Members of this family have many common names including: chasers, skimmers, perchers, and darters. This is the most speciose family of dragonflies with well over 1,000 described species found throughout the world (except for Antarctica, of course). The family name is derived from the Latin – libella – a carpenter’s level. Many species stay level when hovering.

Celthemis ellisa (dorsal view of adult)

Celithemis elisa (Hagen, 1861) [Calico pennant] (Peoria Co.)

Celithemis eponina (dorsal view of adult)

Celithemis eponina (Drury, 1773) [Halloween pennant] (Peoria Co.)

Libellula luctuosa (dorsal view of adult)

Libellula luctuosa Burmeister, 1839 [Widow skimmer] (Peoria Co.)

Libellula pulchella (dorsal view of adult)

Libellula pulchella (Drury, 1773) [Twelve-spotted skimmer] (Peoria Co.)

Libellula quadrimaculata (dorsal view of adult)

Libellula quadrimaculata Linnaeus, 1758 [Four-spotted chaser] (Peoria Co.)

Pachydiplax longipennis (dorsal view of adult)

Pachydiplax longipennis (Burmeister, 1839) [Blue dasher] (Marshall Co.)

Pantala flavescens (dorsal view of adult)

Pantala flavescens (Fabricius, 1798) [Wandering glider] (Peoria Co.)

Perithemis tenera (dorsal view of adult)

Perithemis tenera (Say, 1840) [Eastern amberwing] (Peoria Co.)

Platythemia lydia (dorsal view of adult)

Plathemis lydia (Drury, 1773) [Common whitetail] (Peoria Co.)

Sympetrum costiferum (dorsal view of adult)

Sympetrum costiferum (Hagen, 1861) [Saffron-winged meadowhawk] (Peoria Co.)

Sympetrum rubicondulum (dorsal view of adult)

Sympetrum rubicundulum (Say, 1839) [Ruby meadowhawk] (Peoria Co.)

Sympetrum vicinum (dorsal view of adult)

Sympetrum vicinum (Hagen, 1861) [Autumn meadowhawk] (Peoria Co.)

Tramea onusta (dorsal view of adult)

Tramea onusta (Hagen, 1861) [Red saddlebags] (Peoria Co.)