Dragonflies and Damselflies of Columbia County, Oregon

Dragonflies and Damselflies are of the Order Odonata. Dragonflies tend to be larger and thicker with wings that are held straight out, whereas damselflies are small and slender with wings held along the body.

Dragonflies (suborder Anisoptera)

Skimmers (family Libellulidae)

Our most common dragonflies, they have the greatest visual diversity. Many are small or medium in size.

Blue Dasher Pachydiplax longipennis dragonfly columbia county northwest oregon — **Blue Dasher (*Pachydiplax longipennis*)** – Females striped brown/yellow, males blue. Both have white face, slanted black/yellow stripes on thorax, and black abdomen tip. (photos © MaLisa Spring and Zach Kemp)

Western Pondhawk Erythemis collocata dragonfly columbia county northwest oregon — **Western Pondhawk (*Erythemis collocata*)** – Females green with black dorsal stripe. Males pale blue with green face. (photos © Patricia and Patricia)

Common Whitetail Plathemis lydia dragonfly columbia county northwest oregon — **Common Whitetail (*Plathemis lydia*)** – Females brown with triangular yellow marks and 3 spots on wing. Males chalky blue-white with one band on each wing. (photos © Richard Barnes and Steve Matthews)

Widow Skimmer Libellula luctuosa dragonfly columbia county northwest oregon — **Widow Skimmer (*Libellula luctuosa*)** – Female brown-black with yellow stripes, male pale blue. Both have large black patch at beginning of wing, males have white patch as well. (photos © Zach Kemp and Patricia)

Twelve-spotted Skimmer Libellula pulchella dragonfly columbia county northwest oregon — **Twelve-spotted Skimmer (*Libellula pulchella*)** – Female and immatures brown with long yellow stripe, mature males sometimes bluish. Three black spots on each wing, males also have 2-3 white spots. (photos © James Maughn and Carlos G Velazco-Macias)

**Eight-spotted Skimmer (*Libellula forensis*)** – Similar to Twelve-spotted Skimmer but without black spots on wingtips. Yellow stripe dashed. Some females also have the white spots. (photos © Don Loarie and Jim Johnson)

**Four-spotted Skimmer (*Libellula quadrimaculata*)** – Both sexes are brown to olive-brown with yellow stripe and dark tip. Leading edge of wing sometimes orange, has two small dark spots. (photos © Joyce Reddoch and Don Henise)

Flame Skimmer Libellula saturata columbia county northwest oregon — **Flame Skimmer (*Libellula saturata*)** – Females brown to reddish-brown, males brighter reddish-orange. Both sexes have amber on leading edge of wing and some veins, males also amber up to halfway up wing. (photos © James Bailey and dickwood)

Cardinal Meadowhawk Sympetrum illotum columbia county northwest oregon — **Cardinal Meadowhawk (*Sympetrum illotum*)** – Females reddish-tan. Males bright red including face. Both have red legs. Wings clouded reddish-brown, especially near base and leading edge. (photos © Jim Johnson and Cameron Eckert)

Autumn Meadowhawk Sympetrum vicinum dragonfly columbia county northwest oregon — **Autumn Meadowhawk (*Sympetrum vicinum*)** – Females light brown with greenish eyes and clear wings. Males red or brownish red. Both have light yellowish legs. (photos © Joe Bartok and smwhite)

Striped Meadowhawk Sympetrum pallipes columbia county northwest oregon — **Striped Meadowhawk (*Sympetrum pallipes*)** – Females olive to reddish-brown, males are red. Both have yellow stripes on top and side of thorax. (photos © Don Henise and Jim Johnson)

**Band-winged Meadowhawk (*Sympetrum semicinctum*)** – Females yellowish to reddish. Males red with rusty face, black markings on abdomen. Both have distinct amber patch on wing base. (photos © Joyce Reddoch and Jim Johnson)

Saffron-winged Meadowhawk Sympetrum costiferum cdragonfly columbia county northwest oregon — **Saffron-winged Meadowhawk (*Sympetrum costiferum*)** – Females saffron yellow, males red. Both have wings with saffron on leading edge, legs striped in black and yellow. (photos © Paul Reeves and Jim Johnson)

Red-veined Meadowhawk Sympetrum madidum dragonfly columbia county northwest oregon — **Red-veined Meadowhawk (*Sympetrum madidum*)** – Females tawny with yellow face, males reddish-brown. Both have similarly colored stripe on leading edge of wing, black legs. (photos © Jim Johnson and Jim Johnson)

**Varigated Meadowhawk (*Sympetrum corruptum*)** – Female orange markings on a light background, male patterned in brown and red. White spots low on abdomen. (photos © Zee Mazzacano and smwhite)

Spot-winged Glider Pantala hymenaea dragonfly columbia county northwest oregon — **Spot-winged Glider (*Pantala hymenaea*)** – Brownish with various patterns. Both sexes have clear wings with dark spot near base of hindwing. (photos © Anonymous ebirder and Mark Kluge)

Dot-tailed Whiteface Leucorrhinia intacta dragonfly columbia county northwest oregon — **Dot-tailed Whiteface (*Leucorrhinia intacta*)** – Mostly black with a white face. Females have yellow splotches on the abdomen, males have a single dot. (photos © Gordon Johnston and Ken Allison)

**Black Saddlebags (*Tramea lacerata*)** – Black body, light spot on top of abdomen. Large black “saddlebag” blotches on base of hind wings. (photos © Robert Simons and Cameron Eckert)

Darners (family Aeshnidae)

These are large, fast-flying dragonflies that you’ll usually see in the air. Eyes are noticeably large.

Shadow Darner Aeshna umbrosa dragonfly columbia county northwest oregon — **Shadow Darner (*Aeshna umbrosa*)** – Brown with narrow greenish diagonal lines on thorax and small blue spots on abdomen. Paired blue spots on bottom of abdomen. (photos © Zach Kemp and Zach Kemp)

Paddle-tailed Darner Aeshna palmata dragonfly columbia county northwest oregon — **Paddle-tailed Darner (*Aeshna palmata*)** – Black line on face. Straight thorax stripes yellow bellow, green/blue above. Larger blue spots. No paired spots on bottom of abdomen. (photos © Jim Johnson and Cameron Eckert)

Lance-tipped Darner Aeshna constricta dragonfly columbia county northwest oregon — **Lance-tipped Darner (*Aeshna constricta*)** – No black line on face. Thorax stripes have bend. Blue spots on body are relatively large. (photos © Chris Evans and Paul Reeves)

Common Green Darner Anax junius dragonfly columbia county northwest oregon — **Common Green Darner (*Anax junius*)** – Brown body and fully green thorax. Males blue on lower abdomen. (photos © Joe Bartok and Rick Nirschl)

California Darner Rhionaeschna californica dragonfly columbia county northwest oregon — **California Darner (*Rhionaeschna californica*)** – A smallish species. Blue eyes and spots, females can be more yellowish. More distinct black line across face than in Blue-eyed Darner. Upper appendages simple. (photos © Zach Kemp and Jim Johnson)

Blue-eyed Darner Rhionaeschna multicolor dragonfly columbia county northwest oregon — **Blue-eyed Darner (*Rhionaeschna multicolor*)** -Sky-blue face and markings, though females sometimes greenish-yellow. Pale brown facial line. Upper appendages strongly forked. (photos © Jim Johnson and Juan Miguel Artigas Azast)

Emeralds (family Corduliidae)

Named for their green eyes or metallic green thoraxes. Tend to be found in marshes, lake edges, or cool ponds.

Spiny Baskettail Epitheca spinigera columbia county northwest oregon — **Spiny Baskettail (*Epitheca spinigera*)** – Drab brown with yellow markings. Yellow face has a black “T”. Back of head is black. Cerci appendages are straight. (photos © Joe Bartok and Joe Bartok)

Beaverpond Baskettail Epitheca canis columbia county northwest oregon — **Beaverpond Baskettail (*Epitheca canis*)** – Black with yellow markings. Yellow face has black triangle. Back of head is yellow. Cerci appendages bent. (photos © Jimmy Dee and Jim Johnson)

American Emerald Cordulia shurtleffii dragonfly columbia county northwest oregon — **American Emerald (*Cordulia shurtleffii*)** – Metallic black-green with emerald eyes. Yellow ring on abdomen. Cerci appendages splayed. (photos © Zach Kemp and Joe Bartok)

Mountain Emerald Somatochlora semicircularis dragonfly columbia county northwest oregon — **Mountain Emerald (*Somatochlora semicircularis*)** – Black body, metallic olive thorax with two yellow spots. Cerci appendages point inward. Higher elevations. (photos © Jim Johnson and Jukka Jantunen)

Clubtails (family Gomphidae)

Have a widened end of the abdomen, especially visible in males. Unlike other dragonflies (but like damselflies), their eyes are often separated. Prefer clean, clear, fast-moving streams, thus development or logging near waterways is a problem.

Olive Clubtail Stylurus olivaceus columbia county northwest oregon clubtail dragonfly — **Olive Clubtail (*Stylurus olivaceus*)** – Black abdomen, grayish-green thorax, and large blue eyes. Lacks diagonal black stripes on thorax, unlike Pacific Clubtail. (photos © Zach Kemp and Jim Johnson)

Grappletail Octogomphus specularis dragonfly clubtail columbia county northwest oregon — **Grappletail (*Octogomphus specularis*)** – Abdomen black with fine yellow stripe above. Eyes dark greenish-gray on yellow face. Thorax yellow with black swath. (photos © Jim Johnson and Jim Johnson)

Pale Snaketail Ophiogomphus severus clubtail dragonfly columbia county northwest oregon — **Pale Snaketail (*Ophiogomphus severus*)** – Black and pale abdomen with narrow yellow triangles above. Thorax is green with small darker spots above. (photos © Zach Kemp and Nick Block)

Spiketails (family Cordulegastridae)

Named due to females, which have spiked ovipositor which they use to deposit eggs perpendicular to stream margins while flying vertically.

Pacific Spiketail Cordulegaster dorsalis dragonfly columbia county northwest oregon male — **Pacific Spiketail male (*Cordulegaster dorsalis*)** – Very large. Black with vivid yellow spots on abdomen and diagonal lines on thorax. Small eyes are blue. (photos © dkaralun and Zach Kemp)

Pacific Spiketail female Cordulegaster dorsalis dragonfly columbia county northwest oregon — **Pacific Spiketail female (*Cordulegaster dorsalis*)** – Females use their spike to lay eggs in clear shady forest streams, thus they are vulnerable to logging. (photo © dkaralun)

Petaltails (family Petaluridae)

These are the most ancient of all living dragonfly families. There is an Australian species that reaches 5 inches long, making it the largest living dragonfly.

Black Petaltail female Tanypteryx hageni dragonfly columbia county northwest oregon — **Black Petaltail female (*Tanypteryx hageni*)** – Black with distinct pale yellow marks. Dark eyes don’t touch. Oregon Conservation Strategy Species, in forested streams at moderate-to-high elevation. (photos © Matt Hunter)

Black Petaltail Tanypteryx hageni — **Black Petaltail male (*Tanypteryx hageni*)** – Larva live in burrows on streambanks, making it the only local dragonfly species that is not fully aquatic in the larval stage. (photos © Matt Hunter)

Damselflies (suborder Zygoptera)

Pond Damsels (family Coenagrionidae)

Our most commonly encountered damselfly family. Many are relatively small. Their larvae tend to require natural, non-polluted water bodies.

Pacific Forktail Ischnura cervula damselfly scappoose st. helens vernonia rainier clatskanie columbia county northwest oregon — **Pacific Forktail (*Ischnura cervula*)** – Mature females frosted blue thorax with black lines. Male thorax bluish-green on sides, black on top with tiny blue spots. Both have black abdomen with blue tip. (photo © Zach Kemp and dickwood)

Western Forktail Ischnura perparva st. helens scappoose rainier clatskanie vernonia oregon columbia county northwest pacific — **Western Forktail (*Ischnura perparva*)** – Mature females frosted blue throughout. Males have green or blue-green thorax with black stripes and greenish dots on head. Both have black abdomen with blue end (photo © Zach Kemp and Jim Johnson)

Swift Forktail Ischnura erratica st. helens scappoose rainier clatskanie vernonia oregon columbia county northwest pacific — **Swift Forktail (*Ischnura erratica*)** – Mature females black thorax with greenish-blue to green stripes. Males black with blue stripes. Head black with green facial stripe and blue spots on top. Both have black abdomen, sometimes with blue at end. (photo © Jim Johnson and Jim Johnson)

Tule Bluet Enallagma carunculatum damselfly scappoose st. helens vernonia rainier clatskanie columbia county northwest oregon — **Tule Bluet (*Enallagma carunculatum*)** – Females have blue/tan abdomen markings, lack blue tail. Male abdomen blue and black, on segments 3-7 black sections longer than blue. Thorax both blue with broad black stripe above, narrow stripe on sides. (photo © Jim Johnson and Don Henise)

Northern Bluet Enallagma annexum damselfly scappoose st. helens vernonia rainier clatskanie columbia county northwest oregon — **Northern Bluet (*Enallagma annexum*)** – Segments 3-7 in males are more blue than black. Females only have blue rings on each segment. Lateral black stripe on thorax has small jag near the front. (photo © Cameron Eckert and Cameron Eckert)

Boreal Bluet Enallagma boreale damselfly scappoose st. helens vernonia rainier clatskanie columbia county northwest oregon — **Boreal Bluet (*Enallagma boreale*)** – Identical in appearance to Northern Bluet. Can only be identified by examining the male appendages under a microscope. (photo © Jim Johnson and Cameron Eckert)

Vivid Dancer Argia vivida damselfly clatskanie st. helens scappoose vernonia rainier pacific northwest columbia county northwest oregon — **Vivid Dancer (*Argia vivida*)** – Female gray with black marks including triangles. Male bright blue with similar black mark. Can be purple when cool. Wide urn-shaped top stripe on thorax and thin pinched side stripe. (photo © Cameron Eckert and Zach Kemp)

Emma's Dancer Argia emma — **Emma’s Dancer (*Argia emma*)** – Female yellowish-tan with black marks, no triangles. Male lavender, rarely blue, with same black marks and blue tail. Straight narrow top stripe on thorax. (photo © Jim Johnson and Zach Kemp)

Western Red Damsel Amphiagrion abbreviatum damselfly vernonia columbia county scappoose st. helens clatskanie rainier northwest pacific oregon — **Western Red Damsel (*Amphiagrion abbreviatum*)** – Our only red damselfly. Females have tawny head/thorax, while in males it is black. (photo © Scott King and Zach Kemp)

Spread-winged Damselflies (family Lestidae)

Spreadwings are long and slender, unique in that they hold their wings at an angle rather than straight along the body like other damselfies.

Northern Spreadwing Lestes disjunctus damselfly vernonia scappoose rainier clatskanie st. helens oregon columbia county northwest pacific — **Northern Spreadwing (*Lestes disjunctus*)** – Female light brown, dark above. Thorax has thin light lights, yellowish below. Male dark green abdomen with cloudy end. Thorax with thin blue lines, cloudy blue below. Straight appendages. (photo © Susan Blayney and Joanne Redwood)

Lyre-tipped Spreadwing Lestes unguiculatus damselfly Rainier clatskanie scappoose st. helens vernonia northwest pacific columbia county oregon — **Lyre-tipped Spreadwing (*Lestes unguiculatus*)** – Male and female are both similar to Northern Spreadwing, but appendages on end of abdomen are a “lyre” shape. (photo © Mark Kluge and Chantel)

Spotted Spreadwing Lestes congener damselfly scappoose st. helens vernonia rainier clatskanie columbia county northwest oregon — **Spotted Spreadwing (*Lestes congener*)** – Both sexes brown with darker markings. Thin light brown stripe on thorax, light below with 4 dark marks underneath. Males have blue eyes and cloudy end of abdomen. (photo © Joe Bartok and Alain Maire)

California Spreadwing Archilestes californicus damselfly vernonia scappoose rainier clatskanie st. helens oregon columbia county northwest pacific — **California Spreadwing (*Archilestes californicus*)** – Females drab brown. Males brown with blue eyes and cloudy blue abdomen tip. Thorax has white stripes on sides. (photo © Jim Johnson and Jim Johnson)

Broad-winged Damselflies (family Calopterygidae)

Large, broad-winged damselflies, often metallic in color. Found in streams and rivers.

River Jewelwing female Calopteryx aequabilis oregon northwest pacific columbia county — **River Jewelwing female (*Calopteryx aequabilis*)** – Female dark green with smoky wings and a white tip. Larva live in root masses in swift portions of forest streams. (photo © Suzanne Labbé)

**River Jewelwing male (*Calopteryx aequabilis*)** – Male metallic green with the outer 1/3 of the wings black. Flutters and swoops around female in courtship flight. (photo © Jim Johnson)

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4 thoughts on “Dragonflies and Damselflies of Columbia County, Oregon”

earlleeconsultant says:

January 4, 2024 at 10:00 am

Thanks for the excellent website. I wish all counties had one like it. I live in Washington County. My search for Oregon dragonflies and damselflies brought me to it. I just watched David Attenborough’s excellent documentary “Dragons and Damsels’. It streams on Sling TV’s free stream. His series “Life in the Undergrowth” is also excellent.

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1. Jonathan says:
  
  January 4, 2024 at 11:39 pm
  
  Thanks! We’d love it if other places did copy what we did here, a big part of why we did all this was to inspire others.
  
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Matthew Johnson says:

February 5, 2024 at 2:13 pm

I appreciate the photos and classification information. I really wish there was something like this for all the aquatic macro-invertebrates in Oregon. Well Done!

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1. Jonathan says:
  
  February 6, 2024 at 9:05 pm
  
  Ha, I started a mayflies/stoneflies/caddisflies/lacewings page and it was WAY too much work. I was only 3 mayfly families in when I had to give up because there were too many other projects on my plate.
  
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