IowaOdes

Twelve-spotted Skimmer
One of the showiest and more common dragonflies and often one which is mentioned as the trigger species for piquing a person's interest

Widow Skimmer
A common summer dragonfly of all Iowa wetlands

Calico Pennant
More common to the north but adds some color to lakes and ponds throughout the state

Common Green Darner
Frequently found in swarms in late summer, some populations are migratory

Autumn Meadowhawk
Mating pair in a familiar wheel position

Lance-tipped Darner
Iowa is home to one of the more colorful darners

Cobra Clubtail
Many clubtails have wide, spatulate terminal segments which may be very colorful

Black Saddlebags
Often found patrolling for food in grasslands surrounding water

Common Whitetail
One of our longest flying dragonflies, it is one earliest to emerge each spring

Amber-winged Spreadwing
Found in wetlands around the state

Pale Snaketail
Furthest east records are from northwest Iowa

Westfall's Snaketail
One of the rarest Iowa dragonflies. Found only on the Boone River so far.

Enjoy the photos

of some of Iowa's odonates.

Dragonflies

A guide to dragonfly species seen in Iowa

Damselflies

A guide to damselfly species seen in Iowa

Checklists

For state, counties, other areas

Iowa Odonata Survey

Who we are and what we do

Conservation

What is happening in Iowa?

Resources

For the Iowa odonata lover

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Odonata of the Western Hemisphere

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