Species Gomphus exilis - Lancet Clubtail

A member of the Sub-genus Phanogomphus, see here for discussion

length 43 mm

Abdomen has dorsal yellow stripe along full length. See Dunkle (1) for other marks. Most common eastern clubtail.

Male

In dorsal view, note the blue/gray eyes, brown thorax, yellow stripe on all segments (although weak on S8 & S10 in this male):

The only widespread eastern species with such a complete stripe. Abdomen narrow with only slightly expanded club on S8 & S9. In the terminalia, the dorsal, superior, appendages are lancet-shaped without a lateral angle. The ventral, inferior, appendages are wider than the dorsal and give the appearance of the dorsal appendages having a lateral flange.

In lateral view, note the brown thorax with a narrow dorsal stripe, 2 wide yellow lateral stripes, and a very thin yellow stripe between the upper lateral stripe and the dorsal stripe:

Note also the extensive yellow on the sides of S8 & S9 (= the weak club), and the yellow patches on the lower sides of all other abdominal appendages. The upper, superior, appendages of the terminalia are actually lancet-shaped without lateral or dorsal spikes but appear forked in the right appendage of this male. This ‘fork’ is actually the left ventral, inferior, appendage.

For males, the terminalia are the only consistent absolute diagnostic feature:

Female

Very similar to the other members in the Sub-genus; images in Guide. Nikula (2) comments "Safely identified only through examination of reproductive structures." Dunkle (1) comments "Female subgenital plate 1/5-1/4 as long as S9, V-notched halfway to its base." See photo of the diagnostic subgenital plate:

Eastern US and adjacent Canada; absent from Florida peninsula

Ponds bordered by marshes and lakes with sandy bottoms

March to September

Adults and larvae predatory on other insects

Larvae aquatic, predatory.