Odonata of North America

Coenagrionidae is a family of damselflies, also known as pond damselflies, in the order Odonata and the suborder Zygoptera. The Zygoptera are the damselflies, which although less known than the dragonflies, are no less common. More than 1,300 species are in this family, making it the largest damselfly family. The family Coenagrionidae has six subfamilies: Agriocnemidinae, Argiinae, Coenagrioninae, Ischnurinae, Leptobasinae, and Pseudagrioninae.

Calopterygidae is a family of damselflies, in the suborder Zygoptera. They are commonly known as the broad-winged damselflies, demoiselles, or jewelwings. These rather large damselflies have wingspans of 50–80 mm (compared to about 44 mm in the common bluetail damselfly, Ischnura elegans), are often metallic-coloured, and can be differentiated from other damselflies by the broader connection between the wings and the body, as opposed to the abrupt narrowing seen in other damselfly families. The family contains some 150 species.

Aeshnidae, also called aeshnids, hawkers, or darners, is a family of dragonflies, found nearly worldwide, with more than 50 genera and over 450 species.

species of insect

species of insect

The Lestidae are a rather small family of cosmopolitan, large-sized, slender damselflies, known commonly as the spreadwings or spread-winged damselflies.

species of insect

species of dragonfly

Libellula is a genus of dragonflies, called chasers (in English) or skimmers (in American), in the family Libellulidae. They are distributed throughout the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere. Many have showy wing patterns and bright bodies.

species of insect

species of insect

The petaltails, also called graybacks, of the family Petaluridae are among the most ancient of the extant true dragonflies (infraorder Anisoptera), having fossil members from as early as the Jurassic, over 150 million years ago. A 2024 molecular phylogeny found that the petaltails comprise two clades, a Gondwanan clade and a Laurasian clade. Their divergence time was estimated at 160 million years ago.

species of insect

Coenagrion is a genus of damselflies in the family Coenagrionidae, commonly called the Eurasian Bluets (although three species are found in North America: Coenagrion angulatum, Coenagrion interrogatum, and Coenagrion resolutum). Species of Coenagrion are generally medium-sized, brightly coloured damselflies.

Ischnura is a genus of damselflies known as forktails or bluetails in the family Coenagrionidae. The genus is distributed worldwide, including various oceanic islands. The males have a forked projection and blue segments at the tip of the abdomen which give the group their common names.

thumb|thumbtime=0|Enallagma cyathigerum|Common blue damselfly, genus Enallagma, family [[Coenagrionidae]]

species of insect

species of insect

Lestes is a genus of damselfly in the family Lestidae. The family hold their wings at about 45 degrees to the body when resting. This distinguishes them from most other species of damselflies which hold the wings along, and parallel to, the body when at rest.

species of insect

species of insect

species of insect

species of insect

species of insect

Macromia is a genus of large dragonflies in the family Macromiidae. Species of the genus Macromia are commonly known as river cruisers from their habit of cruising long distances along river banks. Most species occur in the tropical Australasian region, with one species being found in Europe (Macromia splendens), and a few species occurring in North America.

species of insect

Cannaphila is a small Neotropical genus of dragonflies in the family Libellulidae. They are commonly called narrow-winged skimmers. One species, C. insularis, occurs in North America. There are three species. ==Species== Species include: {| class="wikitable" |- ! Male!! Female !! Scientific name!! Common Name !! Distribution |- |120px || ||Cannaphila insularis ||gray-waisted skimmer || Texas south to Panama |- | || ||Cannaphila mortoni || || Panama, Costa Rica |- | ||||Cannaphila vibex || || widespread from Mexico to Argentina. |- |}

Brachymesia is a genus of dragonflies in the family Libellulidae. They are commonly known as tropical pennants.

species of insect

species of insect

species of insect

species of insect

species of insect

species of insect

species of insect

Erythrodiplax is a large Neotropical genus of dragonflies in the family Libellulidae. These small to medium-sized skimmers are commonly known as dragonlets.

species of insect

species of insect

species of insect

species of insect

common North American species of large dragonflies

species of insect

species of insect

species of insect

species of insect

species of insect

species of insect

species of insect

species of insect

species of insect

species of insect

species of insect

species of insect

species of insect

species of insect

Perithemis is a genus of dragonflies commonly known as amberwings. They are characterized by their small size and the amber wings of the male.

species of insect

species of insect

species of insect

species of insect