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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Chihuahua (chh) |
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| Total | Registered | ||
| Mexican endemics | |||
| True Species that normally do not occur outside of Mexico. | 3 | 0 | |
| Regionals US border states plus area south of Mexico including Nicaragua. | 30 | 0 | |
| Added: Argia apicalis Hetaerina capitalis |
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| 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 | |
| Plateau Spreadwing (Lestes alacer) | map | 3 | |
| Shadowdamsels (Platystictidae) | |||
| Desert Shadowdamsel (Palaemnema domina) | map | 4 | |
| Demoiselles (Calopterygidae) | |||
| American Rubyspot (Hetaerina americana) | map | 5 | |
| Bronze Rubyspot (Hetaerina capitalis) | map | 6 | |
| Canyon Rubyspot (Hetaerina vulnerata) | map | Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, USA. | 7 |
| Pond Damselflies (Coenagrionidae) | |||
| Black-and-white Damsel (Apanisagrion lais) | map | El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, USA. | 8 |
| Paiute Dancer (Argia alberta) | map | 9 | |
| Cerulean Dancer (Argia anceps) | map | 10 | |
| Blue-fronted Dancer (Argia apicalis) | map | 11 | |
| Deam's Dancer (Argia deami) | map | Mexico. | 12 |
| Spine-tipped Dancer (Argia extranea) | map | Mexico, USA. | 13 |
| Variable Dancer (Argia fumipennis) | map | 14 | |
| Big Red Dancer (Argia funcki) | map | El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico. | 15 |
| Springwater Dancer (Argia funebris) | map | 16 | |
| Gilded Dancer (Argia herberti) | map | Guatemala, Mexico. | 17 |
| Lavender Dancer (Argia hinei) | map | Mexico, USA. | 18 |
| Kiowa Dancer (Argia immunda) | map | 19 | |
| Sierra Madre Dancer (Argia lacrimans) | map | Mexico, USA. | 20 |
| Sooty Dancer (Argia lugens) | map | 21 | |
| Powdered Dancer (Argia moesta) | map | 22 | |
| Apache Dancer (Argia munda) | map | Mexico, USA. | 23 |
| Aztec Dancer (Argia nahuana) | map | 24 | |
| Oculate Dancer (Argia oculata) | map | 25 | |
| Fiery-eyed Dancer (Argia oenea) | map | 26 | |
| Amethyst Dancer (Argia pallens) | map | Guatemala, Mexico, USA. | 27 |
| Pima Dancer (Argia pima) | map | Mexico, USA. | 28 |
| Sabino Dancer (Argia sabino) | map | Mexico, USA. | 29 |
| Blue-ringed Dancer (Argia sedula) | map | 30 | |
| Tarascan Dancer (Argia tarascana) | map | Mexico, USA. | 31 |
| Tezpi Dancer (Argia tezpi) | map | 32 | |
| Tonto Dancer (Argia tonto) | map | Mexico, USA. | 33 |
| Dusky Dancer (Argia translata) | map | 34 | |
| Olmec Dancer (Argia ulmeca) | map | 35 | |
| Double-striped Bluet (Enallagma basidens) | map | 36 | |
| Familiar Bluet (Enallagma civile) | map | 37 | |
| Neotropical Bluet (Enallagma novaehispaniae) | map | 38 | |
| Arroyo Bluet (Enallagma praevarum) | map | 39 | |
| Painted Damsel (Hesperagrion heterodoxum) | map | Mexico, USA. | 40 |
| Plains Forktail (Ischnura damula) | map | 41 | |
| Mexican Forktail (Ischnura demorsa) | map | Mexico, USA. | 42 |
| Black-fronted Forktail (Ischnura denticollis) | map | 43 | |
| Citrine Forktail (Ischnura hastata) | map | 44 | |
| Rambur’s Forktail (Ischnura ramburii) | map | 45 | |
| Desert Firetail (Telebasis salva) | map | 46 | |
| Hawkers (Aeshnidae) | |||
| Persephone’s Darner (Aeshna persephone) | map | Mexico, USA. | 47 |
| Common Green Darner (Anax junius) | map | 48 | |
| Giant Darner (Anax walsinghami) | map | Mexico, USA. | 49 |
| Riffle Darner (Oplonaeschna armata) | map | Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, USA. | 50 |
| Malachite Darner (Remartinia luteipennis) | map | 51 | |
| Arroyo Darner (Rhionaeschna dugesi) | map | Mexico, USA. | 52 |
| Black-tailed Darner (Rhionaeschna jalapensis) | map | 53 | |
| Blue-eyed Darner (Rhionaeschna multicolor) | map | 54 | |
| Turquoise-tipped Darner (Rhionaeschna psilus) | map | 55 | |
| Clubtails (Gomphidae) | |||
| Narrow-striped Forceptail (Aphylla protracta) | map | 56 | |
| Flag-tailed Spinyleg (Dromogomphus spoliatus) | map | 57 | |
| One-striped Ringtail (Erpetogomphus bothrops) | map | 58 | |
| White-belted Ringtail (Erpetogomphus compositus) | map | Mexico, USA. | 59 |
| Yellow-legged Ringtail (Erpetogomphus crotalinus) | map | Mexico, USA. | 60 |
| Eastern Ringtail (Erpetogomphus designatus) | map | 61 | |
| Straight-tipped Ringtail (Erpetogomphus elaps) | map | Guatemala, Mexico, USA. | 62 |
| Dashed Ringtail (Erpetogomphus heterodon) | map | Mexico, USA. | 63 |
| Serpent Ringtail (Erpetogomphus lampropeltis) | map | Mexico, USA. | 64 |
| Sulphur-tipped Clubtail (Phanogomphus militaris) | map | Mexico, USA. | 65 |
| West Mexican Leaftail (Phyllogomphoides nayaritensis) | map | Mexico. | 66 |
| Gray Sanddragon (Progomphus borealis) | map | Mexico, USA. | 67 |
| Brimstone Clubtail (Stylurus intricatus) | map | 68 | |
| Russet-tipped Clubtail (Stylurus plagiatus) | map | 69 | |
| Goldenrings (Cordulegastridae) | |||
| Apache Spiketail (Cordulegaster diadema) | map | 70 | |
| Cruisers (Macromiidae) | |||
| Western River Cruiser (Macromia magnifica) | map | 71 | |
| Skimmers (Libellulidae) | |||
| Red-tailed Pennant (Brachymesia furcata) | map | 72 | |
| Four-spotted Pennant (Brachymesia gravida) | map | 73 | |
| Tawny Pennant (Brachymesia herbida) | map | 74 | |
| Pale-faced Clubskimmer (Brechmorhoga mendax) | map | 75 | |
| Masked Clubskimmer (Brechmorhoga pertinax) | map | 76 | |
| Checkered Setwing (Dythemis fugax) | map | Mexico, USA. | 77 |
| Black Setwing (Dythemis nigrescens) | map | Mexico, USA. | 78 |
| Brown Setwing (Dythemis sterilis) | map | 79 | |
| Swift Setwing (Dythemis velox) | map | 80 | |
| Western Pondhawk (Erythemis collocata) | map | 81 | |
| Pin-tailed Pondhawk (Erythemis plebeja) | map | 82 | |
| Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis) | map | 83 | |
| Plateau Dragonlet (Erythrodiplax basifusca) | map | 84 | |
| Band-winged Dragonlet (Erythrodiplax umbrata) | map | 85 | |
| Comanche Skimmer (Libellula comanche) | map | 86 | |
| Neon Skimmer (Libellula croceipennis) | map | 87 | |
| Widow Skimmer (Libellula luctuosa) | map | 88 | |
| Hoary Skimmer (Libellula nodisticta) | map | Mexico, USA. | 89 |
| Flame Skimmer (Libellula saturata) | map | 90 | |
| Sierra Madre Sylph (Macrothemis ultima) | map | Mexico. | 91 |
| Spot-tailed Dasher (Micrathyria aequalis) | map | 92 | |
| Thornbush Dasher (Micrathyria hagenii) | map | 93 | |
| Roseate Skimmer (Orthemis ferruginea) | map | 94 | |
| Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) | map | 95 | |
| Red Rock Skimmer (Paltothemis lineatipes) | map | 96 | |
| Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens) | map | 97 | |
| Spot-winged Glider (Pantala hymenaea) | map | 98 | |
| Mexican Amberwing (Perithemis intensa) | map | 99 | |
| Eastern Amberwing (Perithemis tenera) | map | 100 | |
| Common Whitetail (Plathemis lydia) | map | 101 | |
| Desert Whitetail (Plathemis subornata) | map | 102 | |
| Filigree Skimmer (Pseudoleon superbus) | map | 103 | |
| Variegated Meadowhawk (Sympetrum corruptum) | map | 104 | |
| Cardinal Meadowhawk (Sympetrum illotum) | map | 105 | |
| Spot-winged Meadowhawk (Sympetrum signiferum) | map | Mexico, USA. | 106 |
| Striped Saddlebags (Tramea darwini) | map | 107 | |
| Black Saddlebags (Tramea lacerata) | map | 108 | |
| Red Saddlebags (Tramea onusta) | map | 109 | |