Dragonfly sp. - Lanthus vernalis - BugGuide.Net

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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Dragonflies and Damselflies (Odonata) » Dragonflies (Anisoptera) » Clubtails (Gomphidae) » Pygmy Clubtails (Lanthus) » Southern Pygmy Clubtail (Lanthus vernalis)

Photo#607173

Copyright © 2012 Ann and Rob Simpson

Dragonfly sp. - Lanthus vernalis

Shenandoah National Park, Big Meadows, Dark Hollow Falls Trail, Page County, Virginia, USA
June 26, 2005
Size: medium for a dragonfly

elevation about 3500 feet, dilute Canadian life zone, many unusual plants and animals in the associated wetland; if there is any unusual natural history we would love to hear about it.

Images of this individual: tag all

Dragonfly sp. - Lanthus vernalis

Dragonfly sp. - Lanthus vernalis

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Contributed by Ann and Rob Simpson on 14 January, 2012 - 5:23pm
Last updated 16 November, 2012 - 4:56pm

Moved

Moved from Pygmy Clubtails.

… Ben Coulter, 16 November, 2012 - 4:56pm

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Moved

Moved from ID Request.

… Ben Coulter, 19 January, 2012 - 5:58pm

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Lateral view

Do you have a side view? There are two species of pygmy-clubtail in North America, and they are most easily distinguished by the dark lateral thoracic stripes (1 for vernalis, 2 for parvulus). BTW-Please only put the county in the county field. Shenandoah National Park should be included in the city/location field.

… Ben Coulter, 17 January, 2012 - 8:10am

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Thanks Ben and Deedee

After you got me going in the right direction I think it is a Northern Clubtail, L. parvulus. It was very green on the top of the thorax vs the whitish yellow of a L. vernalis. I have not found the side shots but will post if they turn up. Thanks Ben and Deedee - Ann and Rob

… Ann and Rob Simpson, 19 January, 2012 - 5:38pm

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Both species are possible

Odonata Central has records of both species from Page County. L. parvulus reaches its southernmost occurrence at high elevations of the Appalachians. I'll move it to genus for now, as they species are not safely distinguished from a dorsal view alone. Thanks again. Please post a comment if you find additional photos, so the e-mail notification will let me know.

… Ben Coulter, 19 January, 2012 - 5:58pm

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Here is another view

I found another image with a bit more of a side view, think I see the fringe of a 2nd lateral line staring??? Is there enough for anyone familiar with the genus to id it? - thanks - Ann and Rob

… Ann and Rob Simpson, 16 November, 2012 - 4:44pm

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L. vernalis

I see what looks like one complete line, so probably Southern Pygmy (L. vernalis).

… Ben Coulter, 16 November, 2012 - 4:55pm

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Thanks Ben for the id. - Ann and Rob

Thanks Ben for the id. I think what I thought was a second line is just the edge of the abdomen - Ann and Rob

… Ann and Rob Simpson, 17 November, 2012 - 8:41am

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Southern Pygmy Clubtail?

See here.

… DeeDee, 14 January, 2012 - 9:54pm

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