Dragonflies have been known by colorful names such as "devil's darning needles", "horse stinger", "eye sticker" and "mule killer" but these winged insects are incapable of stinging and are quite harmless.

Select this link for a Field Checklist on Dragonflies of Houston & Harris County.

In fact, these flying insects are helpful to humans by eating mosquitos, gnats, winged ants, winged termites and other insects that are nuisances and sometimes harmful. Thus dragonflies also are known by the name “mosquito hawks”. Read on to learn more about these large bugs often seen flying amongst or over TLCNP baseball field, full of baseball players or empty.

Like all insects, dragonflies have three body segments; a head, thorax and abdomen. Attached to the thorax are three pairs of legs and two pairs of wings. The wings are net-veined and translucent, sometimes with colored patches that vary with species. They have broader hind wings than the forewings.

In North American their are seven kind of dragonflies which include Skimmers, Clubtails, Cruisers, Darners, Spiketails, Petaltails and Emeralds. Skimmers are generally small in size but are vivid in color. Clubtails have the distinguishing feature of an enlarged abdomen area resembling the shape of a club. Cruisers are know for their their restless habits as they continuously cruise their territory. Darners are known for their preference for hanging vertically when perched. Spiketails derive their name from the vertical up and down “spiking” movement of the female as she releases her eggs into the soil near the edge of water sources. Petaltails are easy to identify due to their muted colors and their eyes are separated far apart. Emeralds are rare like emerald gems, they are scarce and hard to find.

Dragonflies are almost always flying. When perched, the wings are held straight out at right-angles from the body. Each wing acts independently, and this is the reason why dragonflies are so nimble in flight. They can fly forward, backward, hover and make a hairpin turn with ease. Remarkably, some have been clocked at flying faster than 20 miles per hour!

Adult dragonflies are voracious predators. This is due to their keen eyesight and incredible maneuverability. They will eat just about anything they can catch on the wing and generally devour their prey in flight. Larger prey such as damselflies, other dragonflies, and even butterflies are taken to a perch to be eaten.

Dragonflies perch with their wings spread flat and regulate their body temperature by assuming various postures. Males and females are sometimes distinguished by different colors and patterns. In some species, individuals change colors with age and season. In general, males are more brightly colored than females.

But why are damselflies and dragonflies in this nature preserve? TLCNP has close to 2 acres of wetlands recorded within the property, a perpetual Bird Drip, and several ephemeral ponds. The preserve is also close to White Oak Bayou and channels that feed the bayou. Dragonflies and damselflies prefer a habitat that is close to water that is fresh, clear, and slow moving.

In North America there are 307 species of dragonflies of which 160 species have been recorded in Texas. Visit this link for general information on Texas dragonflies from Texas Parks and Wildlife. Select this link for a Field Checklist on Dragonflies of Houston & Harris County.

Below are some of the dragonflies that have been observed at THE LORRAINE CHERRY NATURE PRESERVE over the years.

Blue-eye darner

Rhionaeschna multicolor is 2.75 inches in length. This darner dragonfly can be seen from May to November. This dragonfly prefers permanent ponds, temporary ponds and land near a body of water. They are not common to TLCNP, but have been seen on the property. The face, eyes and pale spots are all brilliant blue and can be easily seen in flight.

Blue Dasher

Pachydiplax longipennis is 1.5 inches in length. This skimmer dragonfly can be seen year round. Habitat is mostly quiet bodies of water. They can often be seen perched with their wings depressed. The eyes are brilliant blue or green in males and reddish brown in females. They are aggressive predators and can regularly take over 10% of their body weight in prey daily.

Common Green Darner

Anax junius is 3.0 inches in length and has a bright green thorax. They can be seen through out the year in Houston. Common Green Darners are large specimens that are common throughout North America and are thought to be somewhat migratory. They are most recognized by their striking green coloration. This dragonfly prefers permanent ponds, temporary ponds and land near a body of water. They are not common to TLCNP, but have been seen on the property. Typical diet of Common Green Darner is bees; wasps; mosquitos; butterflies and midges.

Eastern Amber Wing

Perithemis tenera is 1.0 inches in length. This skimmer dragonfly can be seen from April thru November. Habitat is ditches, pools, ponds and other still waters. One of the smallest dragonflies in Texas. This small dragonfly has an elaborate courtship behavior. Males come to the water's edge early in the morning to patrol and defend a territory as a potential egg laying site. This small territory is only accepted by the male if he is not disturbed and there is no competition from other males.

Great Pondhawk

Erythemis vesiculosa is 2.25 inches in length. It can be seen March thru December in Houston. The Great Pondhawk, as its name suggests is a large and powerful dragonfly, often eating other large insects including other dragonflies. It is not uncommon in Mexico and has a range into South America as far as Argentina. It is such a strong flyer that it often ends up on Caribbean islands. This dragonfly prefers permanent ponds, temporary ponds and land near a body of water. They are not common to TLCNP, but have been seen on the property.

Halloween Pennant

Celithemis eponina is 1.5 inches in length. This skimmer dragonfly can be seen May thru October. Habitat is marshes, ponds and lakes with emergent vegetation. These striking dragonflies are the most butterfly-like in appearance. On hot summer days they perch with the abdomen raised in the obelisk position.

Neon Skimmer

Libellula croceipennis is 2.25 inches in length. This skimmer dragonfly can be seen April thru November. Habitat is shaded spring-fed sluggish streams, ponds and small pools near streams. Males become bright red w/ amber color in the base of the wings. Its bright red color and erratic movements rarely go unnoticed. Males may be seen perched on top of tall grasses and weeds, but when females are present, they are generally seen chasing them in attempts to mate.

Thornbush Dasher

Micrathyria hagenii is 1.5 inches in length. This skimmer dragonfly can be seen May thru December in Houston. This dragonfly prefers permanent ponds, temporary ponds and land near a body of water. They are not common to TLCNP, but have been seen on the property. This dragonfly is the most widespread tropical dasher in North America. This species is often found perched on thick vegetation surrounding ponds. During summers the Thornbush Dasher wanders northward from Mexico into the US sometimes as far as Arkansas. Because of climate change, this is a species that could be sighted where it never has been sighted before.

Twelve Spotted Skimmer

Libellula pulchella is 2 inches in length. They can be seen May thru October. They are not common to TLCNP, but have been seen on the property. This dragonfly prefers permanent ponds, temporary ponds and land near a body of water. Its name refers to the dark spots on the wings. They fly almost continuously and are only occasionally seen perched.

Wandering Glider

Pantala flavescens is 2.25 inches in length. This dragonfly is common in the U.S. and is usually seen near standing water. But, it is also seen in grassy fields well away from water. You can see the Wandering Glider in TLCNP from January to December. The yellow-orange dragonfly has a yellow face with red eyes, is best known for its flying style, in which it seems to glide effortlessly with the winds. They can fly for hours without making any perch. They are often seen conspicuously in large numbers over open fields.

Mating

Male and female dragonflies tend to couple in the air, sometimes with an initial impact that can be heard easily. These tandem pairs of dragonflies can occasionally be seen flying about. The mating formation is called a wheel and occurs when the female curls her abdomen forward to pick up the sperm from the male’s second abdominal segment, while attached to the male. The male may assist this process by curling or moving his abdomen to allow easier access. The female may hold the male with her legs to relieve strain. Some dragonflies mate in the air; others mate while perched. Some pairs may be seen flying in tandem after mating, but this is more common in damselflies than in dragonflies.

Fun Fact: Both damselflies and dragonflies can move their wings independently and can fly both forward and backward with amazing speed. Visit this site to learn more about Odonata species in Texas.

General information on dragonflies above was sourced from Dragonflies of Texas by John C. Abbott. It covers 160 species of dragonflies out of the 327 known in North America, making it a very useful guide. It has illustrations, common and scientific names, distribution maps, identifying characteristics, habitat, seasonality, and general comments.