Ophiogomphus (Snaketails)

Most snaketails live in eastern North America. The three species in BC fly along clear, relatively warm streams and lakeshores; uncommon in settled areas, at least partly because the burrowing larvae are sensitive to changes in water flow and siltation, and they are especially affected by poor logging practices. The mature adult's thorax is green; younger adults are more yellow. The abdomen has white or yellow marks on the sides and yellow spots on top; this snake-like pattern gives the genus its English and scientific names (ophio is Greek for "snake" and gomphos means "bolt" or "arrow"). The hindwings have a three-celled anal loop (fig. 10a). Male's upper appendages are short and usually pointed in side view.

Figure 10. Anal loops: a, Ophiogomphus (represented by O. severus); b, Corduliidae (Cordulia shurtleffi); c, Libellulidae (Sympetrum vicinum). M = membranule.

Ophiogomphus colubrinus (Boreal Snaketail)

Ophiogomphus severus (Pale Snaketail)