CHECKLIST OF OKLAHOMA ODONATA (DRAGONFLIES AND DAMSELFLIES) (135 Species) -- 

Compiled by George H. Bick, Edited and prepared for the web by Roy J. Beckemeyer

 Last Updated 19 January 2004

Photograph of Archilestes grandis taken in Cimarron County, Oklahoma By Roy J. Beckemeyer.

Species have linked distribution maps that show counties of occurrence for Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Oklahoma.  Click HERE for info on Great Plains Odonata.

With  Data Sources, Notes, and Historical Records.

This list is based largely on data for Oklahoma species distribution that were compiled over a period of more than 40 years by George H. Bick. I am honored that Dr. Bick has allowed me the use of his data in constructing this checklist.  Please address changes and comments to the preparer: Roy J. Beckemeyer, 957 Perry Street, Wichita, KS 67203-3141, [Phone:(316)264-0049].

© George Bick & Roy J. Beckemeyer, 1998

ODONATA (ZYGOPTERA) -- DAMSELFLIES - 51 SPECIES

CALOPTERYGIDAE -- BROAD-WINGED DAMSELFLIES - 3 SPECIES

1. Calopteryx maculata (Beauvois, 1805) -- Ebony Jewelwing

2. Hetaerina americana (Fabricius, 1798) -- American Rubyspot

3. Hetaerina titia (Drury, 1773) -- Smoky Rubyspot

LESTIDAE -- SPREADWING DAMSELFLIES - 9 SPECIES

4. Archilestes grandis (Rambur, 1842) -- Great Spreadwing

5. Lestes alacer Hagen, 1861 -- Plateau Spreadwing

6. Lestes disjunctus australis Walker, 1952 -- Common Spreadwing

7. Lestes dryas Kirby, 1890 --Emerald Spreadwing

8. Lestes inaequalis Walsh, 1862 -- Elegant Spreadwing

9. Lestes rectangularis Say, 1839 -- Slender Spreadwing

10. Lestes sigma Calvert, 1901 -- Chalky Spreadwing

11. Lestes unguiculatus Hagen, 1861 -- Lyre-tipped Spreadwing

12. Lestes vigilax Hagen in Selys, 1862 -- Swamp Spreadwing

COENAGRIONIDAE -- POND DAMSELS - 39 SPECIES

13. Amphiagrion abbreviatum (Selys, 1876) -- Western Red Damsel

14. Argia alberta Kennedy, 1918 -- Paiute Dancer

15. Argia apicalis (Say, 1839) -- Blue-fronted Dancer

16. Argia bipunctulata (Hagen, 1861) -- Seepage Dancer

17. Argia fumipennis violacea (Hagen, 1861) -- Variable Dancer

18. Argia immunda (Hagen, 1861) -- Kiowa Dancer

19. Argia lugens (Hagen, 1861) -- Sooty Dancer

20. Argia moesta (Hagen, 1861) -- Powdered Dancer

21. Argia nahuana Calvert, 1902 -- Aztec Dancer

22. Argia plana Calvert, 1902 -- Springwater Dancer

23. Argia sedula (Hagen, 1861) -- Blue-ringed Dancer

24. Argia tibialis (Rambur, 1842) -- Blue-tipped Dancer

25. Argia translata Hagen in Selys, 1865 -- Dusky Dancer

26. Enallagma antennatum (Say, 1839) -- Rainbow Bluet

27. Enallagma aspersum (Hagen, 1861) -- Azure Bluet

28. Enallagma basidens Calvert, 1902 -- Double-striped Bluet

29. Enallagma carunculatum Morse, 1895 -- Tule Bluet

30. Enallagma civile (Hagen, 1861) -- Familiar Bluet

31. Enallagma daeckii (Calvert, 1903) -- Attenuated Bluet

32. Enallagma divagans Selys, 1876 -- Turquoise Bluet

33. Enallagma dubium Root, 1924 -- Burgandy Bluet

34. Enallagma exsulans (Hagen, 1861) -- Stream Bluet

35. Enallagma geminatum Kellicott, 1895 -- Skimming Bluet

36. Enallagma praevarum (Hagen, 1861) -- Arroyo Bluet

37. Enallagma signatum (Hagen, 1861) -- Orange Bluet

38. Enallagma traviatum westfalli Donnelly, 1964 -- Slender Bluet

39. Enallagma vesperum Calvert, 1919 -- Vesper Bluet

40. Ischnura barberi Currie, 1903 -- Desert Forktail

41. Ischnura damula Calvert, 1902 -- Plains Forktail

42. Ischnura demorsa (Hagen, 1861) -- Mexican Forktail

43. Ischnura denticollis (Burmeister, 1839) -- Black-fronted Forktail

44. Ischnura hastata (Say, 1839) -- Citrine Forktail

45. Ischnura kellicotti Williamson, 1898 --Lilypad Forktail

46. Ischnura perparva Selys, 1876 -- Western Forktail

47. Ischnura posita (Hagen, 1861) -- Fragile Forktail

48. Ischnura ramburii (Selys, 1850) -- Rambur's Forktail

49. Ischnura verticalis (Say, 1839) -- Eastern Forktail

50. Nehalennia integricollis Calvert, 1913 -- Southern Sprite

51. Telebasis salva (Hagen, 1861) -- Desert Firetail

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ODONATA (ANISOPTERA) -- DRAGONFLIES - 84 SPECIES

Note that maps are not available as of 31 March for Anisoptera (other than Petaluridae and Aeshnidae) in Oklahoma. Links will go instead to Kansas maps if there is one available. Maps will be added for all of the Anisoptera as I get to them.

PETALURIDAE -- PETALTAILS - 1 SPECIES

52. Tachopteryx thoreyi (Hagen in Selys, 1858) -- Gray Petaltail

AESHNIDAE -- DARNERS - 9 SPECIES

53. Aeshna multicolor Hagen, 1861 -- Blue-eyed Darner

54. Aeshna umbrosa Walker, 1908 -- Shadow Darner

55. Anax junius (Drury 1770) -- Common Green Darner

56. Anax longipes Hagen, 1861 -- Comet Darner

57. Basiaeshchna janata (Say, 1839) -- Springtime Darner

58. Boyeria vinosa (Say, 1839) -- Fawn Darner

59. Epiaeschna heros (Fabricius, 1798) -- Swamp Darner

60. Gynacantha nervosa Rambur, 1842 -- Twilight Darner

61. Nasiaeschna pentacantha (Rambur, 1842) -- Cyrano Darner

GOMPHIDAE -- CLUBTAILS - 16 SPECIES

62. Arigomphus lentulus (Needham, 1902) -- Stillwater Clubtail

63. Arigomphus submedianus (Williamson, 1914) -- Jade Clubtail

64. Dromogomphus spinosus Selys, 1854 -- Black-shouldered Spinyleg

65. Dromogomphus spoliatus (Hagen in Selys, 1858) -- Flag-tailed Spinyleg

66. Erpetogomphus designatus Hagen in Selys, 1858 -- Eastern Ringtail

67. Gomphus (Gomphurus) externus Hagen in Selys, 1858 -- Plains Clubtail

68. Gomphus (Gomphurus) ozarkensis Westfall, 1975 -- Ozark Clubtail

69. Gomphus (Gomphurus) vastus Walsh, 1862 -- Cobra Clubtail

70. Gomphus (Gomphus) graslinellus Walsh, 1862 -- Pronghorn Clubtail

71. Gomphus (Gomphus) militaris Hagen in Selys, 1858 -- Sulpher-tipped Clubtail

72. Gomphus (Gomphus) oklahomensis Pritchard, 1935 -- Oklahoma Clubtail

73. Hagenius brevistylus Selys, 1854 -- Dragonhunter

74. Phyllogomphoides stigmatus (Say, 1839) -- Four-striped Leaftail

75. Progomphus obscurus (Rambur, 1842) -- Common Sanddragon

76. Stylogomphus albistylus (Hagen in Selys, 1878) -- Least Clubtail

77. Stylurus plagiatus (Selys, 1854) -- Russett-tipped Clubtail

CORDULEGASTRIDAE -- SPIKETAILS - 1 SPECIES

78. Cordulegaster obliqua (Say, 1839) -- Arrowhead Spiketail

CORDULIIDAE (MACROMIINAE) -- CRUISERS - 4 SPECIES

79. Didymops transversa (Say, 1839) -- Stream Cruiser

80. Macromia illinoiensis Walsh, 1862 -- Illinois River Cruiser

81. Macromia pacifica Hagen, 1861 -- Gilded River Cruiser

82. Macromia taeniolata Rambur, 1842 -- Royal River Cruiser

CORDULIIDAE (CORDULIINAE) -- EMERALDS - 13 SPECIES

83. Epitheca (Tetragoneuria) costalis Muttkowski, 1911 -- Stripe-winged Baskettail

84. Epitheca (Tetragoneuria) cynosura (Say, 1839) -- Common Baskettail

85. Epitheca (Tetragoneuria) petechialis Muttkowski, 1911 -- Dot-winged Baskettail

86. Epitheca (Epicordula) princeps (Hagen, 1861) -- Prince Baskettail

87. Epitheca (Tetragoneuria) semiaquaea (Burmeister, 1839) -- Mantled Baskettail

88. Epitheca (Tetragoneuria) spinosa (Hagen in Selys, 1878) -- Robust Baskettail

89. Helocordulia uhleri (Selys, 1871) -- Uhler's Sundragon

90. Neurocordulia molesta (Walsh, 1863) -- Smoky Shadowdragon

91. Neurocordulia virginiensis Davis, 1927 -- Cinnamon Shadowdragon

92. Neurocordulia xanthosoma (Williamson, 1908) -- Orange Shadowdragon

93. Somatochlora linearis (Hagen, 1861) -- Mocha Emerald

94. Somatochlora ozarkensis Bird, 1933 -- Ozark Emerald

95. Somatochlora tenebrosa (Say, 1839) -- Clamp-tipped Emerald

LIBELLULIDAE -- SKIMMERS - 40 SPECIES

96. Brachymesia gravida (Calvert, 1890) -- Four-spotted Pennant

97. Brechmorhoga mendax (Hagen, 1861) -- Pale-faced Clubskimmer

98. Celithemis elisa (Hagen, 1861) -- Calico Pennant

99. Celithemis eponina (Drury, 1773) -- Halloween Pennant

100. Celithemis fasciata Kirby, 1889 -- Banded Pennant

101. Celithemis verna Pritchard, 1935 -- Double-ringed Pennant

102. Dythemis fugax Hagen, 1861 -- Checkered Setwing

103. Dythemis velox Hagen, 1861 -- Swift Setwing

104. Erythemis simplicicollis (Say, 1839) -- Eastern Pondhawk

105. Erythemis vesiculosa (Fabricius, 1775) -- Great Pondhawk

106. Erythrodiplax miniscula (Rambur, 1842) -- Little Blue Dragonlet

107. Erythrodiplax umbrata (Linnaeus, 1758) -- Band-winged Dragonlet

108. Ladona deplanata Rambur, 1842 -- Blue Corporal

109. Libellula auripennis Burmeister, 1839 -- Golden-winged Skimmer

110. Libellula comanche Calvert, 1907 -- Comanche Skimmer

111. Libellula croceipennis Selys, 1868 -- Neon Skimmer

112. Libellula cyanea Fabricius, 1775 -- Spangled Skimmer

113. Libellula flavida Rambur, 1842 -- Yellow-sided Skimmer

114. Libellula incesta Hagen, 1861 -- Slaty Skimmer

115. Libellula luctuosa Burmeister, 1839 -- Widow Skimmer

116. Libellula nodosticta Hagen, 1861 -- Hoary Skimmer

117. Libellula pulchella Drury, 1773 -- Twelve-spotted Skimmer

118. Libellula saturata Uhler, 1857 -- Flame Skimmer

119. Libellula semifasciata Burmeister, 1839 -- Painted Skimmer

120. Libellula vibrans Fabricius, 1798 -- Great Blue Skimmer

121 . Orthemis ferruginea (Fabricius, 1775) -- Roseate Skimmer

122. Pachydiplax longipennis (Burmeister, 1839) -- Blue Dasher

123. Pantala flavescens (Fabricius, 1798) -- Wandering Glider

124. Pantala hymenaea (Say, 1839) -- Spot-winged Glider

125. Perithemis tenera (Say, 1839) -- Eastern Amberwing

126. Plathemis lydia Drury, 1770 -- Common Whitetail

127. Plathemis subornata (Hagen, 1861) -- Desert Whitetail

128. Sympetrum ambiguum (Rambur, 1842) -- Blue-faced Meadowhawk

129. Sympetrum corruptum (Hagen, 1861) -- Variegated Meadowhawk

130. Sympetrum internum Montgomery, 1943 -- Cherry-faced Meadowhawk

131. Sympetrum occidentale fasciatum Walker, 1951 -- Western Meadowhawk

132. Sympetrum vicinum (Hagen, 1861) -- Yellow-legged Meadowhawk

133. Tramea carolina (Linnaeus, 1763) -- Carolina Saddlebags

134. Tramea lacerata Hagen, 1861 -- Black Saddlebags

135. Tramea onusta Hagen, 1861 -- Red-mantled Saddlebags

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PARTIAL SOURCE DATA: 

1. Abbott, J., 1996, New and interesting records from Texas and Oklahoma, Argia: The news journal of the Dragonfly Society of the Americas, 8(4):14-15
2. Beckemeyer, R.J., 1995, Some county records for Kansas and Oklahoma, Argia: The news journal of the Dragonfly Society of the Americas, 7(30;28-29
3. Bick, G.H., 1951, Notes on Oklahoma dragonflies, Journal of the Tennessee Academy of Science, 26(3):178-180
4. Bick, G.H., 1978, New state records of United States Odonata, Notulae Odonatologicae, 1(2):17-19
5. Bick, G.H., 1983, Odonata at risk in the conterminous United States and Canada, Odonatologica, 12(3):209-226
6. Bick, G.H., 1991, Oklahoma revisited: unpublished records, Argia: The news journal of the Dragofnly Society of America, 3(1):1-4
7. Bick, G.H., 1997, Personal communication: Transmittal letter dated Oct. 26, 1997 (G.H. Bick to R.J. Beckemeyer), Title Page: County Checklist of Oklahoma Odonata, plus pages 1-14 (Typewritten list with some pencil emendations added by Dr. Bick)
8. Bick, G.H., & J.C. Bick, 1957, The Odonata of Oklahoma, Southwestern Naturalist, 2(1):1-18
9. Bick, G.H., & J.C. Bick, 1958, The ecology of the Odonata at a small creek in southeastern Oklahoma, Journal of the Tennessee Academy of Science, 33(3):240-251
10. Bird, R.D., 1932, Dragonflies of Oklahoma, Publ. University Oklahoma Biological Survey, 4(2):51-57
11. Bird, R.D., 1933, Somatochlora ozarkensis, a new species from Oklahoma (Odonata, Cordulinae), University of Michigan, Occasional Paper s, Museum of Zoology, No. 261, 7 pp.
12. Donnelly, T.W., 1995, The Beatty-Donnelly southwestern expedition, 1954, Argia: The news journal of the Dragonfly Society of the Americas, 7(1):18-20
13. Louton, J.A., 1982, Lotic dragonfly (Anisoptera: Odonata) nymphs of the southeastern United Statees: identificatin, distribution and historical biogeography, PhD Thesis, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 357 pp.
14. Pritchard, A.E., 1936, Two new dragonflies from Oklahoma, University of Michigan, Occasional Paper s, Museum of Zoology, No. 319, 10 pp. + 1 plate
15. Pritchard, A.E., 1936, Notes on Somatochlora ozarkensis Bird (Odonata, Libellulidae, Corduliinae), Entomological News, xlvii: 99-101
16. Williamson, E.B., 1914, Dragonflies (Odonata) collected in Texas and Oklahoma, Entomological News, xxv: 411-415

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NOTES:

1. This list is arranged taxonomically by SUBORDER : FAMILY, then alphabetically by Genus: Species within each FAMILY. Entries include: Entry No. Genus species Author who described species (In parentheses if species is now assigned to a different genus than when described by author), Date described -- Common Name.
2. References used to update nomenclature include those used for Kansas Checklist:
   R.W. Garrison (1991, "A Synonomic List of the New World Odonata", Argia, 3(2):1-30);
   M.J. Westfall, Jr., & M.L. May, (1996, "Damselflies of North America", Scientific Publishers, Gainesville, FL);
   K.J. Tennessen, (1977, "Rediscovery of Epitheca costalis", Ann. Ent. Soc. Am., 70(2):267-273);
   K.J. Tennessen, (1995, Personal Communication regarding genus Epitheca);
   Dennis Paulson (1996, Personal Communication regarding nomenclature). Please note the following regarding the cited entries:
   • No. 13. I list Amphiagrion abbreviatum in the Oklahoma Checklist, and Amphiagrion species in the Kansas Checklist. Dr. Bick identified the Oklahoma Amphiagrion species as abbreviatum. The Kansas Amphiagrion sp. was identified by Huggins (1976) as distinct from A. saucium and A. abbreviatum, and therefore to be a new species. It remains to be described and named, and was not listed by Garrison. (The late Mrs. L.K. Gloyd studied Amphiagrion for many years. Rosser Garrison has told me that she had examined over 3000 specimens of the genus and was planning on describing the "mid-American" form (AZ to the Midwestern states) as A. mesonum. This name was in use as a manuscript name, and many workers during that time period therefore described Amphiagrion from the region as A. sp. Some workers today consider Amphiagrion abbreviatum as a species with gradual clinal variation from east to west. The problem remains to be closed. Thanks to Rosser Garrison (Personal Communication, Sept. 1995) for discussing the issue with me.) In their recent master work on the Zygoptera of North America, Westfall and May (1996) state: "There is evidence that populations from the midwest, southwest into Arizona, probably repesent a third species, but their status is as yet unclear. Amphiagrion not clearly assignable to either A. abbreviatum or A. saucium are known from: AZ, CO, IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, NE, NM, ND, OK, SD, WI."
   • No. 43. I have followed Garrison(1991) and Westfall & May (1996) by transferring Anomalagrion hastatum into the genus Ischnura as I. hastata (Say), 1839.
   • No. 79. Both Macromia illinoiensis and M. georgina were once listed as species occurring in Oklahoma. However, T.W. Donnelly and K.J. Tennessen recently declared M. georgina to be a subspecies of M. illinoiensis, and the Kansas and Oklahoma specimens they had inspected to be either intermediate forms (subspecies indeterminate) or of the subspecies M. I. georgina (1994, "Macromia illinoiensis and georgina: A Study of Their Variation and Apparent Subspecific Relationship (Odonata: Corduliidae)". Bull. of American Odonatology, 2(3):27-61). I have therefore listed only Macromia illinoiensis for Kansas and Oklahoma.
   • No. 82-87. I follow Tennessen (1995, Personal Communication) who recommends Walker's treatment (1966, "On the generic status of Tetragoneuria and Epicordulia) Can. Entomol., 98:897-902); that is, making both Epicordulia and Tetragoneuria subgenera of Epitheca.
   • No. 82. Garrison, following the advice of K.J. Tennessen, synonomized Tetragoneuria williamsoni with T. costalis I have followed this advice (Tennessen, Personal Communication, 1995) as well, assigning Dr. Bick's records of T. williamsoni to Epitheca costalis.
     
   • No. 84. While Paulson (1996, Personal Communication) and some other authorities consider Epitheca petechialis to be a synonym of Epitheca costalis, I follow the advice of Tennessen (1995, Personal Communication), and retain species status for E. petechialis pending further investigation.
3. Common names are from D.R. Paulson & S.W. Dunkle, 1996, "Common names of North American dragonflies and damselflies, adopted by the Dragonfly Society of the Americas", ARGIA, 8(2). Link to Internet Version of List

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HISTORICAL RECORDS:

This section remains to be completed as of March 31, 1998.

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