Havasu

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Dragonflies and Damselflies Havasu National Wildlife Refuge Dragonfly and damselfly at Havasu National Wildlife Refuge There are twenty-five dragonfly and damselfly species listed at the 37,515 acre Havasu National Wildlife Refuge, one of more than 540 refuges throughout the United States. These National Wildlife Refuges are administered by the Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. The Fish and Wildlife Service mission is to work with others “to conserve fish and wildlife and their habitat.” General Information Havasu National Wildlife Refuge encompasses 37,515 acres adjacent to the Colorado River. Topock Marsh, Topock Gorge, and the Havasu Wilderness constitute the three major portions of the refuge. Dragonflies, an important indicator of water quality, can be found on the refuge, primarily in Topock Marsh and Topock Gorge. Dragonflies can be viewed on the refuge year-round, with hot, sunny days providing some of the best viewing. Sixty-three dragonfly and damsel species have been identified in Mohave County, Arizona. Visitors are encouraged to contact refuge staff with a description or photograph, if an unlisted species is observed. Family Scientific Name Common Name Clubtails (Gomphidae) Erpetogomphus compositus White-belted Ringtail Stylurus plagiatus Russet-tipped Clubtail Darners (Aeschnidae) Anax junius Common Green Darner Rhionaeschna multicolor Blue-eyed Darner Skimmers (Libellulidae) Erythemis colocata Western Pondhawk Erythrodiplax basifusca Plateau Dragonlet Male blue-ringed dancer sedula © Dave Welling Photography Libellula luctuosa Widow Skimmer Tramea onusta Red Saddlebags L. pulchella Twelve-spotted Skimmer Pond Damsels–Dancers (Coenagrionidae) Argia moesta Powdered Dancer L. saturate Flame Skimmer Pachydiplax longipennis Blue Dasher Pantala flavescens Wandering Glider Pantala hymenaea Spot-winged Glider Perithemis intensa Mexican Amberwing Sympetrum corruptum Variegated Meadowhawk Sympetrum pallipes Striped Meadowhawk Sympetrum semicinctum Band-winged Meadowhawk Tramea calverti Striped Saddlebags Tramea lacerate Black Saddlebags Argia sedula Blue-ringed Dancer Enallagma civile Familiar Bluet Ischnura barberi Desert Forktail Ischnura hastate Citrine Forktail Ischnura ramburii Rambur’s Forktail This list provided by Kathy Biggs, published author of three dragonfly books, from her research on Dragonfly (Odonata) distribution in San Bernardino County, California; Mohave County, Arizona; and Clark County, Nevada. Dragonfly photographs are used with permission from Dave Welling, professional photographer. October 2012