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splendid clubtail
splendid clubtail (Gomphurus lineatifrons) [female]
Photo © Paul Dacko
splendid clubtail (Gomphurus lineatifrons) [male]
Photo © Paul Dacko
Features and Behaviors
FEATURES
The splendid clubtail is 2.5 inches long, black and yellow bodied; with large, well separated eyes. They have large green eyes on a mostly yellow face with black markings. The thorax is mostly yellow, with black patterning mostly on the top and they have black legs. Abdomen is mostly black, with small patches of yellow underneath. Females tend to have yellow tinted wings, a larger abdomen, and are more yellow-green than yellow. Gomphus belongs to the subgenus Gomphurus. Many genera (Gomphus, Hylogomphus, and Stylurus) within Gomphurus look very similar and are differentiated by differences in wing venation.
BEHAVIORS
The splendid clubtail is seen flying over large rivers from May to July in only the very southern region of the state near the Ohio River. They are predators of other dragonflies and butterflies.
Illinois Range
Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Family: Gomphidae
Illinois Status: common, native
