A dragonfly is a flying insect belonging to the infraorder Anisoptera below the order Odonata. About 3,000 extant species of dragonflies are known. Most are tropical, with fewer species in temperate regions. Loss of wetland habitat threatens dragonfly populations around the world. Adult dragonflies are characterized by a pair of large, multifaceted, compound eyes, two pairs of strong, transparent wings, sometimes with coloured patches, and an elongated body. Many dragonflies have brilliant iridescent or metallic colours produced by structural coloration, making them conspicuous in flight. An adult dragonfly's compound eyes have nearly 24,000 ommatidia each.
Damselflies are flying insects of the suborder Zygoptera in the order Odonata. They are similar to dragonflies but are smaller and have slimmer bodies. Most species fold the wings along the body when at rest, unlike dragonflies which hold the wings flat and away from the body. Damselflies have existed since the Jurassic, and are found on every continent except Antarctica.
The Gomphidae are a family of dragonflies commonly referred to as clubtails or club-tailed dragonflies. The family contains about 90 genera and 900 species found across North and South America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Africa. The name refers to the club-like widening of the end of the abdomen. However, this club is usually less pronounced in females and is entirely absent in some species.
The obelisk posture is a handstand-like position that some dragonflies and damselflies assume to prevent overheating on sunny days. The abdomen is raised until its tip points at the sun, minimizing the surface area exposed to solar radiation. When the sun is close to directly overhead, the vertical alignment of the insect's body suggests an obelisk.
Phanogomphus hodgesi, the Hodges' clubtail, is a species of clubtail in the family of dragonflies known as Gomphidae. It is found in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi along the gulf coast of the United States.
Gomphurus lynnae, the Columbia clubtail, is a species of clubtail dragonfly in the family Gomphidae. It is found in western North America, with most known populations in Columbia River tributaries.
Hylogomphus parvidens, the Piedmont clubtail, is a species of clubtail dragonflies in the family Gomphidae. It is found in the southeastern United States.
Sympetrum vicinum, the Yellow-Legged Meadowhawk is one of some fifteen North American species of autumn meadowhawk, which are members of the Odonate family Libellulidae. It grows to 26–35 mm long.
Arigomphus is a genus of dragonflies of the Gomphidae family. This group is commonly called the pond clubtails. The species are fairly plain and only the males have the club-shaped abdomen. Unlike other gomphids, they may emerge from artificial ponds.
Lanthus is a genus of club-tailed dragonflies found in North America, commonly called pygmy clubtails. They are found in Japan and North America. The species are clear winged with black bodies and yellow markings.
Gomphurus externus, the plains clubtail, is a species of dragonfly in the family Gomphidae.
Phanogomphus graslinellus is a species of dragonfly in the family Gomphidae. This species is commonly known as the pronghorn clubtail.
Sieboldius is a genus of dragonflies in the family Gomphidae. The genus occurs in Asia and is closely related to the dragonhunter of North America.
Stylogomphus is a genus of clubtails in the family Gomphidae. There are about 12 described species in Stylogomphus.
Stenogomphurus is a genus of clubtails in the family of dragonflies known as Gomphidae. There are at least two described species in Stenogomphurus, both found in North America.
Gomphurus is a genus of clubtails in the family of dragonflies known as Gomphidae. There are about 13 described species in Gomphurus.
Hylogomphus is a genus of clubtails in the family of dragonflies known as Gomphidae. There are about six described species in Hylogomphus.
Gomphurus gonzalezi, the Tamaulipan clubtail, is a species of clubtail in the family of dragonflies known as Gomphidae. It is found along the lower Rio Grande in the United States, and across the border into Mexico. It is known only in one state in the United States (Texas) and one state in Mexico.
Phanogomphus militaris, the sulphur-tipped clubtail, is a species of clubtail dragonfly in the family Gomphidae. It is found in central North America.
