Dragonfly (Anisoptera) Guide

I'm updating this page in phases so that I can make things available as they are ready
 
Note: this page does not include all of the species known to occur in NB, only the species for which I currently have photos.   Many of these images have been altered (rotated, mirrored, etc.) to present them in a somewhat consistent manner to make it easier to compare individuals and so that they fill as much of the image as possible.
 
 
Darners (Aeshnidae) Click here to see closeups of Darner thorax patterns
 

Canada Darner

Lance-tipped Darner

Lake Darner

Variable Darner
 

Zigzag Darner

Subarctic Darner

Black-tipped Darner

Shadow Darner
 

Green-striped Darner

Springtime Darner

Harlequin Darner

Ocellated Darner
 

Common Green Darner
(mature male)

Common Green Darner
(immature male)

Common Green Darner
(female)
Mature male Common Green Darners have a blue abdomen while females have a pinkish abdomen.   Young males look similar to females at first but their abdomens eventually become blue
 
 
 
Clubtails (Gomphidae)
 
 
Spiketails (Cordulegastridae)
 

Delta-spotted Spiketail
(male)

Delta-spotted Spiketail
(female)

Twin-spotted Spiketail
(male)

Twin-spotted Spiketail
(female)
 
 
Cruisers (Macromiidae)
 

Stream Cruiser
(male)

Stream Cruiser
(female)

Swift River Cruiser
(male)

Swift River Cruiser
(male)
 
 
Emeralds (Corduliidae) Click here to see closeups of male Emerald Terminal Appendages
 

American Emerald
(male)

American Emerald
(female)

Racket-tailed Emerald
(male)

Racket-tailed Emerald
(female)
 
Baskettails (Epitheca)

Beaverpond Baskettail
(male)

Beaverpond Baskettail
(male)

Spiny Baskettail
(male)

Prince Baskettail
(male)
 
Shadowdragons (Neurocordulia)

Broad-tailed Shadowdragon
(teneral male)
Umber Shadowdragon
(no images at this time)
Stygian Shadowdragon
(no images at this time)
 
Striped Emeralds (Somatochlora)

Ringed Emerald
(male)

Quebec Emerald
(no images at this time)

Lake Emerald
(female)

Ski-tailed Emerald
(male)

Forcipate Emerald
(male)

Delicate Emerald
(male)

Incurvate Emerald
(male)

Kennedy's Emerald
(male)

Ocellated Emerald
(male)
Muskeg Emerald
(no images at this time)

Clamp-tipped Emerald
(male)

Brush-tipped Emerald
(male)

Williamson's Emerald
(male)
 
 
Skimmers (Libellulidae)
 

Calico Pennant
(male)

Chalk-fronted Corporal
(male)

Chalk-fronted Corporal
(older female)

Chalk-fronted Corporal
(younger female)
 

White Corporal
(male - similar to Common Whitetail but lacks black band at mid-wing)

Common Whitetail
(male)

Common Whitetail
(young male)

Common Whitetail
(female)
 

Four-spotted Skimmer
(sexes similar - can be much duller)

Slaty Skimmer
(male)

Twelve-spotted Skimmer
(male)

Twelve-spotted Skimmer
(female)
 

Elfin Skimmer
(mature male - young males are dark greyish blue)

Elfin Skimmer
(female)

Wandering Glider
(male - female similar but duller)
 
Whitefaces (Leucorrhinia)

Hudsonian Whiteface
(male)

Dot-tailed Whiteface
(male)

Belted Whiteface
(male)

Frosted Whiteface
(male)
 

Crimson-ringed Whiteface
(male)
 
Meadowhawks (Sympetrum)

Saffron-winged Meadowhawk
(male)

Saffron-winged Meadowhawk
(immature male, female looks similar)

Autumn Meadowhawk
(male)

Autumn Meadowhawk
(female)
The Saffron-winged Meadowhawk generally has yellow to very dark brown veins along the front of the wings in both males and females The Autumn Meadowhawk (formerly Yellow-legged Meadowhawk) is our only meadowhawk species that has no black on the legs.   Leg coloration ranges from nearly yellow to brown depending on age and sex, but never black
 

Cherry-faced Meadowhawk
(male)

White-faced Meadowhawk
(male)

White-faced Meadowhawk
(immature male, female looks similar)
The Cherry-faced, White-faced and Ruby (not shown) Meadowhawks are very similar in appearance.   Some White-faced Meadowhawks (mature males as well some females and younger males) can generally be identified with relative certainty due to their bright white faces; however, all other ages/sexes of these 3 species can only be reliably identified through carefull examination of the shape of the hamules of males (secondary genitalia located under abdominal segment 2) and examination of genital plates of females.   For the most part, the identification of these 3 species (except individuals with bright white faces) goes beyond the scope of this website at this time.
 

Band-winged Meadowhawk
(male)

Band-winged Meadowhawk
(mature female)

Black Meadowhawk
(male)

Black Meadowhawk
(female)
The Band-winged Meadowhawk is our only meadowhawk species that has a large amber patch at the base of all 4 wings which covers 1/3 to 1/2 of the wing surface in both males and females (other species may have a very small amber patch at the base of the wings) The Black Meadowhawk is different from our other meadowhawks because the males have no red on their body.   Females are generally darker than females of other species.