Butterflies, Moths, Dragonflies & Damselflies of Dayton, Ohio

PRONGHORN clubtail

This Pronghorn Clubtail was photographed at Caesar Creek. This species gets its name from the small "horns" on the ends of the cerci. 

This is a teneral (newly emerged) Pronghorn Clubtail. Its wings are still shiny, and its eyes have not yet developed their mature blue-green color. 

Another teneral Pronghorn Clubtail, with iridescent wings. This was photographed on May 4, 2024, my personal early date for the species. Pronghorn Clubtails emerge in large numbers at Spring Lakes Park, usually from mid-May through late May. Most of these teneral dragonflies mysteriously disappear soon after emergence. A few mature individuals return to the ponds in June and early July. 

This is a close-up view of a Pronghorn Clubtail's distinctive horned cerci. (Note that this is a teneral individual, so the color pattern is fainter and less distinct than it would be on a mature individual.) 

Pronghorn Clubtails can be found at both ponds and rivers. Populations tend to be localized. There is a good population at Spring Lakes Park in Bellbrook, where this individual was photographed. 

This is a close-up view of a mature Pronghorn Clubtail's club, showing the horned cerci. Also, note the design at the end of the abdomen that resembles a stovepipe hat over a small diamond. 

In addition to Spring Lakes Park and Caesar Creek, I have also found Pronghorn Clubtails at Pearl's Fen, Germantown MetroPark, and along the Great Miami River in Miamisburg. 

Female Pronghorn Clubtail, photographed at Caesar Creek. 

Close-up view of the female Pronghorn's club. 

This male Pronghorn Clubtail is more mature than the individual above. Note how the colors are different. The upper markings on its abdomen are pale green rather than yellow, and the eyes are aqua-blue.