Dragonflies in North Dakota: identification guide and best places to start

You will most often see the Common Green Darner, Twelve-spotted Skimmer, and Eastern Pondhawk. The Green Darner is a large, fast flier with a green thorax, while the Twelve-spotted Skimmer has obvious white bands on its wings. Check our dragonfly hub for identification photos.

In North Dakota, dragonflies sightings usually improve when you slow down and match your first stop to where people are most likely to notice them. Use the state wildlife hub and the route guide to narrow your first area, then check access, weather, and distance before you settle in. A short walk with one clear viewing plan often beats covering too much ground, especially when habitat changes fast from open edges to brush, wetlands, timber, shoreline, or neighborhood cover.

Start with any shallow wetland or prairie pothole. Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge, J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge, and the Turtle River State Park area all hold reliable populations. Along the Missouri River near Bismarck you can also find good numbers. The North Dakota wildlife page has more location details.

Late June through early August gives you the best odds. Emergence starts in late May for early species like the Green Darner, but most species peak during the hottest weeks. Warm, calm afternoons after a rain shower often push them into feeding swarms. Keep a notebook handy to track timing.

See our state animal guide for the next step.

Dragonflies hold their wings straight out when perched, while damselflies fold theirs along the body. Dragonflies also have thicker bodies and larger eyes that touch at the top. For a closer look, the dragonfly identification page has side by side comparisons.

Move slowly and avoid sudden shadows. Use a telephoto lens if you have one, or wait near a perch they return to often. Early morning when they are cold and less active is the easiest time. A lightweight tripod helps keep your setup steady. You can find field accessories on our stickers page to mark your gear.