Photos of UAE damselflies and dragonflies
There are around 27 species of damselflies and dragonflies known to occur in UAE.
Update 17 Sep 2022: Smugmug, the host of our photos, have corrupted some of the links below. If you click on a species, and a broken link appear, please go directly to the Damselflies and Dragonflies page by clicking here
Damselflies Zygoptera
Family Protoneuridae
Arabineura khalidi - Hajar Wadi Damsel
Family Platycnemididae
Arabicnemis caerulea - Powder Blue Damsel
Family Coenagrionidae
Ceriagrion glabrum - Olive-eyes Damsel - no known photos from the UAE
Ischnura evansi - Evan's Bluetail
Ischnura senegalensis - Senegal Bluetail
Pseudagrion decorum - Elegant Sprite
Rhodischnura nursei - new species to Arabia
Dragonflies Anisoptera
Family Gomphidae
Lindenia tetraphylla - Arabian Bladetail - no known photos from the UAE
Paragomphus genei - Green Hooktail
Paragomphus sinaiticus - Sinai Hooktail
Family Aeshnidae
Anax parthenope - Lesser Emperor
Anax ephippiger - Vagrant Emperor
Family Libellulidae
Crocothemis erythraea - Carmine Darter
Crocothemis sanguinolenta - Bloody Scarlet
Diplacodes lefebvrei - Purple Darter
Orthetrum chrysostigma - Epaulet Skimmer
Orthetrum sabina - Slender Skimmer
Orthetrum taeniolatum - Azure Skimmer (Small Skimmer) - no known photos from the UAE
Pantala flavescens - Wandering Glider
Selysiothemis nigra - Black Pennant
Sympetrum fonscolombii - Red-veined Darter
Trithemis annulata - Purple-blushed Darter
Trithemis arteriosa - Gulley Darter
Trithemis kirbyi - Orange Darter
Zygonyx torridus - Ringed Cascader
Traema basilaris - Keyhole Glider (discovered in 2010 by Huw Roberts)
Urothemis thomasi - new to the UAE
Family Gomphidae
Lindenia tetraphylla - one individual apparently of this species on Lulu Island 21.04.2017 (OJ Campbell) - no known previous records from the UAE.