Striped Meadowhawk (Sympetrum pallipes) surveying its territory.

Striped Meadowhawk (Sympetrum pallipes) surveying its territory.

Both damselflies and dragonflies belong to the Order Odonata. Several characteristics can be used to determine if a “dragonfly” is actually a dragonfly and not a damselfly. A dragonfly is typically bigger than a slender damselfly. In addition, a dragonfly’s wings lie flat out from their body rather than together over the abdomen as in damselflies. Dragonflies have larger eyes that are close together. Damselflies have eyes that are smaller and widely separated.

In larval form the two are quite easy to tell apart. Damselflies have three broad leaf-like gills that resemble tails. Dragonflies lack these “tails” and are quite stout in shape.

Dragonflies belong to the suborder Anisoptera. British Columbia is home to 64 different species of dragonflies in this suborder. These species are represented in six families which are listed below.

The Family Petaluridae (Petaltails) consists of 1 species. The Family Aeshnidae (Darners) includes 2 genera Aeshna (Mosaic Darners) – 13 species and Anax (Green Darners) 1species.

The Family Gomphidae (Club Tails) includes 6 species in 4 genera – Ophiogomphus (Snaketails) – 3 species; Octogomphus (Grappletails) – 1 species; Gomphus (Common Clubtails) – 1 species; and Stylurus (Hanging Clubtails) – 1 species.

The Family Cordulegastridae (Spiketails) has one representative in BC as does the Family Macromiidae (Cruisers). The Family Corduliidae ( Emeralds) is a large group that consists of 16 species in 3 genera. It includes: Epitheca (Baskettails) – 2 species; Somatochlora (Striped Emeralds) – 13 species; and Cordulia (Common Emeralds) – 1 species.

The largest dragonfly family in BC is the Family Libellulidae (Skimmers). It contains 23 species in 5 genera including: Libellula (King Skimmers) – 5 species; Erythemis (Pondhawks) – 1 species; Pachydiplax (Blue Dasher) – 1 species; Sympetrum (Meadowhawks) – 10 species; and Leucorrhinia (Whitefaces) – 6 species.This family also contains two species in genera that are visitors to BC: Tramea (Saddlebag Gliders) – 1 species; and Pantala (Rainpool Gliders) – 1 species.