Best Time to See Dragonflies in the US
June, July and August is the best time to see dragonflies in the United States. This is a national picture built from 2,177,670 verified iNaturalist observations across 50 states, showing when and where dragonflies are most active.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself.
2,177,670 verified observations of dragonflies in the US, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When dragonflies are recorded in the US
Peak month
June
515,885 records (23.7% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 6,949 | 0.3% |
| February | 11,644 | 0.5% |
| March | 55,894 | 2.6% |
| April | 156,168 | 7.2% |
| May | 264,056 | 12.1% |
| Junepeak | 515,885 | 23.7% |
| Julypeak | 472,167 | 21.7% |
| Augustpeak | 335,952 | 15.4% |
| September | 207,063 | 9.5% |
| October | 101,872 | 4.7% |
| November | 38,065 | 1.7% |
| December | 11,955 | 0.5% |
Dragonflies you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Blue Dasher | 132,698 |
| Eastern Pondhawk | 119,646 |
| Common Whitetail | 98,802 |
| Widow Skimmer | 57,498 |
| Ebony Jewelwing | 50,194 |
| Fragile Forktail | 41,555 |
| Eastern Forktail | 40,530 |
| Variegated Meadowhawk | 31,484 |
Across the country, dragonflies sightings peak in June, when 515,885 of the 2,177,670 annual observations are logged, about 23.7% of the national total. Nationwide activity stays high through June, July and August.
The best states to see dragonflies by recorded sightings are Texas (412,889), Ohio (317,924), California (145,175), Florida (143,444) and New Jersey (68,124). Each state page below breaks the year down month by month for that state.
The dragonflies you are most likely to encounter nationwide are Blue Dasher, Eastern Pondhawk and Common Whitetail, the most-recorded species across all states combined.
Best states to see dragonflies
- dragonflies in Texas412,889 sightings, peak June
- dragonflies in Ohio317,924 sightings, peak June
- dragonflies in California145,175 sightings, peak July
- dragonflies in Florida143,444 sightings, peak April
- dragonflies in New Jersey68,124 sightings, peak June
- dragonflies in Virginia67,552 sightings, peak June
- dragonflies in Maryland67,241 sightings, peak June
- dragonflies in New York66,443 sightings, peak July
- dragonflies in North Carolina65,970 sightings, peak June
- dragonflies in Arizona53,508 sightings, peak September
- dragonflies in Massachusetts51,318 sightings, peak July
- dragonflies in Illinois48,951 sightings, peak June
- dragonflies in Minnesota43,459 sightings, peak June
- dragonflies in Michigan42,690 sightings, peak June
- dragonflies in Oregon41,214 sightings, peak July
Most-recorded dragonflies species nationwide
- Blue Dasher132,698 records
- Eastern Pondhawk119,646 records
- Common Whitetail98,802 records
- Widow Skimmer57,498 records
- Ebony Jewelwing50,194 records
- Fragile Forktail41,555 records
Plan your dragonfly trip in Texas
Start with live tours near Texas, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.
GetYourGuide
Live tours nearbySee live tours near Texas
Use the live GetYourGuide widget to compare local departures and activity styles close to the main dragonfly viewing area.
Booking.com
Stay nearbyStay near Texas
Compare hotels, cabins and lodges close to the best dragonfly viewing area in Texas.
Viator
Broader backupBook a dragonfly tour in Texas
Compare guided wildlife tours, boat trips and nature experiences if you want a second travel network beyond the live widget.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to see dragonflies in the US?+
June is the single best month nationwide, with the broader peak running through June, July and August, based on 2,177,670 verified observations across 50 states.
Which states are best for seeing dragonflies?+
By recorded sightings, the top states are Texas, Ohio and California. Texas leads with 412,889 verified observations.
How many dragonflies sightings are recorded in the US each year?+
About 2,177,670 verified dragonflies observations are logged on iNaturalist across 50 states with enough data to chart a seasonal pattern.
What kinds of dragonflies live in the US?+
The most-recorded species nationwide are Blue Dasher, Eastern Pondhawk and Common Whitetail, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.