"Odonata" means "Toothed".

Odonata are primitive winged insects. They cannot fold their wings. Their larvae are aquatic. All are predatory.

Characteristics: Two pair of wings. Front and hind wings long and similar in length and shape. Abdomen long and slender. Antenna short bristle-like. Large compound eyes.

Dragonflies - Suborder Anisoptera: Wings usually held outstretched horizontally at rest. Eyes closer together.
Damselflies - Suborder Zygoptera: Wings usually held together or only slightly apart. Eyes farther apart.

Recording of a ZOOM talk I gave on dragonflies to an Audubon group: https://pvsb-audubon.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Those-Dashing-Dragons-An-Introduction-to-Our-Local-Dragonflies-with-Kim-Moore-5-18-21.mp4?fbclid=IwAR1Q1lbY3z-ztaXmPRFCLqlqmHxfeFjmvG1M2QYMw54u5bArzeuoDqPSVMw

Blue dasher - Pachydiplax longipennis

55 photos
Blue dasher - Pachydiplax longipennis

Roseate Skimmer - Orthemis ferruginea

4 photos
Roseate Skimmer - Orthemis ferruginea

Mexican amberwing - Perithemis intensa

18 photos
Mexican amberwing - Perithemis intensa

Twelve-spotted Skimmer - Libellula pulchella

1 photos
Twelve-spotted Skimmer - Libellula pulchella

Flame skimmer - Libuellula saturata

45 photos
Flame skimmer - Libuellula saturata

Neon skimmer - Libellula croceipennis

19 photos
Neon skimmer -  Libellula croceipennis

Red-tailed Pennant - Brachymesia furcata

22 photos
Red-tailed Pennant - Brachymesia furcata

Cardinal Meadowhawk - Sympetrum illotum

4 photos
Cardinal Meadowhawk - Sympetrum illotum

Variegated Meadowhawk - Sympetrum corruptum

58 photos
Variegated Meadowhawk - Sympetrum corruptum

Wandering Glider - Pantala flavescens

11 photos
Wandering Glider - Pantala flavescens

Spot-winged Glider - Pantala hymenaea

27 photos
Spot-winged Glider - Pantala hymenaea

Black Saddlebags - Tramea lacerata

17 photos
Black Saddlebags - Tramea lacerata

Red Saddlebags -Tramea onusta

19 photos
Red Saddlebags -Tramea onusta

Common green darner - Anax junius

42 photos
Common green darner - Anax junius

Blue-eyed darner - Rhionaeschna multicolor

19 photos
Blue-eyed darner - Rhionaeschna multicolor

Vivid dancer - Argia vivida

9 photos
Vivid dancer - Argia vivida

California Dancer - Argia agrioides

3 photos
California Dancer - Argia agrioides

Familiar Bluet - Enallagma civile

12 photos
Familiar Bluet - Enallagma civile

Damselfly - Enallagma sp

4 photos
Damselfly - Enallagma sp

Pacific forktail - Ischnura cervula

13 photos
Pacific forktail - Ischnura cervula

Damselfly - Ischnura denticollis

1 photos
Damselfly  - Ischnura denticollis

Rambur's Forktail - Ischnura ramburii

1 photos
Rambur's Forktail - Ischnura ramburii

Damselfly 1 - Undentified sp.

2 photos
Damselfly 1 - Undentified sp.

Damselfly 3 - Undentified sp.

1 photos
Damselfly 3 - Undentified sp.