Wisconsin’s diverse wetlands, lakes, and marshes provide the perfect backdrop for some of nature’s most fascinating aerial acrobats.
Over 160 species of dragonflies call Wisconsin home, including common varieties like darners, clubtails, spiketails, cruisers, emeralds, and skimmers.
These remarkable insects captivate observers with their acrobatic flights and stunning appearances.
The Blue Dasher dragonfly showcases vibrant blue coloring in males and features distinctive yellow-striped patterns, making it one of the most frequently spotted species around Wisconsin’s calm waters.
The Wisconsin Dragonfly Society actively works to protect these incredible insects through conservation efforts and research.
From spring through fall, dragonflies grace the state’s waterways, offering endless opportunities for nature enthusiasts to observe their remarkable behaviors and stunning variety of colors.
1. Common Green Darner
The Common Green Darner is one of Wisconsin’s largest dragonflies, with an impressive wingspan reaching up to 4 inches wide.
Their slender bodies stretch between 2-2.5 inches in length. These magnificent insects display striking coloration.
Males feature a bright green thorax paired with a vibrant blue abdomen, while females exhibit similar green coloring with brown accents.
The species is found near still waters with emergent or floating aquatic plants throughout Wisconsin.
They are skilled aerialists, capable of flying at speeds up to 30 mph.
Common Green Darners are migratory dragonflies. Each spring, they journey northward into Wisconsin, and in autumn, new generations make the return trip south.
Key Features:
- Length: 2-2.5 inches
- Wingspan: Up to 4 inches
- Colors: Green thorax with blue or brown abdomen
- Flight period: Early April through mid-September
- Habitat: Lakes, ponds, and wetlands
These dragonflies are voracious predators, consuming mosquitoes, flies, bees, and other small flying insects.
Their large compound eyes provide nearly 360-degree vision, making them highly effective hunters.
2. Blue Dasher
Blue Dashers are among Wisconsin’s most prevalent dragonfly species, frequently seen near calm or slow-moving water bodies.
Adult Blue Dashers measure 1-1.5 inches in length. Male Blue Dashers display vibrant blue coloring with distinctive yellow-striped thoraces and metallic green eyes.
Female specimens exhibit more subdued colors, featuring brown and yellow striped abdomens and red eyes.
Their range extends from British Columbia to Ontario, reaching south through most of North America except for the Rockies and Dakotas.
These dragonflies also appear in Mexico, the Bahamas, and Belize.
Recent observations from the Wisconsin Odonata Survey indicate that Blue Dashers may be expanding their territory northward within the state.
Preferred Habitat:
- Calm water bodies
- Slow-moving streams
- Wetland areas
- Ponds
Blue Dashers are active during warm months and can often be spotted perched on vegetation near water’s edge, watching for prey or potential mates.
3. Painted Skimmer
The Painted Skimmer dragonfly (Libellula semifasciata) is considered rare in Wisconsin, appearing primarily along the Lake Michigan shoreline.
Wisconsin marks the northern edge of its natural range. These distinctive dragonflies prefer perching on twigs near water bodies.
Their habitat extends from Texas to Florida and up through Maine and Ontario, becoming progressively scarcer in northern regions.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources classifies the Painted Skimmer as a Special Concern species.
Scientists believe it may be a facultative migrant, meaning it moves seasonally based on environmental conditions.
Key identification features:
- Dark wing patches at base and middle
- Brown and yellow striped body
- Distinctive flight pattern
- Medium-sized compared to other skimmers
The best time to spot Painted Skimmers is during warm summer months near wetland areas, ponds, or slow-moving streams.
Their presence in Wisconsin provides valuable insights into climate change and species range expansion.
4. Twelve-Spotted Skimmer
The Twelve-spotted Skimmer is a distinctive dragonfly with three black spots adorning each wing.
Mature males display additional white spots between the black markings, creating a striking pattern that makes identification easy.
These medium-sized dragonflies have wingspans around 2 inches for males and 2.25 inches for females. Their bodies are slender and brown, contributing to their elegant appearance.
These dragonflies prefer habitats near water sources, including ponds, lakes, and slow-moving streams.
Females lay their eggs in these water bodies, where they hatch into naiads – aquatic juveniles that look more like crustaceans than dragonflies.
Male Twelve-spotted Skimmers are territorial and often select prominent perches near open water.
They frequently return to the same spot after patrolling their territory, making them relatively easy to observe and photograph.
Preferred Habitats:
- Ponds
- Lakes
- Marshes
- Slow-moving streams
- Wetland areas
5. Halloween Pennant
The Halloween Pennant is one of Wisconsin’s most distinctive dragonflies, featuring bright orange wings with black bands that make it easily recognizable.
These eye-catching dragonflies belong to the Odonata family and prefer to rest on tall vegetation near water bodies.
Unlike other dragonfly species in Wisconsin, Halloween Pennants do not display territorial behavior.
Males spend their time perched on reeds and grasses near the water’s edge, waiting for potential mates.
When mating occurs, pairs form a distinctive wheel shape while in flight. These dragonflies thrive in specific habitats.
They prefer slow-moving or still waters, where their naiads (young) develop.
Their naiads are less competitive compared to other dragonfly species, which influences their habitat selection.
The Halloween Pennant (Celithemis eponina) can be found throughout Wisconsin’s wetland areas, including:
- Marshes
- Ponds
- Creek edges
- Stream banks
6. Eastern Pondhawk
The Eastern Pondhawk is a small yet distinctive dragonfly species that stands out with its striking appearance.
Males have a deep blue tail and females have brown tails, making them easy to distinguish between sexes.
These agile insects have remarkable emerald green eyes and a wingspan that varies by sex.
Males measure around 1.5 inches across, while females are slightly larger at 1.75 inches.
Eastern Pondhawks are fierce predators despite their small size.
They can capture and consume prey equal to their own size, demonstrating impressive hunting abilities.
Key Physical Features:
- Size: 1.5-1.75 inches wingspan
- Male Coloring: Deep blue tail
- Female Coloring: Brown tail
- Eyes: Bright emerald green
- Body Type: Slender and streamlined
These dragonflies prefer habitats near water bodies where they can hunt and reproduce.
They are commonly spotted patrolling their territory during warm summer days, perching on vegetation between hunting flights.
7. Meadowhawk
Meadowhawks are small to medium-sized dragonflies commonly found throughout Wisconsin.
These agile flyers belong to the Skimmer family Libellulidae and include nine different species recorded in Wisconsin.
The Autumn Meadowhawk is a distinctive species with a red thorax and abdomen, yellowish legs, and clear wings.
They frequently inhabit forested wetlands and can be seen flying well into the fall season.
Band-winged Meadowhawks feature stocky brown bodies with yellow or cream-colored bands across their wing bases.
Their eyes display a sage green color, and they have a wingspan of 2-2.5 inches.
Most Meadowhawk species prefer to lay their eggs in shallow water with emergent vegetation.
These dragonflies can be challenging to identify due to similarities between species and variations in coloring between males and females.
Unlike many other dragonflies, some Meadowhawk species are less commonly seen near open water.
They often prefer perching in grassy areas or along forest edges where they hunt for small flying insects.
8. Great Blue Skimmer
The Great Blue Skimmer is one of the rarest dragonflies in Wisconsin, with sightings documented in only five years out of the past fifteen.
Adult males display a striking powder-blue coloration across their bodies, while females exhibit more muted brown tones.
Both sexes feature robust bodies and strong wings characteristic of the skimmer family.
These dragonflies prefer habitats near slow-moving waters and ponds.
They are skilled aerial predators, catching smaller insects in flight while patrolling their territory.
Wisconsin represents the northern edge of the Great Blue Skimmer’s range.
The Wisconsin Odonata Survey maintains detailed records of these rare visitors, with most years recording just one or two individual sightings.
Key Identification Features:
- Length: 2.5-3 inches
- Male coloration: Powder blue body
- Female coloration: Brown with yellow markings
- Distinctive clear wings
- Robust body structure
The best time to spot Great Blue Skimmers in Wisconsin is during the warmest summer months when they occasionally venture north from their more typical southern range.
9. Slaty Skimmer
Slaty Skimmers in Wisconsin are medium-sized dragonflies known for their distinctive slate blue-gray coloring.
Male dragonflies develop this pruinose coating as they mature, giving them their characteristic appearance.
These dragonflies are rare in Wisconsin and prefer specific habitats.
They gravitate toward ponds and still waters surrounded by woodland areas, where they spend most of their time perched in sunny spots along the vegetation.
Males display highly territorial behavior, actively defending their chosen shoreline areas.
When other males intrude, they engage in dramatic aerial displays featuring aggressive posturing, loop-the-loops, and high-speed chases.
Female Slaty Skimmers are seldom seen near water bodies unless they’re actively breeding.
They’re most active during morning hours when they hunt for insects, capturing their prey mid-flight with remarkable precision.
While commonly found in eastern Wisconsin, these shy insects can be challenging to spot.
The best time to observe them is when they’re perched along woodland edges or darting out to catch passing insects.
10. Widow Skimmer
The Widow Skimmer dragonfly is easily identified by its distinctive wing pattern featuring large dark patches on the basal half of each wing.
Adults measure 1.7-2 inches in length with bulky bodies. Males display a striking steel-blue coloration and develop broad white spots on their wings as they mature.
Female Widow Skimmers exhibit a different color scheme, wearing yellow and black markings.
This sexual dimorphism helps distinguish between the genders during mating season.
These dragonflies frequent Wisconsin’s wetland areas, where they can be observed performing acrobatic flights.
They patrol their territories near ponds, lakes, and slow-moving streams.
Key Features:
- Length: 1.7-2 inches
- Wings: Dark basal patches
- Male: Steel-blue with white wing spots
- Female: Yellow and black coloration
- Habitat: Wetlands and water bodies
They are active during warm months and serve as skilled predators, helping control mosquito and other small insect populations in Wisconsin’s ecosystem.
