Insect
Dusky Clubtail
Phanogomphus spicatusDusky clubtails are medium-sized clubtail dragonflies found around clear lakes, boggy ponds, and slow streams across northeastern North America. Males spend sunny mornings basking on low shoreline vegetation, bare sand, or floating logs, flying out periodically to defend small territories. Females drop their eggs into shallow water with rapid taps of the abdomen, leaving aquatic nymphs to spend up to two years buried in muddy bottom sediment hunting larvae.
PerchingAquatic LarvaeNorth American
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyMosquitoes, Midges, Small moths
Predators
- Birds
- Frogs
- Larger dragonflies
ThreatsWater pollution, shoreline development, and pesticide runoff
HabitatsLakes, boggy ponds, and slow-moving woodland streams
Life span1–2 years (majority spent as aquatic nymph)
Classification
- OrderOdonata
- FamilyGomphidae
- GenusPhanogomphus
- SpeciesPhanogomphus spicatus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Perch Watching: Look for males basking on low vegetation, rocks, or bare sand along sunny shorelines.
- Approach Gently: Move slowly from behind to get close-up photographs without startling them into flight.
- Seasonal Timing: Best observed in late spring and early summer during peak flight season.
Competitor (c) Eugene Zelenko, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Michael J. Papay, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative no rights reserved · cc0
Image unavailableClose Relative
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Found in Collections
Ecosystem chain
Wetland Territory
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