Harpoon clubtail

Gomphus descriptus

Species Type: invertebrate

Conservation Status: threatened

IDENTIFICATION

Ranging from 1.8” to 1.9”, the harpoon clubtail has a brown thorax and black abdomen both marked with gray green stripes;, a gray-green face, and pale to deep blue eyes. Coloration is similar between sexes but females are stouter with a less pronounced “club.”

Distribution & Habitat

Harpoon clubtails are limited to the ridges and valleys of Sussex County where they inhabit rivers and streams near gravel bars. These dragonflies spend much of their time burrowing.

Diet

Nymphs feed on aquatic invertebrates and sometimes even small fish and tadpoles. Adults feed on soft-bodied flying insects like mosquitoes, flies, and moths.

Life Cycle

Active from early May to early July, breeding occurs primarily in May and June. After mating, females will oviposit their eggs on the surface of the water where eggs are carried down stream to small pools where the larvae will emerge.

Current Threats, Status, and Conservation

Due to its rarity and limited suitable habitat, the harpoon clubtail is considered Threatened in New Jersey.

References

Text derived from the book, Field Guide to Dragonflies and Damselflies of New Jersey. 2009. By Allen E. Barlow and Jim Bangma.

Edited and updated by Karena Di Leo in 2011.

Scientific Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Family: Gomphidae
Genus: Gomphus
Species: G. descriptus