Lancet Clubtail? - Gomphus

It's a Cypress (G. minutus)

In "Dragonflies of North America," the authors point out that the female Cypress has a concave occipital ridge (visible in the close-up image of the head), whereas Sandhill lacks this feature. Luckily, those should be the only two Phanogomphus possible in your area.

… Cliff Bernzweig, 21 November, 2006 - 6:10pm

moved

to subgenus

… Tony Thomas, 14 April, 2006 - 6:44am

I'm thinking not Lancet

Earlier this year a senior editor argued against posting anything >560px. However for certain groups, and this is one of them, 1000 px images are neccessary. An alternative would be to post an image of the thorax at 560 px and an image of the end of the abdomen at 560 px. For Odonates the front and back ends are often the most useful for ID purposes. Of course we still need a full-body shot but give us large thoraces at least.
I'm thinking this is Cypress Clubtail

… Tony Thomas, 2 April, 2006 - 6:13am

Thank you Tony

I searched the web for the Cypress to get a look since the guide doesn't have a photo yet. What I found does look pretty close to mine. I have added the best I could do for a thorax and tail. Maybe I'll get lucky and get a better photo.
Carla Finley
Venice, FL
http://community.webshots.com/user/CarlaFinley

… Carla Finley, 2 April, 2006 - 7:43am

Carla

Close-up shows it to be a female. On the thorax close-up note the thin yellow stripe between the 2 broad yellow stripes. In the female Lancet

, there is no stripe in this position, just one broad brown stripe.
Actually it is the thin yellow stripe below the lower broad yellow stipe in your female, I think I can just make it out. Trouble with diagnosing an image from memory!
Your female could be either Cypress or Sandhill

… Tony Thomas, 2 April, 2006 - 8:35am