Similar Species Compared

Sometimes, two or more species can look extremely similar. These pages take an in-depth look at the differences between a few similar species.

American vs Canyon Rubyspot

  • : American Rubyspot
    American Rubyspot
    Hetaerina americana
  • : Canyon Rubyspot
    Canyon Rubyspot
    Hetaerina vulnerata

Apache vs Spine-tipped vs Springwater Dancers

  • : Apache Dancer
    Apache Dancer
    Argia munda
  • : Spine-tipped Dancer
    Spine-tipped Dancer
    Argia extranea
  • : Springwater Dancer
    Springwater Dancer
    Argia funebris

Arizona vs Pale Snaketails

  • : Arizona Snaketail
    Arizona Snaketail
    Ophiogomphus arizonicus
  • : Pale Snaketail
    Pale Snaketail
    Ophiogomphus severus

Arroyo vs Blue-eyed Darner

  • : Arroyo Darner
    Arroyo Darner
    Rhionaeschna dugesi
  • : Blue-eyed Darner
    Blue-eyed Darner
    Rhionaeschna multicolor

Arroyo vs Familiar vs Tule Bluets

  • : Arroyo Bluet
    Arroyo Bluet
    Enallagma praevarum
  • : Familiar Bluet
    Familiar Bluet
    Enallagma civile
  • : Tule Bluet
    Tule Bluet
    Enallagma carunculatum

Aztec vs California Dancer

  • : Aztec Dancer
    Aztec Dancer
    Argia nahuana
  • : California Dancer
    California Dancer
    Argia agrioides

Band-winged vs Black Meadowhawk (female)

  • : Band-winged Meadowhawk
    Band-winged Meadowhawk
    Sympetrum semicinctum
  • : Black Meadowhawk
    Black Meadowhawk
    Sympetrum danae

Blue-fronted vs. Powdered Dancer

  • : Blue-fronted Dancer
    Blue-fronted Dancer
    Argia apicalis
  • : Powdered Dancer
    Powdered Dancer
    Argia moesta

Boreal vs Familiar vs Northern Bluet (male)

  • : Boreal Bluet
    Boreal Bluet
    Enallagma boreale
  • : Familiar Bluet
    Familiar Bluet
    Enallagma civile
  • : Northern Bluet
    Northern Bluet
    Enallagma annexum

California vs Great Spreadwing

  • : California Spreadwing
    California Spreadwing
    Archilestes californicus
  • : Great Spreadwing
    Great Spreadwing
    Archilestes grandis

Carmine vs Roseate Skimmers

  • : Carmine Skimmer
    Carmine Skimmer
    Orthemis discolor
  • : Roseate Skimmer
    Roseate Skimmer
    Orthemis ferruginea

Cerulean vs Sierra Madre Dancer

  • : Cerulean Dancer
    Cerulean Dancer
    Argia anceps
  • : Sierra Madre Dancer
    Sierra Madre Dancer
    Argia lacrimans

Citrine vs Mexican Forktail (females)

  • : Citrine Forktail
    Citrine Forktail
    Ischnura hastata
  • : Mexican Forktail
    Mexican Forktail
    Ischnura demorsa

Clubskimmers (three species)

  • : Masked Clubskimmer
    Masked Clubskimmer
    Brechmorhoga pertinax
  • : Pale-faced Clubskimmer
    Pale-faced Clubskimmer
    Brechmorhoga mendax
  • : Slender Clubskimmer
    Slender Clubskimmer
    Brechmorhoga praecox

Dancers (Argia): Male appendages

  • : Amethyst Dancer
    Amethyst Dancer
    Argia pallens
  • : Apache Dancer
    Apache Dancer
    Argia munda
  • : Aztec Dancer
    Aztec Dancer
    Argia nahuana
  • : Blue-fronted Dancer
    Blue-fronted Dancer
    Argia apicalis
  • : Blue-ringed Dancer
    Blue-ringed Dancer
    Argia sedula
  • : California Dancer
    California Dancer
    Argia agrioides
  • : Cerulean Dancer
    Cerulean Dancer
    Argia anceps
  • : Dusky Dancer
    Dusky Dancer
    Argia translata
  • : Fiery-eyed Dancer
    Fiery-eyed Dancer
    Argia oenea
  • : Harkness's Dancer
    Harkness's Dancer
    Argia harknessi
  • : Kiowa Dancer
    Kiowa Dancer
    Argia immunda
  • : Lavender Dancer
    Lavender Dancer
    Argia hinei
  • : Oculate Dancer
    Oculate Dancer
    Argia oculata
  • : Paiute Dancer
    Paiute Dancer
    Argia alberta
  • : Pima Dancer
    Pima Dancer
    Argia pima
  • : Powdered Dancer
    Powdered Dancer
    Argia moesta
  • : Sabino Dancer
    Sabino Dancer
    Argia sabino
  • : Sierra Madre Dancer
    Sierra Madre Dancer
    Argia lacrimans
  • : Sooty Dancer
    Sooty Dancer
    Argia lugens
  • : Spine-tipped Dancer
    Spine-tipped Dancer
    Argia extranea
  • : Springwater Dancer
    Springwater Dancer
    Argia funebris
  • : Tarascan Dancer
    Tarascan Dancer
    Argia tarascana
  • : Tezpi Dancer
    Tezpi Dancer
    Argia tezpi
  • : Tonto Dancer
    Tonto Dancer
    Argia tonto
  • : Variable Dancer
    Variable Dancer
    Argia fumipennis
  • : Vivid Dancer
    Vivid Dancer
    Argia vivida
  • : Yaqui Dancer
    Yaqui Dancer
    Argia carlcooki

Dashers (four species)

  • : Blue Dasher
    Blue Dasher
    Pachydiplax longipennis
  • : Spot-tailed Dasher
    Spot-tailed Dasher
    Micrathyria aequalis
  • : Thornbush Dasher
    Thornbush Dasher
    Micrathyria hagenii
  • : Three-striped Dasher
    Three-striped Dasher
    Micrathyria didyma

Desert vs Rambur's Forktail

  • : Desert Forktail
    Desert Forktail
    Ischnura barberi
  • : Rambur's Forktail
    Rambur's Forktail
    Ischnura ramburii

Dusky vs Sooty vs Tezpi vs Tonto Dancers

  • : Dusky Dancer
    Dusky Dancer
    Argia translata
  • : Sooty Dancer
    Sooty Dancer
    Argia lugens
  • : Tezpi Dancer
    Tezpi Dancer
    Argia tezpi
  • : Tonto Dancer
    Tonto Dancer
    Argia tonto

Eastern vs Intermediate vs Western Pondhawks

  • : Eastern Pondhawk
    Eastern Pondhawk
    Erythemis simplicicollis
  • : Western Pondhawk
    Western Pondhawk
    Erythemis collocata
  • : Western/Eastern Pondhawk Intermediates
    Western/Eastern Pondhawk Intermediates
    Erythemis collocata/simplicollis

Eastern vs Mexican vs Slough Amerwing

  • : Eastern Amberwing
    Eastern Amberwing
    Perithemis tenera
  • : Mexican Amberwing
    Mexican Amberwing
    Perithemis intensa
  • : Slough Amberwing
    Slough Amberwing
    Perithemis domitia

Flame vs Neon Skimmers

  • : Flame Skimmer
    Flame Skimmer
    Libellula saturata
  • : Neon Skimmer
    Neon Skimmer
    Libellula croceipennis

Lavender vs Variable Dancers

  • : Lavender Dancer
    Lavender Dancer
    Argia hinei
  • : Variable Dancer
    Variable Dancer
    Argia fumipennis

Pacific and Plains Forktails

  • : Pacific Forktail
    Pacific Forktail
    Ischnura cervula
  • : Plains Forktail
    Plains Forktail
    Ischnura damula

Red-saddled Saddlebags (four species)

  • : Antillean Saddlebags
    Antillean Saddlebags
    Tramea insularis
  • : Red Saddlebags
    Red Saddlebags
    Tramea onusta
  • : Sooty Saddlebags
    Sooty Saddlebags
    Tramea binotata
  • : Striped Saddlebags
    Striped Saddlebags
    Tramea darwini

Setwings (three species)

  • : Black Setwing
    Black Setwing
    Dythemis nigrescens
  • : Checkered Setwing
    Checkered Setwing
    Dythemis fugax
  • : Swift Setwing
    Swift Setwing
    Dythemis velox

Spot-winged vs Wandering Gliders

  • : Spot-winged Glider
    Spot-winged Glider
    Pantala hymenaea
  • : Wandering Glider
    Wandering Glider
    Pantala flavescens

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