Green-faced clubtail

Gomphus viridifrons

Species Type: invertebrate

Conservation Status: special concern

IDENTIFICATION

Reaching 1.8” in length, the green-faced clubtail has dark green eyes. The face and thorax are a clear grayish-green color. The abdomen is mostly black with yellow spots on the club. Females have no club and pale yellow-green lateral markings on the abdomen.

Distribution & Habitat

The green-faced clubtail has only been recorded in Sussex County along the upper Delaware River. Most of the current information from New Jersey comes from exuvial shells except for one recent adult sighing. New Jersey is the eastern edge of this species’ range.

Diet

Larvae feed on smaller aquatic insects while the adults hunt insects in flight.

Life Cycle

The current information which is limited suggests that adults are active in June.

Current Threats, Status, and Conservation

Due to its rarity in New Jersey the green-faced clubtail is considered a species of Special Concern 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 Larissa Smith in 2011.

Scientific Classification

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