Mexican species
|
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. |
|||
| Species per state | |||
|
0-30
31-60
61-90
91-120
121-150
151-180
181-210
211-240
241-270
271-300
301-330
330 <
|
|
|
| Show explanation | |||
|
San Luis Potosí (slp) |
|||
| Total | Registered | ||
| Mexican endemics | |||
| True Species that normally do not occur outside of Mexico. | 12 | 0 | |
| Regionals US border states plus area south of Mexico including Nicaragua. | 27 | 0 | |
| Only show endemic species Show registered species Show species with PSV | Endemics | ||
| Spreadwings (Lestidae) | |||
| Great Spreadwing (Archilestes grandis) | map | 1 | |
| Regal Spreadwing (Archilestes regalis) | map | Mexico. | 2 |
| Plateau Spreadwing (Lestes alacer) | map | 3 | |
| Rainpool Spreadwing (Lestes forficula) | map | 4 | |
| Chalky Spreadwing (Lestes sigma) | map | 5 | |
| Blue-striped Spreadwing (Lestes tenuatus) | map | 6 | |
| Shadowdamsels (Platystictidae) | |||
| Puebla Shadowdamsel (Palaemnema paulicaxa) | map | Mexico. | 7 |
| Córdoba Shadowdamsel (Palaemnema paulicoba) | map | Mexico. | 8 |
| Atoyac Shadowdamsel (Palaemnema paulitoyaca) | map | Mexico. | 9 |
| Demoiselles (Calopterygidae) | |||
| American Rubyspot (Hetaerina americana) | map | 10 | |
| Cryptic Rubyspot (Hetaerina calverti) | map | Guatemala, Mexico. | 11 |
| Bronze Rubyspot (Hetaerina capitalis) | map | 12 | |
| Highland Rubyspot (Hetaerina cruentata) | map | 13 | |
| Emerald Rubyspot (Hetaerina infecta) | map | Mexico. | 14 |
| Racket-tipped Rubyspot (Hetaerina occisa) | map | 15 | |
| Smoky Rubyspot (Hetaerina titia) | map | 16 | |
| Canyon Rubyspot (Hetaerina vulnerata) | map | Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, USA. | 17 |
| Cascade Damsels (Thaumatoneuridae) | |||
| Showy Cascade Damsel (Paraphlebia zoe) | map | Mexico. | 18 |
| Pond Damselflies (Coenagrionidae) | |||
| Mexican Wedgetail (Acanthagrion quadratum) | map | 19 | |
| Black-and-white Damsel (Apanisagrion lais) | map | El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, USA. | 20 |
| Cerulean Dancer (Argia anceps) | map | 21 | |
| Argia annae (Argia annae) | map | Mexico. | 22 |
| Comanche Dancer (Argia barretti) | map | Mexico, USA. | 23 |
| Calida Dancer (Argia calida) | map | Belize, Mexico. | 24 |
| Coppery Dancer (Argia cuprea) | map | Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, USA. | 25 |
| Spine-tipped Dancer (Argia extranea) | map | Mexico, USA. | 26 |
| Green-eyed Dancer (Argia frequentula) | map | 27 | |
| Variable Dancer (Argia fumipennis) | map | 28 | |
| Springwater Dancer (Argia funebris) | map | 29 | |
| Garrison's Dancer (Argia garrisoni) | map | Mexico. | 30 |
| Kiowa Dancer (Argia immunda) | map | 31 | |
| Apache Dancer (Argia munda) | map | Mexico, USA. | 32 |
| Aztec Dancer (Argia nahuana) | map | 33 | |
| Oculate Dancer (Argia oculata) | map | 34 | |
| Fiery-eyed Dancer (Argia oenea) | map | 35 | |
| Amethyst Dancer (Argia pallens) | map | Guatemala, Mexico, USA. | 36 |
| Purple Dancer (Argia pulla) | map | 37 | |
| Golden-winged Dancer (Argia rhoadsi) | map | Mexico, USA. | 38 |
| Blue-ringed Dancer (Argia sedula) | map | 39 | |
| Tonto Dancer (Argia tonto) | map | Mexico, USA. | 40 |
| Dusky Dancer (Argia translata) | map | 41 | |
| Olmec Dancer (Argia ulmeca) | map | 42 | |
| Westfall's Dancer (Argia westfalli) | map | Mexico. | 43 |
| Caribbean Damsel (Enacantha caribbea) | map | Belize, Cuba, Guatemala, Mexico. | 44 |
| Double-striped Bluet (Enallagma basidens) | map | 45 | |
| Familiar Bluet (Enallagma civile) | map | 46 | |
| Neotropical Bluet (Enallagma novaehispaniae) | map | 47 | |
| Arroyo Bluet (Enallagma praevarum) | map | 48 | |
| Claw-tipped Bluet (Enallagma semicirculare) | map | Mexico, USA. | 49 |
| Painted Damsel (Hesperagrion heterodoxum) | map | Mexico, USA. | 50 |
| Tiny Forktail (Ischnura capreolus) | map | 51 | |
| Mexican Forktail (Ischnura demorsa) | map | Mexico, USA. | 52 |
| Black-fronted Forktail (Ischnura denticollis) | map | 53 | |
| Citrine Forktail (Ischnura hastata) | map | 54 | |
| Fragile Forktail (Ischnura posita) | map | 55 | |
| Rambur’s Forktail (Ischnura ramburii) | map | 56 | |
| Cream-tipped Swampdamsel (Leptobasis melinogaster) | map | Mexico, USA. | 57 |
| Red-tipped Swampdamsel (Leptobasis vacillans) | map | 58 | |
| Bromeliad Helicopter (Mecistogaster modesta) | map | 59 | |
| Lemon-tipped Helicopter (Mecistogaster ornata) | map | 60 | |
| Mexican Blue-winged Helicopter (Megaloprepus latipennis) | map | Guatemala, Mexico. | 61 |
| Tropical Sprite (Nehalennia minuta) | map | 62 | |
| Caribbean Yellowface (Neoerythromma cultellatum) | map | 63 | |
| Broad-winged Helicopter (Pseudostigma aberrans) | map | 64 | |
| Striped Firetail (Telebasis filiola) | map | 65 | |
| Hyacinth Firetail (Telebasis levis) | map | 66 | |
| Desert Firetail (Telebasis salva) | map | 67 | |
| Threadtails (Protoneuridae) | |||
| Amelia’s Threadtail (Neoneura amelia) | map | 68 | |
| Golden-orange Threadtail (Protoneura aurantiaca) | map | 69 | |
| Orange-striped Threadtail (Protoneura cara) | map | 70 | |
| Peach-fronted Threadtail (Protoneura corculum) | map | Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico. | 71 |
| Blue-fronted Threadtail (Protoneura cupida) | map | Belize, Guatemala, Mexico. | 72 |
| Hawkers (Aeshnidae) | |||
| Amazon Darner (Anax amazili) | map | 73 | |
| Common Green Darner (Anax junius) | map | 74 | |
| Blue-faced Darner (Coryphaeschna adnexa) | map | 75 | |
| Fiery Darner (Coryphaeschna diapyra) | map | 76 | |
| Helen's Darner (Gynacantha helenga) | map | Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, USA. | 77 |
| Bar-sided Darner (Gynacantha mexicana) | map | 78 | |
| Twilight Darner (Gynacantha nervosa) | map | 79 | |
| Malachite Darner (Remartinia luteipennis) | map | 80 | |
| Secretive Darner (Remartinia secreta) | map | 81 | |
| Blue-eyed Darner (Rhionaeschna multicolor) | map | 82 | |
| Turquoise-tipped Darner (Rhionaeschna psilus) | map | 83 | |
| Caribbean Darner (Triacanthagyna caribbea) | map | 84 | |
| Pale-green Darner (Triacanthagyna septima) | map | 85 | |
| Clubtails (Gomphidae) | |||
| Broad-striped Forceptail (Aphylla angustifolia) | map | 86 | |
| Narrow-striped Forceptail (Aphylla protracta) | map | 87 | |
| Mexican Snouttail (Archaeogomphus furcatus) | map | 88 | |
| Flag-tailed Spinyleg (Dromogomphus spoliatus) | map | 89 | |
| One-striped Ringtail (Erpetogomphus bothrops) | map | 90 | |
| Knob-tipped Ringtail (Erpetogomphus constrictor) | map | 91 | |
| Straight-tipped Ringtail (Erpetogomphus elaps) | map | Guatemala, Mexico, USA. | 92 |
| Blue-faced Ringtail (Erpetogomphus eutainia) | map | 93 | |
| Dark-shouldered Ringtail (Erpetogomphus liopeltis) | map | Mexico. | 94 |
| Tamaulipan Clubtail (Gomphurus gonzalezi) | map | Mexico, USA. | 95 |
| Ringed Forceptail (Phyllocycla breviphylla) | map | 96 | |
| Five-striped Leaftail (Phyllogomphoides albrighti) | map | Mexico, USA. | 97 |
| Daniel’s Leaftail (Phyllogomphoides danieli) | map | Mexico. | 98 |
| Double-toothed Leaftail (Phyllogomphoides duodentatus) | map | 99 | |
| Tuxtla Leaftail (Phyllogomphoides pugnifer) | map | 100 | |
| Common Leaftail (Phyllogomphoides suasus) | map | 101 | |
| Yellow-patterned Clubtail (Progomphus amarillus) | map | Mexico. | 102 |
| Zebra-striped Sanddragon (Progomphus clendoni) | map | 103 | |
| Cruisers (Macromiidae) | |||
| Bronzed River Cruiser (Macromia annulata) | map | Mexico, USA. | 104 |
| Skimmers (Libellulidae) | |||
| Red-tailed Pennant (Brachymesia furcata) | map | 105 | |
| Tawny Pennant (Brachymesia herbida) | map | 106 | |
| Pale-faced Clubskimmer (Brechmorhoga mendax) | map | 107 | |
| Little Clubskimmer (Brechmorhoga nubecula) | map | 108 | |
| Slender Clubskimmer (Brechmorhoga praecox) | map | 109 | |
| Vivacious Clubskimmer (Brechmorhoga vivax) | map | 110 | |
| Gray-waisted Skimmer (Cannaphila insularis) | map | 111 | |
| Blue-eyed Setwing (Dythemis nigra) | map | 112 | |
| Black Setwing (Dythemis nigrescens) | map | Mexico, USA. | 113 |
| Brown Setwing (Dythemis sterilis) | map | 114 | |
| Swift Setwing (Dythemis velox) | map | 115 | |
| Golden Streamskimmer (Elasmothemis aliciae) | map | Guatemala, Mexico. | 116 |
| Black Pondhawk (Erythemis attala) | map | 117 | |
| Red Pondhawk (Erythemis haematogastra) | map | 118 | |
| Claret Pondhawk (Erythemis mithroides) | map | 119 | |
| Flame-tailed Pondhawk (Erythemis peruviana) | map | 120 | |
| Pin-tailed Pondhawk (Erythemis plebeja) | map | 121 | |
| Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis) | map | 122 | |
| Great Pondhawk (Erythemis vesiculosa) | map | 123 | |
| Plateau Dragonlet (Erythrodiplax basifusca) | map | 124 | |
| Red-mantled Dragonlet (Erythrodiplax fervida) | map | 125 | |
| Black-winged Dragonlet (Erythrodiplax funerea) | map | 126 | |
| Red-faced Dragonlet (Erythrodiplax fusca) | map | 127 | |
| Band-winged Dragonlet (Erythrodiplax umbrata) | map | 128 | |
| Neon Skimmer (Libellula croceipennis) | map | 129 | |
| Red-mantled Skimmer (Libellula gaigei) | map | Belize, Mexico, USA. | 130 |
| Hercules Skimmer (Libellula herculea) | map | 131 | |
| Needham’s Skimmer (Libellula needhami) | map | 132 | |
| Flame Skimmer (Libellula saturata) | map | 133 | |
| Marl Pennant (Macrodiplax balteata) | map | 134 | |
| Delta-spotted Sylph (Macrothemis hemichlora) | map | 135 | |
| Ivory-striped Sylph (Macrothemis imitans) | map | 136 | |
| Straw-colored Sylph (Macrothemis inacuta) | map | 137 | |
| Jade-striped Sylph (Macrothemis inequiunguis) | map | 138 | |
| White-tailed Sylph (Macrothemis pseudimitans) | map | 139 | |
| Hyacinth Glider (Miathyria marcella) | map | 140 | |
| Dwarf Glider (Miathyria simplex) | map | 141 | |
| Spot-tailed Dasher (Micrathyria aequalis) | map | 142 | |
| Petén Dasher (Micrathyria debilis) | map | 143 | |
| Three-striped Dasher (Micrathyria didyma) | map | 144 | |
| Caribbean Dasher (Micrathyria dissocians) | map | 145 | |
| Thornbush Dasher (Micrathyria hagenii) | map | 146 | |
| Square-spotted Dasher (Micrathyria ocellata) | map | 147 | |
| Carmine Skimmer (Orthemis discolor) | map | 148 | |
| Roseate Skimmer (Orthemis ferruginea) | map | 149 | |
| Slender Skimmer (Orthemis levis) | map | 150 | |
| Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) | map | 151 | |
| Red Rock Skimmer (Paltothemis lineatipes) | map | 152 | |
| Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens) | map | 153 | |
| Spot-winged Glider (Pantala hymenaea) | map | 154 | |
| Slough Amberwing (Perithemis domitia) | map | 155 | |
| Mexican Amberwing (Perithemis intensa) | map | 156 | |
| Eastern Amberwing (Perithemis tenera) | map | 157 | |
| Mexican Scarlet-tail (Planiplax sanguiniventris) | map | 158 | |
| Filigree Skimmer (Pseudoleon superbus) | map | 159 | |
| Variegated Meadowhawk (Sympetrum corruptum) | map | 160 | |
| Cardinal Meadowhawk (Sympetrum illotum) | map | 161 | |
| Arch-tipped Glider (Tauriphila argo) | map | 162 | |
| Garnet Glider (Tauriphila australis) | map | 163 | |
| Aztec Glider (Tauriphila azteca) | map | 164 | |
| Evening Skimmer (Tholymis citrina) | map | 165 | |
| Vermilion Saddlebags (Tramea abdominalis) | map | 166 | |
| Striped Saddlebags (Tramea darwini) | map | 167 | |
| Black Saddlebags (Tramea lacerata) | map | 168 | |
| Red Saddlebags (Tramea onusta) | map | 169 | |