Interactive Butterfly CD
Butterflies of the
Carolinas & Virginias

Lancet Clubtail,
Gomphus exilis

Size 2 inches.

Habitat: Lakes and ponds with sandy bottoms or marshy edges. Also along woodland edges and openings.

Flight Period: April to September.

Similar Species: Diminutive Clubtail or Ashy Clubtail

Comments: Usually the first clubtail and certainly one of the most common. These dragonflies when first emerged the wings are very shiny and can nearly blind you with their wings. Somewhat tame likes to perch on the ground. The females tend to be duller and a bit stockier than the males.

The top and bottom photos were taken in Caswell County, NC on April 27, 2001 and the center photo was taken in Bladen County, NC on April 28, 2001. Caswell is in the piedmont and Bladen is in the coastal plain.

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Dragonflies of NC

Male Lancet Clubtail showing extra yellow in S7, S8, S9