Odonata of the Ottawa District

A Guide to the Adult Damselflies & Dragonflies of the Ottawa District

List of Species and their Preferred Habitats

There are many words used in English to describe bodies of water. The meanings of many overlap considerably in common usage. I use the following definitions in this guide, which concentrate on the features important to dragonflies:

water volume mostly free of vegetation:
- ditch: narrow (less than 5 meters wide), shallow (less than a meter deep), long, no visible current (includes man-made, and beaver/muskrat trails)
- stream: a ditch with perceptible to moderate current, but no white water
- river: a stream more than 5 m wide, much more than a meter deep, some current
- rapids: white water (at least during spring runoff)
- outlet: where a stream empties into a lake
- puddle: shallow (much less than a meter), small ( a few meters or less across), no current
- pond: moderate depth (1-5 m), moderate size (1 ha or less), no current
- pool: a deep portion of a stream, with some eddy current
- lake: large (greater than 1 ha), at least some deep portions (more than 5 m), no current
- large: (lake or river) large enough to have breaking waves and wind-driven current
- calcareous: limestone region, pH >7.5
water heavily vegetated:
- bog: most water volume filled with plant material such as sphagnum, pH less than 6
- marsh: heavily-vegetated (typically cattails) pond or lake edge, pH 6 or greater

Species noted as southern(S) can be expected only in the warmer portions of the district, northern(N) only in cold bogs. Species that are exceptionally local(L) in distribution or rare(R) here are noted as well. Excepting these species, habitats mentioned are those in which the species is most likely to be found here, and are not to be treated as the only places to look. Species in brackets are known only from close to the district, not from within it.

Zygoptera
Calopteryx maculata small forest streams
Calopteryx aequabile larger wooded streams
L Lestes eurinus small lakes, ponds
Lestes congener temporary/permanent ponds
S Lestes inaequalis marshy ponds, slow streams
Lestes unguiculatus temporary ponds, overwinter as eggs
Lestes vigilax marsh/bog-margined lakes
S Lestes rectangularis partly shaded ponds
Lestes dryas temporary/permanent ponds
Lestes forcipatus temporary/permanent ponds, weedy streams
Lestes disjunctus ponds, weedy streams
L Amphiagrion saucium small, spring-fed bogs at hill bases
Chromagrion conditum shady spring-fed brooks, pools
Nehalinnia irene still marshes, bogs
L Nehalinnia gracilis sphagnum bogs
Argia moesta rocky shores or streams, lakes
Argia fumipennis small shallow rocky streams
Ischnura verticalis any still water
Ischnura posita shaded spring-fed streams, ponds
Coenagrion resolutum still shaded water
(RL Coenagrion interrogatum quaking bogs)
Enallagma ebrium limestone marshy ponds, streams
N Enallagma boreale cold bogs
Enallagma hageni acid marshy/boggy ponds
N Enallagma cyathigerum very cold bogs
Enallagma carunculatum lakes, rivers
S Enallagma civile ponds, slow streams
S Enallagma geminatum small lakes, slow streams
Enallagma exsulans streams, lake shores
R Enallagma antennatum clayey quiet streams, small lakes
S Enallagma vesperum marsh-bordered lakes, slow streams
Enallagma signatum slow streams, quiet bays
Anisoptera:
Anax junius migratory, still water with emergent vegetation, esp.sand pits
Basiaeschna janata small woodland streams with gentle current and their outlets
R Nasiaeschna pentacantha slow woodland streams, small lakes
S Epiaeschna heros shady ponds at wood edges
Boyeria grafiana fly until well after dusk, rock- margined lakes and streams
Boyeria vinosa fly until well after dusk, shady streams with gentle rapids
Aeshna umbrosa shady wooded ditches and streams
Aeshna constricta open marshes and ponds with emergent vegetation
(N Aeshna sitchensis puddles in almost filled cold bogs)
Aeshna interrupta shallow marshy or boggy lakes
S Aeshna clepsydra shallow marsh-bordered lakes
Aeshna eremita marsh-bordered lakes, sand pit ponds
(N Aeshna subarctica puddles in cold sphagnum bogs)
(N Aeshna juncea peaty puddles and ditches, shallow lakes)
Aeshna tuberculifera ponds, especially in bogs
Aeshna canadensis still marshes on lake edges, slow streams
LS Aeshna verticalis spring ponds, marsh-bordered lakes
Hagenius brevistylus slow rocky forest streams and their outlets
N Stylogomphus albistylus small rapid gravel streams
Dromogomphus spinosus rapid streams, rivers, lakes
N Ophiogomphus colubrinus rapid gravel streams
L Ophiogomphus anomalus wide rivers, rapid streams
Ophiogomphus rupinsulensis streams and rivers
Ophiogomphus aspersus cold clear rapid streams
RN Ophiogomphus mainensis clear running streams
R Gomphus lividus sheltered inlets on wavy lakes, gentle streams
Gomphus exilis quiet soft-bottomed streams and lake borders
Gomphus spicatus still marshy waters
S Arigomphus furcifer marshy ponds and lakes
SL Arigomphus cornutus small marshy lakes
L Gomphus descriptus rapid streams with pools
R Gomphus borealis lakes, slow streams, sand pit ponds
Gomphus fraternus turbulent water, calcareous
R Gomphus ventricosus rivers
Gomphus vastus large rivers, lakes
Gomphus adelphus clear running streams, exposed lake shores
R Stylurus amnicola rapid streams, wide rivers
N Stylurus scudderi cold gravelly forest streams and rivers with rapids
Stylurus notatus wide rivers
L Stylurus spiniceps wide rivers
L Cordulegaster obliqua tiny shaded rapid streams in deciduous woods
Cordulegaster diastatops streams with rapids in spring, pools in clearings
Cordulegaster maculata rapid streams in forests
Didymops transversa slow forest streams, wavy lakes
Macromia illinoiensis fast streams, exposed wavy lakes and wide rivers
L Nannothemis bella puddles and ponds in floating sphagnum bogs
(S Pachydiplax longipennis lakes, ponds, slow streams)
RS Pantala hymenea small standing water esp.sand pits
S Pantala flavescens small standing water esp.sand pits, migrant
Erythemis simplicicollis clear ponds, lake borders
S Celithemis eponina ponds, lakes and slow streams
LS Celithemis elisa marshy lakes and ponds
Libellula luctuosa ponds, small lakes and marshes
Libellula julia bog ponds to swampy lakes
Libellula lydia puddles to ponds
Libellula pulchella sunny ponds, lake borders, calcareous
Libellula quadrimaculata still water
Libellula incesta ponds, slow streams
Leucorrhinia glacialis bog lakes and marshes
(N Leucorrhinia patricia puddles in peat bogs)
Leucorrhinia hudsonica puddles in cold marshes and bogs
N Leucorrhinia frigida floating bog lakes, marshy ponds
Leucorrhinia proxima still marshes
Leucorrhinia intacta slow streams, marshy bays, farm ponds
Sympetrum internum slow shady streams, ponds
R Sympetrum rubicundulum still water
Sympetrum obtrusum tiny, even temporary, ponds in wet meadows and gravel pits
R Sympetrum semicinctum spring-fed ponds, marshes
Sympetrum danae peaty marshes, bog ponds
Sympetrum vicinum slow streams, permanent ponds
Sympetrum costiferum sand or gravel pit ponds
Neurocordulia yamaskanensis wave-washed rocky shores of rivers and lakes, rapids, flies only briefly after dusk
RN Williamsonia fletcheri puddles in sphagnum bogs
Epicordulia princeps quiet small lakes, rivers
Helocordulia uhleri edges of rapid streams and their outlets
Dorocordulia libera bog ponds, sluggish marshy streams
Cordulia shurtleffi quiet marshes, boggy ponds
Tetragoneuria spinigera marshy non-stagnant borders of lakes and streams
Tetragoneuria canis acid ponds and streams
Tetragoneuria cynosura marsh-bordered lakes and slow streams
Somatochlora tenebrosa tiny shaded deciduous forest streams
(N Somatochlora cingulata lakes)
N Somatochlora albicincta boggy places with slight water movement
N Somatochlora franklini puddles in spring-fed bogs
Somatochlora minor clear slow forest streams
Somatochlora walshi small ditches in bogs
Somatochlora forcipata tiny boggy spring-fed streams, puddles in bogs
(N Somatochlora elongata forest streams with rapids and their outlets)
Somatochlora williamsoni quiet shady forest streams and their outlets
N Somatochlora kennedyi cold bog ponds and puddles
(N Somatochlora incurvata sphagnum ponds and puddles)

Zygoptera
	Calopteryx maculata	small forest streams
	Calopteryx aequabile	larger wooded streams
L	Lestes eurinus	small lakes, ponds
	Lestes congener	temporary/permanent ponds
S	Lestes inaequalis	marshy ponds, slow streams
	Lestes unguiculatus	temporary ponds, overwinter as eggs
	Lestes vigilax	marsh/bog-margined lakes
S	Lestes rectangularis	partly shaded ponds
	Lestes dryas	temporary/permanent ponds
	Lestes forcipatus	temporary/permanent ponds, weedy streams
	Lestes disjunctus	ponds, weedy streams
L	Amphiagrion saucium	small, spring-fed bogs at hill bases
	Chromagrion conditum	shady spring-fed brooks, pools
	Nehalinnia irene	still marshes, bogs
L	Nehalinnia gracilis	sphagnum bogs
	Argia moesta	rocky shores or streams, lakes
	Argia fumipennis	small shallow rocky streams
	Ischnura verticalis	any still water
	Ischnura posita	shaded spring-fed streams, ponds
	Coenagrion resolutum	still shaded water
(RL	Coenagrion interrogatum	quaking bogs)
	Enallagma ebrium	limestone marshy ponds, streams
N	Enallagma boreale	cold bogs
	Enallagma hageni	acid marshy/boggy ponds
N	Enallagma cyathigerum	very cold bogs
	Enallagma carunculatum	lakes, rivers
S	Enallagma civile	ponds, slow streams
S	Enallagma geminatum	small lakes, slow streams
	Enallagma exsulans	streams, lake shores
R	Enallagma antennatum	clayey quiet streams, small lakes
S	Enallagma vesperum	marsh-bordered lakes, slow streams
	Enallagma signatum	slow streams, quiet bays
Anisoptera:
	Anax junius	migratory, still water with emergent vegetation, esp.sand pits
	Basiaeschna janata	small woodland streams with gentle current and their outlets
R	Nasiaeschna pentacantha	slow woodland streams, small lakes
S	Epiaeschna heros	shady ponds at wood edges
	Boyeria grafiana	fly until well after dusk, rock- margined lakes and streams
	Boyeria vinosa	fly until well after dusk, shady streams with gentle rapids
	Aeshna umbrosa	shady wooded ditches and streams
	Aeshna constricta	open marshes and ponds with emergent vegetation
(N	Aeshna sitchensis	puddles in almost filled cold bogs)
	Aeshna interrupta	shallow marshy or boggy lakes
S	Aeshna clepsydra	shallow marsh-bordered lakes
	Aeshna eremita	marsh-bordered lakes, sand pit ponds
(N	Aeshna subarctica	puddles in cold sphagnum bogs)
(N	Aeshna juncea	peaty puddles and ditches, shallow lakes)
	Aeshna tuberculifera	ponds, especially in bogs
	Aeshna canadensis	still marshes on lake edges, slow streams
LS	Aeshna verticalis	spring ponds, marsh-bordered lakes
	Hagenius brevistylus	slow rocky forest streams and their outlets
N	Stylogomphus albistylus	small rapid gravel streams
	Dromogomphus spinosus	rapid streams, rivers, lakes
N	Ophiogomphus colubrinus	rapid gravel streams
L	Ophiogomphus anomalus	wide rivers, rapid streams
	Ophiogomphus rupinsulensis	streams and rivers
	Ophiogomphus aspersus	cold clear rapid streams
RN	Ophiogomphus mainensis	clear running streams
R	Gomphus lividus	sheltered inlets on wavy lakes, gentle streams
	Gomphus exilis	quiet soft-bottomed streams and lake borders
	Gomphus spicatus	still marshy waters
S	Arigomphus furcifer	marshy ponds and lakes
SL	Arigomphus cornutus	small marshy lakes
L	Gomphus descriptus	rapid streams with pools
R	Gomphus borealis	lakes, slow streams, sand pit ponds
	Gomphus fraternus	turbulent water, calcareous
R	Gomphus ventricosus	rivers
	Gomphus vastus	large rivers, lakes
	Gomphus adelphus	clear running streams, exposed lake shores
R	Stylurus amnicola	rapid streams, wide rivers
N	Stylurus scudderi	cold gravelly forest streams and rivers with rapids
	Stylurus notatus	wide rivers
L	Stylurus spiniceps	wide rivers
L	Cordulegaster obliqua	tiny shaded rapid streams in deciduous woods
	Cordulegaster diastatops	streams with rapids in spring, pools in clearings
	Cordulegaster maculata	rapid streams in forests
	Didymops transversa	slow forest streams, wavy lakes
	Macromia illinoiensis	fast streams, exposed wavy lakes and wide rivers
L	Nannothemis bella	puddles and ponds in floating sphagnum bogs
(S	Pachydiplax longipennis	lakes, ponds, slow streams)
RS	Pantala hymenea	small standing water esp.sand pits
S	Pantala flavescens	small standing water esp.sand pits, migrant
	Erythemis simplicicollis	clear ponds, lake borders
S	Celithemis eponina	ponds, lakes and slow streams
LS	Celithemis elisa	marshy lakes and ponds
	Libellula luctuosa	ponds, small lakes and marshes
	Libellula julia	bog ponds to swampy lakes
	Libellula lydia	puddles to ponds
	Libellula pulchella	sunny ponds, lake borders, calcareous
	Libellula quadrimaculata	still water
	Libellula incesta	ponds, slow streams
	Leucorrhinia glacialis	bog lakes and marshes
(N	Leucorrhinia patricia	puddles in peat bogs)
	Leucorrhinia hudsonica	puddles in cold marshes and bogs
N	Leucorrhinia frigida	floating bog lakes, marshy ponds
	Leucorrhinia proxima	still marshes
	Leucorrhinia intacta	slow streams, marshy bays, farm ponds
	Sympetrum internum	slow shady streams, ponds
R	Sympetrum rubicundulum	still water
	Sympetrum obtrusum	tiny, even temporary, ponds in wet meadows and gravel pits
R	Sympetrum semicinctum	spring-fed ponds, marshes
	Sympetrum danae	peaty marshes, bog ponds
	Sympetrum vicinum	slow streams, permanent ponds
	Sympetrum costiferum	sand or gravel pit ponds
	Neurocordulia yamaskanensis	wave-washed rocky shores of rivers and lakes, rapids, flies only briefly after dusk
RN	Williamsonia fletcheri	puddles in sphagnum bogs
	Epicordulia princeps	quiet small lakes, rivers
	Helocordulia uhleri	edges of rapid streams and their outlets
	Dorocordulia libera	bog ponds, sluggish marshy streams
	Cordulia shurtleffi	quiet marshes, boggy ponds
	Tetragoneuria spinigera	marshy non-stagnant borders of lakes and streams
	Tetragoneuria canis	acid ponds and streams
	Tetragoneuria cynosura	marsh-bordered lakes and slow streams
	Somatochlora tenebrosa	tiny shaded deciduous forest streams
(N	Somatochlora cingulata	lakes)
N	Somatochlora albicincta	boggy places with slight water movement
N	Somatochlora franklini	puddles in spring-fed bogs
	Somatochlora minor	clear slow forest streams
	Somatochlora walshi	small ditches in bogs
	Somatochlora forcipata	tiny boggy spring-fed streams, puddles in bogs
(N	Somatochlora elongata	forest streams with rapids and their outlets)
	Somatochlora williamsoni	quiet shady forest streams and their outlets
N	Somatochlora kennedyi	cold bog ponds and puddles
(N	Somatochlora incurvata	sphagnum ponds and puddles)

my favourite spot for early dragonflies:
an airy path through deep woods with patches of shade and sun, next to a marshy ditch.

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