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Maryland's Dragonfly and Damselfly Species

The small, coastal state of Maryland boasts myriad lakes, rivers, streams and bogs. These aquatic environments host a wide variety of animal life, including dragonflies and damselflies. These creatures are among the most agile fliers in Maryland, eating smaller insects on the fly as they zip over weeds and water. They inhabit almost every part of the state that has a steady supply of fresh water.

Dragonflies
- Dragonflies belong to the order Odonata and the suborder Anisoptera. According to a list compiled by Mid-Atlantic Invertebrate Field Studies (MAIFS), entomologists have confirmed sightings of 122 dragonfly species in Maryland (including strays from neighboring regions, such as the flag-tailed spinyleg). Common names of Maryland dragonflies include clubtail, ringtail, pedaltail, darner, cruiser and skimmer.
Damselflies
- Like dragonflies, damselflies are slender insects with transparent wings, and belong to the order Odonata. They are also called jewelwings, spreadwings, dancers, bluets, forktails and sprites. Fifty-seven species inhabit Maryland, including members of the Calopterygidae, Lestidae and Coenagrionidae families within the suborder Zygoptera. As some of their common names suggest, many species flash with jewel-like colors, unlike their duller dragonfly cousins.
Common Species
- Common dragonfly species include the black-shouldered spinyleg (Dromogomphus spinosus), the lancet clubtail (Gomphus exilis), the shadow darner (Aeshna umbrosa), the stream cruiser (Didymops transversa) and the common baskettail (Tetragoneuria cynosura). These insects have a wide territory within Maryland; they live in almost every area that has adequate water and food. Common damselflies include the ebony jewelwing (Calopteryx maculata), slender spreadwing (Lestes rectangularis), blue-fronted dancer (Argia apicalis), skimming bluet (Enallagma geminatum) and citrine forktail (Ischnura hastata).
Dragonflies Vs. Damselflies
- Dragonflies have a stocky body that tapers or flattens at the end, and broad wings that they hold open when at rest. Dragonflies, by contrast, have slender, delicate bodies that often display bright metallic colors. They usually fold their wings when at rest, or else hold them at an angle. Dragonflies have large eyes that either join in the middle of the head, or have very little space between them. Damselflies have smaller eyes, with a space of one eye-width or greater between them.

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