Black dragonflies have fascinated zoologists with their mating style, appearance, etc. for a long time. These insects are known for their striking appearance, which makes them stand out from the rest.
In today’s article, we are going to talk about these black dragonflies. So let’s start with the list of 10 black dragonfly species in the world.
10 Black Dragonfly Species In The World
1. Black Pondhawk
| Scientific name | Erythemis attala |
| Size | No Information |
| Location | Caribbean Sea, Central America, North America, and South America |
| Identification | Almost black with one yellow tip on the abdomen |
Black Pondhawk got their name from their habitat and predatory behavior. This black dragonfly exhibits sexual dimorphism. Males are almost black with one yellow mark on their abdomen, whereas females are mostly yellow or brown with a little bit of black marking.
This species is found in the Caribbean Sea, Central America, North America, and South America, inhabiting the tropics.
2. Clamp tipped Emerald
| Scientific name | Somatochlora tenebrosa |
| Size | 48-54 mm |
| Location | North America |
| Identification | Black body with metallic green eyes |
The second dragonfly we have on the list of black dragonflies is Clamp-tipped Emerald. These dragonflies are black and measure from 48 to 54 mm.
This species has metallic green eyes and a greenish sheen all over the body, making them distinct. You can find this dragonfly from the United States to Canada, covering all of North America, flying from June to September.
3. Black saddlebags
| Scientific name | Tramea lacerata |
| Size | 1.5 to 2.5 inches |
| Location | North America |
| Identification | Have black wings with large black blotch present at their proximal end |
As the name indicates, black saddlebags have black wings with large bands at their proximal ends, resembling the saddlebags. This North American native mostly prefers stagnant watery habitats like ponds, lakes, ditches, etc.
These dragonflies are very important to control the population of mosquitoes, as they mostly feed on them. Females tend to be larger than males. They are sometimes referred to as dancing gliders because of their unique mating style.
4. Black Darter
| Scientific name | Sympetrum danae |
| Size | 29 to 34 mm |
| Location | Â Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Northern England and on heaths in Southern England |
| Identification | Black body with yellow markings on their abdomen |
The black darter is commonly found in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Northern England, and on heaths in southern England in the months of June to October. They are considered Britain’s smallest dragonflies.
Males are almost black, with some yellow markings on their abdomen and thorax. Females are brownish-yellow in color and can be identified by their jet-black legs. These darter dragonflies mostly prefer wet, acidic heathlands and bogs.
5. American Emerald
| Scientific name | Cordulia shurtleffii |
| Size | 1.75 to 2 inches |
| Location | North America |
| Identification | Have black bodies with green emerald eyes |
Cordulia shurtleffii is commonly known as American Emerald and is found in North America. This American species has distinct green emerald eyes. Their bodies are also black with a greenish sheen and transparent wings.
Their body length varies from 1.75 to 2 inches. You can find them flying near stagnant water sources like bog ponds, marshes, etc. from mid-May to mid-July.
6. Black-winged dragonlet
| Scientific name | Erythrodiplax funerea |
| Size | No information |
| Location | Central America, North America, and South America |
| Identification | Wings are black till nodus and the rest is transparent |
Erythrodiplax funerea is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. it is commonly known as a black-winged dragonlet. they prefer habitats with abundant vegetation and organic matter.
It is a medium-sized dragonfly and can be identified by its wings. their wings are black till nodus and the rest of them is transparent and their body is blackish blue in color. The mating process consists of two phases: the wheel formation and the oviposition.
7. Belted Whiteface
| Scientific name | Leucorrhinia proxima |
| Size | 1.3 to 1.4 inches |
| Location | Canada and the United States |
| Identification | Black body with white face and red thorax |
The belted Whiteface dragonfly is well known for its amazing appearance. You can easily identify them by their white faces and black legs. Their appearance changes with aging.
Also known as red-waisted white face, as males have red markings on the thorax. They are medium-sized, with an average length of 1.3 to 1.4 inches. They are seen near water bodies like ponds, lakes, etc. in Canada and the United States.
8. Pin-tailed pondhawk
| Scientific name | Erythemis plebeja |
| Size | 41 – 49 mm |
| Location | Caribbean Sea, Central America, North America, and South America |
| Identification | Black body with several white bands on their abdomen |
Dragonflies have the ability to mesmerize us. Here is one such dragonfly we have on our list: Erythemis plebeja. Pin-tailed pondhawk is the common name of this species, which belongs to the family Libellulidae and is native to the Caribbean Sea, Central America, North America, and South America.
Males of this species are brighter than females. and have a black, long appendage arising from their abdomen, giving them the name pin-tailed. Talking about their general appearance, they have black bodies with white markings on their abdominal segments.
9. Lined hooktail
| Scientific name | Paragomphus lineatus |
| Abdomen Size | 31 to 37 mm |
| Location | Afghanistan, India, Iran, the Islamic Republic of Nepal, Pakistan, the Syrian Arab Republic, Turkey |
| Identification | yellow body with black markings and bluish gray eyes |
The abdominal segments of these dragonflies are yellow with black apical rings, making them quite unique in nature. Lined hooktails or common hooktails are some of the Paragomphus lineatus.
They have characteristic hook-like appendages on anal segments. Their eyes are bluish gray and have an abdominal size of 31 to 37 mm. They are commonly found from India to Turkey, including Afghanistan, India, Iran, the Islamic Republic of Nepal, Pakistan, the Syrian Arab Republic, and Turkey.
10. Chalk fronted corporal
| Scientific name | Ladona julia |
| Size | 1.6 to 1.8 inches |
| Location | Northern United States and southern Canada. |
| Identification | have black body with white coloration on thorax and abdomen |
The last black dragonfly we have on our list is Ladona julia. They are commonly known as chalk-fronted corporals as they have white coloration on the top of the thorax and base of the abdomen.
The size of these dragonflies ranges from 1.6 to 1.8 inches. The juvenile stages of these dragonflies are more brownish in color. This gregarious species is commonly found in the northern United States and southern Canada.
Conclusion:
In this article, we list ten black dragonflies found in nature. Like every insect, they are mesmerizing and have many benefits. So after reading this post, when you encounter this helicopter insect, aka dragonfly, you must admire the beauty of nature. We hope you like this article. We will come up with another blog soon.
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Being a zoology student I’m always been fascinated toward animals especially insects. I love to do research and learn about different animals. As a writer I want to share my thoughts about nature through my articles. Apart from this you can find me exploring the new places and voice notes.