Minnesota Dragonfly

Pronghorn Clubtail

Phanogomphus graslinellus

The Pronghorn Clubtail is a midsized brown and yellow Clubtail with blue eyes. It was moved from the genus Gomphus to the new genus Phanogomphus. It looks similar to many of the other member of Phanogomphus, particularly the Lancet Clubtail that is a little smaller and has different shaped cerci

Identification

Field Marks
  • Average adult size is approximately from 1.7 to 2.1 inches
  • Pale yellow face with no facial markings
  • Blue eyes, bluish-grey when immature
  • Greenish yellow thorax with the front pair of thoracic stripes slightly seperated and the second pair connected, widening at the base
  • Brown legs with pale tibiae
  • Dark abdomen with yellow lance shaped top spots on segments 3-8
  • Segment 9 is mostly yellow on top with a yellow spot on segment 10
  • The sides of segment 8 and 9 are covered by bright yellow patches
  • Cerci are shaped like the horns of a pronghorn antelope, which is where the species gets its common name

Click on photos above for a close-up view.

Natural History

Behavior

Like other species of Phanogomphus, Pronghorn Clubtail are typically found perched on a rock, the ground, or low in the bushes. Males may patrol the water but they rarely stop to hover like many other species of Gomphidae

Habitat

Slow moving water such as lakes, ponds, and slow moving streams

Reproduction

Females lay eggs by flying slowly and tapping their abdomen on the surface of the water every few feet. Each tap they can lay up to around 50 eggs.

Range Maps

Click on the icons above for this species' range maps

Click here for county and state checklists from Odonata Central.

Range maps and checklists courtesy of Odonata Central. Copyright © 2016 OdonataCentral. All Rights Reserved. Abbott, J.C. 2006-2018. OdonataCentral: An online resource for the distribution and identification of Odonata. Available at www.odonatacentral.org.