Dragonflies in Arizona in August

Yes, August is one of the best months to see dragonflies in Arizona. It is the 2nd busiest month of the year, with 8,488 of the 53,508 sightings logged across the year (15.9%), based on verified iNaturalist records.

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By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated July 2, 2026.

Black-tailed Ringtail photographed in ArizonaBaja Bluet photographed in ArizonaCanyon Rubyspot photographed in Arizona
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Peak month for dragonflies in Arizona

15.9%

of yearly sightings

8,488

records in August

#2

busiest month of 12

53,508

verified records a year

July 14.3%, August 15.9%, September 16.9%. Busiest month is September at 16.9%.

Best months: September, August, JulyPeak season right now

53,508 verified observations of dragonflies in Arizona, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When dragonflies are recorded in Arizona

Peak month

September

9,032 records (16.9% of the year)

Quietest month

January

335 records

MonthObservationsShare
January3350.6%
February4970.9%
March1,5042.8%
April4,7818.9%
May5,95711.1%
June6,72212.6%
Julypeak7,63414.3%
Augustpeak8,48815.9%
Septemberpeak9,03216.9%
October5,66610.6%
November2,0073.8%
December8851.7%

Dragonflies you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Flame Skimmer3,634
Blue Dasher3,089
Variegated Meadowhawk2,668
Springwater Dancer2,311
Familiar Bluet2,132
Blue-ringed Dancer1,805
Mexican Amberwing1,764
Roseate Skimmer1,524

In Arizona, August carries 15.9% of the year's dragonflies sightings, about 7.6 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 2nd busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity is rising from July (14.3%) into August, and it heads toward September (16.9%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so August is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.

The dragonflies most often recorded in Arizona are Flame Skimmer, Blue Dasher and Variegated Meadowhawk. Those counts are annual totals rather than a August split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in August itself.

Which dragonflies you are most likely to see

  • Flame Skimmer3,634 records
  • Blue Dasher3,089 records
  • Variegated Meadowhawk2,668 records
  • Springwater Dancer2,311 records
  • Familiar Bluet2,132 records
  • Blue-ringed Dancer1,805 records
Plan your tripChiricahua National Monument

Plan your dragonfly trip in Arizona

Start with live tours near Chiricahua National Monument, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.

Frequently asked questions

Can you see dragonflies in Arizona in August?+

Yes. August accounts for 8,488 of the 53,508 verified dragonflies sightings logged in Arizona across the year, which is 15.9% of the annual total.

Is August a good time to see dragonflies in Arizona?+

August is one of the best months. It ranks 2nd of the year and sits inside the peak window of September, August and July.

What month is best for dragonflies in Arizona?+

September is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through September, August and July, based on 53,508 verified observations.

Which dragonflies are you most likely to see in Arizona?+

The most-recorded species in Arizona are Flame Skimmer, Blue Dasher and Variegated Meadowhawk, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.