Identification

Field Marks

• Average adult size is from approximately 2.0 to 2.5 inches
• Blue eyes
• Face dark above pale below with black band on the frons and small lines around the mouth
• Yellow thorax with 4 approximately evenly spaced dark stripes
• Black abdomen with triangular top spots on segments 3 to 8
• Segments 9 and 10 have no top spots
• Yellow side spots on segments 8 and 9 outlined on the bottom in black
• Black legs

Field Marks

• Female is colored similarly to the male
• Face dark above pale below without the dark bar on the frons like the male
• Base of female hind leg is pale
• Broader abdomen than male with less distinct club
• Yellow spots on the side of the abdomen

Behavior

The aptly named Elusive Clubtail spends most of its time, after emergence, foraging in the tree tops. Making getting a glimpse let alone netting one or getting a picture a difficult prospect. When they do come to the water to mate they spend most of their time far from shore over the open water. They are a late season dragonfly, especially for a Clubtail, and can often be seen through to mid October

Habitat

Large rivers and lakes preferably with a silty bottom

Reproduction

Adults do not spend much time at the breeding site. Females lay eggs by dipping their abdomen into the water