Pygmy Snaketail (Ophiogomphus howei) is a very small clubtail, similar in length to Eastern Least Clubtail and the pygmy clubtails (Lanthus sp.), but rather stockier in build. This beautiful snaketail shows a green thorax like other Ophiogomphus, but also has amber-tinted basal wing patches on the hind wings, which are very distinctive. It has a marked preference for high quality, rocky creeks and rivers with riffles and sections of mud substrate. This species makes short strafes over the breeding habitat for patrolling or ovipositing, but appears to spend most of its time away from the water, making it a frustrating species to observe or document (Paulson, 2011). In Maryland, Pygmy Snaketail was only recently confirmed to occur. It is known from Washington and Allegany Counties, from larger creeks, and several exuviae from the Potomac River itself (Richard Orr's The Dragonflies and Damselflies of Maryland and the District of Columbia). It is ranked as S1 (highly state rare).
There are 7 records in the project database.
GA | AL | WA | FR | CL | MO | HO | BA | BC | HA | CE | PG | AA | CV | CH | SM | KE | QA | CN | TA | DO | WI | SO | WO |