This dragonfly was perched on the ground on Monday at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge when I spotted it. I knew immediately that it was either a Lancet Clubtail (Phanogomphus exilis) or an Ashy Clubtail (Phanogomphus lividus), but these two species are so similar in appearance that it is tough for me to tell them apart.
I checked my identification guides and realized that I had to look at the dragonfly more closely and get a bit more geeky. The abdomen (the “tail”) of dragonflies consists of ten segments traditionally numbered S1 through S10, starting from the point at which the thorax (the “chest”) meets the abdomen (S1) and going downward to the tip of the abdomen (S10).
The Dragonflies of Northern Virginia website notes that for Lancet Clubtails there is a “noticeable bright yellow flange on sides of S8 & S9 (male and female), while Ashy has almost no flange, and less bright yellow.” I knew about these differences, but couldn’t see them clearly enough when I was in the field.
The dragonfly was relatively cooperative and I was able to get a shot of it from almost directly overhead. The image is really cluttered, because of the vegetation, and artistically is not a great photo, but it does provide the kind of details that are helpful for identification.
In the image I saw what appear to be yellow flanges on the sides of S8 and S9 and I could clearly see the appendages at the tip of the abdomen, which helps me identify the gender of the dragonfly. These elements suggested to me that it was a female Lancet Clubtail. I posted a photo in a Facebook group devoted to dragonflies and damselflies in Virginia and was delighted when one of the most experience members there agreed with my identification of this dragonfly.
I don’t expect most of my readers to delve this deeply into dragonfly anatomy, but I figured it might be interesting to learn about what some of the myriad considerations that swirl about in my mind as I seek to photograph and identify these beautiful little creatures. Sometimes I am successful in connecting the dots and coming to a conclusion, but at times the identities of my subjects remains a mystery.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 