Cordulegastridae - Spiketails

The dragonflies in this family are large, usually between 2.5 and 3.5 inches in length.

Spiketails have wide heads and clear to smoky black wings. They are brown or black with yellow markings. They have large green or blue eyes that meet on the top of their heads.

Spiketails are found near rivers and streams. Female spiketails hover just above the shallow water and poke the tip of their abdomen in the water to deposit their eggs in the river of stream bottom.

Spiketail nymphs spend more than one year in the nymph state.

Cordulegastridae Photo Gallery

World Status Key
Least Concern Near Threatened Vulnerable Endangered Critically Endangered Extinct in Wild Extinct Not Enough Data
Status and range is taken from ICUN Redlist.

U.S. Status Key Threatened in US Endangered in US Introduced Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife. Click on U.S. status icon to go to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife species profile.

New Hampshire Status Key Threatened in NH Endangered in NH Breeds in NH (birds) Status taken from NH Fish and Game

Location Key
Africa Asia Australia/Oceania Europe North America South America NH Click for More Info Click for Image

New Hampshire Species		North American Species
Delta-spotted Spiketail - Cordulegaster diastatops    Twin-spotted Spiketail - Cordulegaster maculata Arrowhead Spiketail - Cordulegaster obliqua		Brown Spiketail - Cordulegaster bilineata Apache Spiketail - Cordulegaster diadema    Pacific Spiketail - Cordulegaster dorsalis Tiger Spiketail - Cordulegaster erronea Sarracenia Spiketail - Cordulegaster sarracenia Say's Spiketail - Cordulegaster sayi  Ouachita Spiketail - Cordulegaster talaria

Selected Species Around the World
Anotogaster basalis  Anotogaster chaoi  Anotogaster flaveola  Anotogaster gigantica  Anotogaster gregoryi  Anotogaster klossi  Anotogaster nipalensis  Anotogaster sakaii  Anotogaster sieboldii Cordulegaster annandalei  Sombre Goldenring - Cordulegaster bidentata Golden-ringed dragonfly - Cordulegaster boltonii Cordulegaster brevistigma  Balkan Goldenring - Cordulegaster heros		Greek Goldenring - Cordulegaster helladica Blue-eyed Goldenring - Cordulegaster insignis  Cordulegaster lunifera  Caucasian Goldenring - Cordulegaster mzymtae Turkish Goldenring  - Cordulegaster picta  Atlas Goldenring - Cordulegaster princeps    Italian Goldenring - Cordulegaster trinacriae   Cordulegaster vanbrinkae  Neallogaster hermionae  Neallogaster latifrons  Neallogaster ornata  Neallogaster schmidti  Sinorogomphus nasutus Sinorogomphus tunti

Additional Information

Key: Profile Photos Video Audio NH Species

Apache Spiketail - Cordulegaster diadema
The Apache spiketail is found in Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. It is also found in Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Mexico.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Atlas Goldenring - Cordulegaster princeps
The Atlas goldenring is found in the Atlas Mountains in Morocco.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section:Yes

Arrowhead Spiketail - Cordulegaster obliqua  
The arrowhead spiketail is found in the eastern U.S. from Maine to northern Florida. It is found in New Hampshire south of the White Mountains.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Arrowhead Spiketail - Cordulegaster obliqua  
The arrowhead spiketail is usually found near small spring fed streams and seeps.
Source: NY Natural Heritage Program Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Balkan Goldenring - Cordulegaster heros  
The Balkan Goldenring is found in Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia , Slovakia, and Slovenia.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section:Yes

Caucasian Goldenring - Cordulegaster mzymtae
The Caucasian goldenring is found in Georgia and Turkey.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section:Yes

Delta-spotted Spiketail - Cordulegaster diastatops    
The delta-spotted spiketail is found in the Northeastern U.S. and southeastern Canada. It is found across New Hampshire.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Golden-ringed dragonfly - Cordulegaster boltonii
The golden-winged dragonfly is found in the United Kingdom.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section:Yes

Greek Goldenring - Cordulegaster helladica
The Greek goldenring is found in Greece.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section:Yes

Italian Goldenring - Cordulegaster trinacriae
The Italian goldenring is found in Italy.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section:Yes

Pacific Spiketail - Cordulegaster dorsalis
The Pacific spiketail is found in the Western U.S.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Pacific Spiketail - Cordulegaster dorsalis
The Pacific spiketail is found near streams and rivers.
Source: Montana FieldGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Say's Spiketail - Cordulegaster sayi
Say's spiketail is found in Florida and Georgia.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section:Yes

Say's Spiketail - Cordulegaster sayi
Say's spiketail adults are active only from March-April.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Sombre Goldenring - Cordulegaster bidentata
The Sombre goldenring is found in western, south, southeast and central Europe.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section:Yes

Tiger Spiketail - Cordulegaster erronea
Tiger spiketail is found in New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia, Mississippi, Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Twin-spotted Spiketail - Cordulegaster maculata
The twin-spotted spiketail is found from Ontario and Prince Edward Island south to Texas and Florida. The twin-spotted spiketail is found across New Hampshire.
Source: BioKids Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary School

Twin-spotted Spiketail - Cordulegaster maculata
The twin-spotted spiketail is found near forest streams and rivers.
Source: BugGuide Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School