Mexican species
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Work in progress (Jan 2026):
It was my plan to use last winter to work on the European species accounts, but then I decided to prepare all my butterfly photos from Mexico, and then found photos of three different dragonflies. Glad and surprised that I had taken them, but also instantly regretting that I didn't pick up this interest while still living in the country. I don't know if I'll ever return to Mexico, but hoping that I will, I felt inspired and worked my way through the available species lists and can now present them online - here and as pdf's for download. The main resources I've used to start out with, are the one maintained by Dennis Paulson at Puget Sound Museum of Natural History and the Mexican version of the iNaturalist site, where most Mexicans put their records. However, both resources are, in places, somewhat confusing concerning which species should be in which state lists, but it is an overall good starting point. Kathy Biggs is maintaining a site about the dragonflies of Jalisco from where you can also find species maps just like the ones I'm presenting here at my site. My material is overall more readable, though, but she has added brief species description to her species account why she has information that I've still not added here (but will in the future). I think the knowledge about the Mexican dragonflies is still much in the growing and the state lists will likely be expanding in the following years, as the interest for this fantastic group of insects grows. Still, I think it is already obvious that the diversity matches that of the birds, with the most species-rich regions being around the Tehuantepec isthmus (Chiapas, Oaxaca and Veracruz) and next West Central Mexico centered around Jalisco. Map showing the species I've seen here. State lists updated per June 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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San Luis Potosí (slp) |
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| Total | Registered | ||
| Mexican endemics | |||
| True Species that normally do not occur outside of Mexico. | 4 | 0 | |
| Regionals US border states plus area south of Mexico including Nicaragua. | 1 | 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 | Endemic to 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 | 7 | |
| Córdoba Shadowdamsel (Palaemnema paulicoba) map | Endemic to Mexico | 8 |
| Atoyac Shadowdamsel (Palaemnema paulitoyaca) map | Endemic to Mexico | 9 |
| Demoiselles (Calopterygidae) | ||
| American Rubyspot (Hetaerina americana) map | 10 | |
| Cryptic Rubyspot (Hetaerina calverti) map | 11 | |
| Bronze Rubyspot (Hetaerina capitalis) map | 12 | |
| Highland Rubyspot (Hetaerina cruentata) map | 13 | |
| Emerald Rubyspot (Hetaerina infecta) map | 14 | |
| Racket-tipped Rubyspot (Hetaerina occisa) map | 15 | |
| Smoky Rubyspot (Hetaerina titia) map | 16 | |
| Canyon Rubyspot (Hetaerina vulnerata) map | 17 | |
| Cascade Damsels (Thaumatoneuridae) | ||
| Showy Cascade Damsel (Paraphlebia zoe) map | 18 | |
| Pond Damselflies (Coenagrionidae) | ||
| Mexican Wedgetail (Acanthagrion quadratum) map | 19 | |
| Black-and-white Damsel (Apanisagrion lais) map | 20 | |
| Cerulean Dancer (Argia anceps) map | 21 | |
| Argia annae (Argia annae) map | Endemic to Mexico | 22 |
| Comanche Dancer (Argia barretti) map | 23 | |
| Calida Dancer (Argia calida) map | 24 | |
| Coppery Dancer (Argia cuprea) map | 25 | |
| Spine-tipped Dancer (Argia extranea) map | 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 | 30 | |
| Kiowa Dancer (Argia immunda) map | 31 | |
| Apache Dancer (Argia munda) map | 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 | 36 | |
| Purple Dancer (Argia pulla) map | 37 | |
| Golden-winged Dancer (Argia rhoadsi) map | 38 | |
| Blue-ringed Dancer (Argia sedula) map | 39 | |
| Tonto Dancer (Argia tonto) map | 40 | |
| Dusky Dancer (Argia translata) map | 41 | |
| Olmec Dancer (Argia ulmeca) map | 42 | |
| Westfall's Dancer (Argia westfalli) map | 43 | |
| Caribbean Damsel (Enacantha caribbea) map | 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 | 49 | |
| Painted Damsel (Hesperagrion heterodoxum) map | 50 | |
| Tiny Forktail (Ischnura capreolus) map | 51 | |
| Mexican Forktail (Ischnura demorsa) map | 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 | 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 | Near-endemic to 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 | 71 | |
| Blue-fronted Threadtail (Protoneura cupida) map | 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 | 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 | 92 | |
| Blue-faced Ringtail (Erpetogomphus eutainia) map | 93 | |
| Dark-shouldered Ringtail (Erpetogomphus liopeltis) map | 94 | |
| Tamaulipan Clubtail (Gomphurus gonzalezi) map | 95 | |
| Ringed Forceptail (Phyllocycla breviphylla) map | 96 | |
| Five-striped Leaftail (Phyllogomphoides albrighti) map | 97 | |
| Daniel’s Leaftail (Phyllogomphoides danieli) map | 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 | 102 | |
| Zebra-striped Sanddragon (Progomphus clendoni) map | 103 | |
| Cruisers (Macromiidae) | ||
| Bronzed River Cruiser (Macromia annulata) map | 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 | 113 | |
| Brown Setwing (Dythemis sterilis) map | 114 | |
| Swift Setwing (Dythemis velox) map | 115 | |
| Golden Streamskimmer (Elasmothemis aliciae) map | 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 | 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 | |