Identification
Adult: face white or pale green with two horizontal black stripes - hence the common name, Mustached Clubtail; eyes green (or brown in young adults); thorax with broad U-shaped dorsal stripes, pale gray or greenish (or bright yellow in young adults); side of thorax pale gray with two oblique black lines, the anterior one usually broken in middle; abdomen black with small pale dorsal triangle at base of each segment except last three; second- and third-last abdominal segments black dorsally, sometimes with small lateral yellow or pale gray spots, especially in female - which may also have small yellow lateral spots on the other abdominal segments; abdomen of female thicker and with less swollen club than in male
Range
A cold-tolerant species found as far north as central Ontario and northern Nova Scotia. Lives in the northeastern United States (and as far west as Minnesota), and in the Appalachians as far south as North Carolina and Tennessee.
Habitat
Often perches on shrubs along banks of fast-flowing rivers. Also found beside lakes and ponds with rocky shores.
Season
Adults from May to August in Wisconsin.
Food
Adults prey on flying insects.
Larvae prey on aquatic invertebrates.
See Also
Spine-crowned Clubtail (
Gomphus abbreviatus) is yellow in places where the Mustached Clubtail is pale gray, and may be confused with a young adult Mustached Clubtail but in
G. abbreviatus the face is yellow, the eyes are gray, and the abdominal club has large yellow lateral spots (see images of
males and females by Jim Bangma)
Images on BugGuide
HERE and
HERE
Green-faced Clubtail (
Gomphus viridifrons) has only one horizontal black stripe on face (see
comparison photos by Dave Czaplak), and always has yellow lateral spots on abdomen.
Internet References
scanned adult images of male
dorsal and
lateral views (Roy Beckemeyer, Odonata Scanned Image Album, Kansas)
live adult images of bright yellow young male by Jim Bangma, plus photo of mature male by Allen Barlow, description, similar species, and other info (Dragonflies and Damselflies of New Jersey)
live adult images plus description and other info (Stephen Cresswell, Dragonflies and Damselflies of West Virginia)
live adult images and photos of related species (Dave Czaplak, Maryland)
live adult images of female and male from Ontario (Greg Lasley)
live adult image of male from Massachusetts (Glen Corbiere)
habitat and flight season plus description and other info (Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources)
Ontario distribution map showing location of records (NHIC; Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources)
