Odonata – fun fact – there is no consistently accepted common name for this order. Coleoptera = Beetles; Lepidoptera = Butterflies and Moths; Hemiptera = True Bugs and so forth. Yet, we can’t agree on the common name for this order. In the U. S. we call them dragonflies and damselflies. In the U. K. all members are called dragonflies. Who knew?

So far, Illinois has a known population of 106 species of dragonflies (suborder Anisoptera), and 48 known species of damselflies (suborder Zygoptera). One additional species is so rare it has not been encountered in quite some time. This brings the total to 154/ 155 species known from Illinois. The Illinois Natural History Survey has published a checklist of all the known Illinois species. Of course, there are fewer species known from central Illinois. The list (with photographs) are of specimens in Mark’s personal collection. This list should be considered incomplete and will be growing as I take more photos of these animals in coming years in central Illinois.

Suborder Anisoptera (dragonflies)

Suborder Zygoptera (damselflies)