This week I made three visits to Jackson Miles Abbott Wetland Refuge and I was excited to spot a male Russet-tipped Clubtail dragonfly (Stylurus plagiatus) during two of those trips. Some of you may recall that I spotted a female Russet-tipped Clubtail earlier this month, which I documented in a posting entitled “Russet-tipped Clubtail in August,” but my sightings this week were the first males that I have seen this season.
Some species of dragonflies are so widespread that I will see dozens or even hundreds of members of that species in a single day. Other species, like the Russet-tipped Clubtail, have such a low population density that I can walk about for several hours and consider myself lucky to spot a single one, even when I know that I am in an area where they can be found.
Russet-tipped Clubtails belong to the genus Stylurus, a group often referred to as “hanging clubtails” from their tendency to hang nearly vertically when they perch, as in the second photo below that I captured on Tuesday during a photowalk with fellow dragonfly enthusiast Walter Sanford. On rare occasions you can find one perched horizontally atop a leaf, as in the first image below that I captured yesterday.
If you compare these photos of the male Russet-tipped clubtails with those of the female in the previous posting, you will see many physical similarities, including the long, thin abdomen and the stunning green eyes. The most notable differences between the two genders are the much larger “clubtail” on the male and the different-shaped terminal appendages at the tip of the abdomen.
Many summer dragonfly species are still hanging on and several more late-summer/early autumn species should be emerging soon, so I hope to continue to include a healthy dose of dragonflies in my postings, along with more of the beautiful butterflies that seem to have had a summer resurgence.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
The photos are great, Mike, and I always appreciate the information you provide.
I suspect, Dan, that many viewers are getting an unexpected education on dragonflies by repeated exposure to a wider range of species than they might see on their own.
Excellent captures, Mike! Love that first image that shows all the different colors of this beauty. Glad to hear you are seeing more butterflies, too.
Super cool photos!
Perched vertically the Clubtail keeps looking up, just like I should at all times!! Thanks for the lovely reminder.
For some reason, Molly, your comment made me think of an old hymn that we used to sing that included the words, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus…”
Written by a lady who lived in the town where live now!
That is so cool to hear. I tend to think of it as “traditional,” but I was pleased to find that it is still being used in contemporary praise music, especially the chorus, like this version by Hillsong Worship. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jR7r0Br_HNs
It’s good to know that there are males around too, so there should be another good generation next year. Apart from the special eyes, I particularly like the boldly-striped thorax. The first one has had a rough time or two with (at least) one of his wings.
It’s definitely a good sigh, Gary. I worry about some of these low density populations and fear that a bad year could wipe them out from a particular locations. At this pond, for example, I used to see Banded Pennant dragonflies, but for reasons I cannot explain, I have not seen a single one there for the last two or three years. I too noticed the wing damage–it seems so common at this time of the year that I am a little surprised when I see a dragonfly with undamaged wings.