Drgonflies in Illinois

According to the Illinois State Museum, as many as 98 species of dragonflies call Illinois home.  They can be divided into seven broad types, namely, darners, cruisers, emeralds, petaltails, clubtails, spiketails and skimmers. Their early stages of life are adapted to aquatic environments. The adults can mostly be seen flying or perched near water bodies.

Dragonflies in Illinois (IL)

Types of Dragonflies in Illinois

  • Black Saddlebags
  • Black-shouldered Spinyleg
  • Blue Dasher
  • Calico Pennant
  • Common Green Darner
  • Halloween Pennant
  • Prince Baskettail
  • Russet-tipped Clubtail
  • Yellow-legged Meadowhawk
  • Wandering Glider
  • Ruby Meadowhawk
  • White-faced Meadowhawk
  • Band-winged Meadowhawk
  • Elfin Skimmer
  • Eastern Amberwing
  • Four-spotted Skimmer
  • Dot-tailed Whiteface
  • Eastern Pondhawk
  • Great Blue Skimmer
  • Red-mantled Saddlebags
  • Common Whitetail
  • Twelve-spotted Skimmer
  • Canada Darner
  • Swift River Cruiser
  • Common Baskettail
  • Racket-tailed Emerald
  • Hine’s Emerald
  • Jade Clubtail
  • Lance-tipped Darner
  • Pronghorn Clubtail
  • Spot Winged Glider
  • Slaty Skimmer