Mexican species
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As in most parts of the tropics the odonate distribution in Mexico is still not fully uncovered. Both the lack of field work and the complexity of similarity between species, eg. genus Argia, make it a slow progress. But the interest and awareness is growing, why a flow of new discoveries are expected during the coming years.
The main resource I've used to build my lists from, is the one maintained by Dennis Paulson at Puget Sound Museum of Natural History. Being a capacity on the New World Odonates his lists are curated and the best starting point. New information and discoveries are best searched using iNaturalist, this being where most Mexicans put their records (and odonate-lovers worldwide, when not using local databases). Additional information, of course, is also found in other relevante online resources. I'm running frequent scans of the most common resources trying to keep up with the present state of knowledge. I think enough is known already to get the larger picture of the species distribution in the country, though. And probably not surprising the maps shows a similar pattern as the one representing the distribution of bird species,with the most species-rich regions being around the Tehuantepec isthmus (Chiapas, Oaxaca and Veracruz) and next West Central Mexico centered around Jalisco. Linked to below, I've also made a table list to show the data in a more compressed form. And you have the option to list it sorted by geography too, showing the states in a northern to southern order. This gives you a better understanding about the distribution of genera and families in the country. The species accounts related to Mexico are still far from being made, and the same goes for the endemic status. Map showing the species I've seen here. State lists updated per October, 2026. |
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| Species per state | |||
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0-30
31-60
61-90
91-120
121-150
151-180
181-210
211-240
241-270
271-300
301-330
330 <
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| Show explanation | |||
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Baja California Sur (bcs) |
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| Total | Registered | ||
| Mexican endemics | |||
| True Species that normally do not occur outside of Mexico. | 2 | 0 | |
| Regionals US border states plus area south of Mexico including Nicaragua. | 10 | 0 | |
| Only show endemic species Show registered species Show species with PSV | Endemics | ||
| Spreadwings (Lestidae) | |||
| California Spreadwing (Archilestes californicus) | map | 1 | |
| Great Spreadwing (Archilestes grandis) | map | 2 | |
| Demoiselles (Calopterygidae) | |||
| American Rubyspot (Hetaerina americana) | map | 3 | |
| Pond Damselflies (Coenagrionidae) | |||
| California Dancer (Argia agrioides) | map | Mexico, USA. | 4 |
| Lavender Dancer (Argia hinei) | map | Mexico, USA. | 5 |
| Fiery-eyed Dancer (Argia oenea) | map | 6 | |
| Tezpi Dancer (Argia tezpi) | map | 7 | |
| Vivid Dancer (Argia vivida) | map | 8 | |
| Familiar Bluet (Enallagma civile) | map | 9 | |
| Baja Bluet (Enallagma eiseni) | map | Mexico, USA. | 10 |
| Neotropical Bluet (Enallagma novaehispaniae) | map | 11 | |
| Desert Forktail (Ischnura barberi) | map | Mexico, USA. | 12 |
| Pacific Forktail (Ischnura cervula) | map | 13 | |
| Black-fronted Forktail (Ischnura denticollis) | map | 14 | |
| Citrine Forktail (Ischnura hastata) | map | 15 | |
| Rambur’s Forktail (Ischnura ramburii) | map | 16 | |
| Oasis Firetail (Telebasis incolumis) | map | Mexico. | 17 |
| Desert Firetail (Telebasis salva) | map | 18 | |
| Hawkers (Aeshnidae) | |||
| Common Green Darner (Anax junius) | map | 19 | |
| Giant Darner (Anax walsinghami) | map | Mexico, USA. | 20 |
| Malachite Darner (Remartinia luteipennis) | map | 21 | |
| Arroyo Darner (Rhionaeschna dugesi) | map | Mexico, USA. | 22 |
| Spot-fronted Darner (Rhionaeschna manni) | map | Mexico. | 23 |
| Blue-eyed Darner (Rhionaeschna multicolor) | map | 24 | |
| Turquoise-tipped Darner (Rhionaeschna psilus) | map | 25 | |
| Clubtails (Gomphidae) | |||
| White-belted Ringtail (Erpetogomphus compositus) | map | Mexico, USA. | 26 |
| Serpent Ringtail (Erpetogomphus lampropeltis) | map | Mexico, USA. | 27 |
| Grappletail (Octogomphus specularis) | map | 28 | |
| Gray Sanddragon (Progomphus borealis) | map | Mexico, USA. | 29 |
| Skimmers (Libellulidae) | |||
| Red-tailed Pennant (Brachymesia furcata) | map | 30 | |
| Pale-faced Clubskimmer (Brechmorhoga mendax) | map | 31 | |
| Black Setwing (Dythemis nigrescens) | map | Mexico, USA. | 32 |
| Brown Setwing (Dythemis sterilis) | map | 33 | |
| Black Pondhawk (Erythemis attala) | map | 34 | |
| Western Pondhawk (Erythemis collocata) | map | 35 | |
| Pin-tailed Pondhawk (Erythemis plebeja) | map | 36 | |
| Great Pondhawk (Erythemis vesiculosa) | map | 37 | |
| Plateau Dragonlet (Erythrodiplax basifusca) | map | 38 | |
| Seaside Dragonlet (Erythrodiplax berenice) | map | 39 | |
| Neon Skimmer (Libellula croceipennis) | map | 40 | |
| Flame Skimmer (Libellula saturata) | map | 41 | |
| Marl Pennant (Macrodiplax balteata) | map | 42 | |
| Straw-colored Sylph (Macrothemis inacuta) | map | 43 | |
| Jade-striped Sylph (Macrothemis inequiunguis) | map | 44 | |
| White-tailed Sylph (Macrothemis pseudimitans) | map | 45 | |
| Spot-tailed Dasher (Micrathyria aequalis) | map | 46 | |
| Three-striped Dasher (Micrathyria didyma) | map | 47 | |
| Thornbush Dasher (Micrathyria hagenii) | map | 48 | |
| Carmine Skimmer (Orthemis discolor) | map | 49 | |
| Roseate Skimmer (Orthemis ferruginea) | map | 50 | |
| Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) | map | 51 | |
| Red Rock Skimmer (Paltothemis lineatipes) | map | 52 | |
| Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens) | map | 53 | |
| Spot-winged Glider (Pantala hymenaea) | map | 54 | |
| Mexican Amberwing (Perithemis intensa) | map | 55 | |
| Filigree Skimmer (Pseudoleon superbus) | map | 56 | |
| Variegated Meadowhawk (Sympetrum corruptum) | map | 57 | |
| Cardinal Meadowhawk (Sympetrum illotum) | map | 58 | |
| Striped Saddlebags (Tramea darwini) | map | 59 | |
| Black Saddlebags (Tramea lacerata) | map | 60 | |
| Red Saddlebags (Tramea onusta) | map | 61 | |