back of head are more circular in shape than Western's or Pacific's; hybridization ocurring.

CA habitat: weedy ditches; often near salt water

CA flight period: March - early November

CA distribution: CA endemic; S.F. Bay Area ONLY; range shrinking; rare: currently only found SF Airport to Sonoma Co. line; PLEASE REPORT ALL SIGHTINGS

CA distribution map

Southwestern distribution map

size: very small, length 24 - 31 mm

male: thorax top has 2 blue-green (immature green) stripes, sides on segments 8 & 9 (usually) barely touch top and bottom; small eyespots point inward. lower appendages forked

female: immature orange & black with segments 1-3 mostly orange; becomes all pale pruinose at maturity

similar species:Mexican Forktail in AZ & so.NV are almost identical, but have pale tips to their 'forks' atop s10

habitat: weedy ponds, creeks

similar species: Swift Forktail is larger, has bi-colored stigma

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!

CA flight period: early March - early November

CA distribution: all Calif. except Imperial County

CA distribution map

Southwestern distribution map

size: very small, length 20 - 25 mm; smallest Odonate in North America

male: abdomen (even tip) mostly yellow above & below with some black; thoracic stripes green/yellow; forewing has a pale reddish-brown stigma that is NOT touching the leading edge; hind wing has (usual) dark stigma; tail end YELLOW with strong 'fork'

female: immature is orange & black with segments 1-4 mostly orange; mature is pale pruinose on abdomen but shows dark atop thorax

habitat: lushly vegetated marshes/ponds/streams

CA flight period: March - November

CA distribution: southern Calif.

California distribution map

Southwestern distribution map

size: small/medium, length 27 - 35 mm

male: green-blue shoulder stripe very thin, parallel sided; tiny circular eyespots; sides of thorax and segments 1-2 greenish-blue; yellowish-orange underside only of segments 3-6, black above; blue surrounds segment 8, part of 9, not top of 10; lower appendages point straight out

female: male-like or Day-Glo red/orange turning tan/olive, upper surface of the abdomen solid black, not orangish, wide black stripe thorax top

similar species: Desert Forktail has wider side stripe, larger tear-drop shaped eyespots and yellow from underside curls up onto top of abdomen - comparison shot Rambur's & Desert males ; see also this info from AZ

habitat: pond/lake/slow streams; probably increasing here in California, from which it was first recorded not many years ago. It does well in human-altered environments

CA flight period: all year

CA distribution: southern Calif.

CA distribution map

Southwestern distribution map

size: small/medium, length 27 - 35 mm

male: pale shoulder stripe thicker than Rambur's, widest near eyes; large tear-shaped eyespots connected by a line; pale orange on mid segments curves partly up & over the abdomen leaving the dark areas on top appearing dart shaped; blue surrounds all of segments 8 & 9; lower appendages point upward

female: like male or pale tan-orange; narrow top stripe

similar species: Rambur's Forktail has narrower side stripe, small circular shaped eyespots comparison shot Rambur's & Desert males ; see also this info from AZ

habitat: pond/lakes/slow streams

CA flight period: early March - November

CA distribution: southern Calif. & Colusa County (Bear Creek @ Sulfur Creek)

CA distribution map

Southwestern distribution map

size: very small, slender, length 25 - 30 mm

male: mostly dark with green; top of thorax and abdomen metallic green; middle segments at least 50% black from above; thorax top entirely metallic green, sides blue; abdomen blue in male, green for females; black areas whole length of abdomen; black spot rear of 2nd abdominal segment

CA habitat: slow waters: sedge marshes/bogs/lakes/ponds/streams/rivers

female: very similar to male

CA flight period: June - August

CA distribution: northern CA (Mt. Lassen area)

CA distribution map

Southwestern distribution map

size: very small, length 24 - 30 mm

male: stocky; hairy black head and thorax, brown eyes, black on top; bright red abdomen barely extends beyond wings; black top and/or sides segments 7-10; dark legs

female: stout; pale peach to reddish; thorax tawny; rare dark pruinose form exists

habitat: mountain lakes, marshes, slow streams

CA flight period: April - September

CA distribution: most areas

CA distribution map

Southwestern distribution map

size: very small, length 24 - 29 mm

male: dainty and slender; all red abdomen extends well beyond wing tips; red face and eyes; black eye spots; thorax red with black; red legs; tip of abdomen without black

female: some black thorax top; eggs laid in algae mats

habitat: shallow waters with algae scum; lowlands (not just in deserts)

behavior: flies in the afternoon, often seen on algae mats

CA flight period: March - December

CA distribution: all but far northern Calif.

CA distribution map

Southwestern distribution map

Family: SPREADWINGS - Lestidae

size: small/medium, slender, length 34 - 40 mm

male: blue eyes; thorax dark with light brown 'shoulder' stripe; first and last two abdominal segments pruinose gray-blue; other segments are dark or with a green sheen; short lower appendages <50% of uppers; 4 dark spots thorax underside; dark brown stigma

female: more stout; less colorful; 4 dark spots thorax underside;

habitat: weedy ponds, streams

CA flight period: May - December

CA distribution: common statewide

CA distribution map

Southwestern distribution map

size: small/medium, slender, length 30 - 40 mm

male: blue eyes; thorax becomes pruinose pale blue; first two and last three abdominal segment become pruinose gray-blue; other segments have dark/green sheen; lower appendages long & straight but may be held crossed or like a V (examine carefully with hand lens); black stigma;

female: more stout; much less pruinosity; ovipositor does NOT extend beyond end of abdomen

habitat: weedy ponds, streams

CA flight period: April - October

CA distribution: central & northern Calif.

CA distribution map

Southwestern distribution map

size: small/medium, slender, length 30 - 40 mm

male: blue eyes; thorax top dark; first & last two abdominal segments pruinose gray-blue; s8 not solidly pruinose (dark unpruinose wedge on S8);other segments are dark or have a green sheen; lower appendages lyre-shaped; dark brown stigma often has white at outer edges

female: more stout; less colorful

similar species: compare to Northern Spreadwing which occasionally crosses it's appendages, making them look lyre-shaped unless you check very carefully

habitat: weedy ponds, streams

CA flight period: June - September

CA distribution: northern hills and mountains

CA distribution map

Southwestern distribution map

size: small/medium, slender, length 35 - 42 mm

male: top of thorax black sometimes bronzy in immature, sides blue; abdomen has metallic green sheen, first two and only last two segments show pruinose blue; appendages are long and broad at the end ("boot-shaped"); stigmas tips pale; short and stocky appearance

female: more stout; more brown, sometimes coppery; emerges pinkish

similar species: Emerald Spreadwing has same appendage shape, but metallic emerald top to thorax (see below)

habitat: sloughs, ditches, ponds

CA flight period: March - late August

CA distribution: mostly northern Calif.

CA distribution map

Southwestern distribution map

size: small/medium, slender, length 32 - 40 mm

male: top of thorax bright metallic green (immature is bronzy); sides of thorax blue; abdomen bright metallic green; first two and last 2-3 segments show blue pruinosity; appendages are long and broad at the end ("boot-shaped")

female: stocky; usually less emerald; sometimes coppery

habitat: forested mountain areas

CA flight period: April - early October

CA distribution: hillsides statewide

CA distribution map

Southwestern distribution map

size: medium/large, slender, length 48- 58 mm

male: long brown body with pruinose area near tip; 2 incomplete white stripes thorax sides; blue eyes; wings colorless, stigma from above pale; upper appendages semicircular, lower are short and parallel; late season flier

female: less colorful brown tones

similar species: compare to Great Spreadwing which has a thoracic side stripe that is continuous across area

habitat: streams with alders/willows

CA flight period: June - December

CA distribution: sporadic statewide; not found east of the Sierra Nevada/Cascades

CA distribution map

Southwestern distribution map

size: medium/large, slender, length 50 - 62 mm; North America's largest damselfly

male: long abdomen gray with greenish sheen, pruinose area near tip; one continuous pale yellow side stripe on thorax (white in immature); blue eyes; dark stigma; top appendages semicircular, lowers divergent; North American's largest damselfly; late season flier

female: less colorful

similar species: compare to CA Spreadwing which has a thoracic side stripe that is not continuous across area and by appendages

habitat: streams with overhanging alders/willows/bay

CA flight period: March - January (late season flier)

CA distribution: very sporadic statewide; not found east of the Sierra Nevada/Cascades

CA distribution map

Southwestern distribution map

Family: BROAD-WINGED DAMSELS - Calopterygidae

size: medium/large, length 40 - 46 mm

male: wings ruby red basal 1/3 to 1/2; thorax dark with metallic red or blood red as if under black glass, pale side stripes; abdomen bronzy brown-green to red with thin pale rings; in CA usually no stigma, other states pale stigma; appendages have 1-2 toothed lobes

female: less colorful; wing streaks leading edge orange, less defined, tips mostly clear, can have tiny white stigma

similar species: like no other California damselfly; BUT in the southern part of CA and Merced County* compare to Canyon Rubyspot H. vulnerata* (see below) by appendages: vulnerata lacks tooth-like projection on inner side of upper appendages; wingtips are smoky *there is a questionable record for CA from this county

behavior: perches on rocks or logs in the middle of a stream; flicks wings to attract females;holds its wings closed and off to one side of the abdomen;
females may oviposit completely submerged

habitat: open streams, rivers

CA flight period: late February - December

CA distribution: common statewide

CA distribution map

Southwestern distribution map

size: medium/large, length 36 - 49 mm

male: red at wing base usually less extensive than American Rubyspot's; smoky edge/wing-tip; no stigma; compare by appendages American - upper appendages 1-2 toothlike lobes inside at midpoint; Canyon lacks these lobes

female: less colorful; wing patches orangish, no stigma, smoky wing tips

habitat: canopied streams, rivers

CA flight period: not known

CA distribution: *early dubious CA report, San Bernardino Co., but is known in adjacent AZ

NO CA distribution map

Southwestern distribution map

female: duller abdomen, pale tip; smoky wings have a contrasting pale stigma

behavior: perches on rocks or logs in the middle of a stream; butterfly-like courtship flights;
females sometimes oviposit totally submerged

habitat: fast waters of large wooded streams/rivers; larva live in root masses

CA flight period: early May - August

CA distribution: northern Calif.

CA distribution map

Southwestern distribution map