Nebraska Dragonflies and Damselflies

Orange Shadowdragon

Neurocordulia xanthosoma

Walsh, 1863

This is a large, brownish-orange dragonfly with heavily marked wings. The male's thorax is entirely orange, and the female is a duller orange. The wings are marked with dark dots, especially along the leading edges and the bases of the wings. As with other shadowdragons, this species flies at dusk, but it can also be found at dawn and during the day, especially on cloudy days.

This is a southern species that has been found only once in Nebraska: on July 9, 2019, by Ariel White. It was collected at Iron Horse Trail Lake in Pawnee County and was flying during the day over a "marshy area and perching in evergreens".

Green indicates accepted county record (specimen or photograph).
Yellow indicates sight record only.