Species Spotlight: Columbia Clubtail

The Columbia Clubtail is one of the most interesting dragonfly species in our range—in a number of different respects. First, it was discovered in 1971 on the Yakima River in arid south-central Washington state, and was named by Dennis Paulson in 1983. This makes it the most recently described dragonfly in our range.

Speaking of range, the distribution map for this species is quite strange. In addition to the initial sightings near the Columbia River, in Washington and Oregon, there is also a single sighting on record in both Nevada and New Mexico. Are these remnants of a larger range in the past? Any additional sighting of this species will be of great interest to the dragonfly community.

The Columbia Clubtail is a bold, dramatic-looking dragonfly that is easy to approach, and can be quite abundant in the isolated locations where it occurs. Individuals of both sexes generally perch on the ground, or low in a bush.

Here's a look at the male Columbia Clubtail:

Notice the beautiful blue eyes, and the yellow face. Here's a different view giving a better look at the "club" and the appendages:

Females are quite similar to males in most respects, but they have a smaller "club" at the tip of the abdomen, and much smaller appendages. In addition, their abdomens are stockier near the base. Here's a look at one:

Keep a lookout for this species. Will its distribution and behavior yield further surprises?

For more details see Common Dragonflies and Damselflies of the Pacific Coast, available at the following link:

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