Odonata of Arizona

Interest in dragonfly watching and photography is growing across the country. Arizona is no exception, especially since dragonflies are an important indicator of water quality - a natural concern in the southwest. Although there are a number of Mexican species which reach the US borders here, there remains a great deal of work to do in inventorying the species found in the state as well as creating better definitions of their ranges and flight seasons.

A number of people have studied the odonates of Arizona over the years, but readily available information has been sparse to date. This web site is intended to be a simple photographic guide to the species recorded in the state. It is not intended to take the place of a good field guide or manual. However, we believe that within these pages you will find a superb collection of odonate photos, many not well known within the United States. Whenever possible we have included several shots of a species to help illustrate variances within a species or how specific markings vary when seen from different angles. Come back often as we continue to add information on Arizona dragonflies and damselflies.

Species Accounts

The order Odonata consists of the sub-orders Dragonflies (Anisoptera) and Damselflies (Zygoptera).

• Dragonflies have more robust bodies and the base of the hindwing is broader than the forewing. Although some dragonflies can be very small, in general they are larger than damselflies. At rest they hold their wings spread.  More…
• Damselflies have thin abdomens and are generally small.  Their wings are the same size and in most species are held together over their body when at rest. More…