Dragonflies in Minnesota in July

Yes, July is one of the best months to see dragonflies in Minnesota. It is the 2nd busiest month of the year, with 11,840 of the 43,459 sightings logged across the year (27.2%), 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 June 28, 2026.

Common Green Darner photographed in MinnesotaBaskettails photographed in MinnesotaSt. Croix Snaketail photographed in Minnesota
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Peak month for dragonflies in Minnesota

27.2%

of yearly sightings

11,840

records in July

#2

busiest month of 12

43,459

verified records a year

June 39.7%, July 27.2%, August 13.6%. Busiest month is June at 39.7%.

Best months: June, July, AugustPeak season right now

43,459 verified observations of dragonflies in Minnesota, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When dragonflies are recorded in Minnesota

Peak month

June

17,259 records (39.7% of the year)

Quietest month

December

9 records

MonthObservationsShare
January180%
February180%
March260.1%
April3250.7%
May3,6758.5%
Junepeak17,25939.7%
Julypeak11,84027.2%
Augustpeak5,89413.6%
September3,4477.9%
October8882%
November600.1%
December90%

Dragonflies you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Autumn Meadowhawk2,264
Eastern Forktail2,246
Common Green Darner2,079
Widow Skimmer1,866
Twelve-spotted Skimmer1,833
Common Whitetail1,711
White-faced Meadowhawk1,526
Chalk-fronted Corporal1,519

In Minnesota, July carries 27.2% of the year's dragonflies sightings, about 18.9 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 easing off from June (39.7%) into July, and it heads toward August (13.6%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so July is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.

The dragonflies most often recorded in Minnesota are Autumn Meadowhawk, Eastern Forktail and Common Green Darner. Those counts are annual totals rather than a July split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in July itself.

Which dragonflies you are most likely to see

  • Autumn Meadowhawk2,264 records
  • Eastern Forktail2,246 records
  • Common Green Darner2,079 records
  • Widow Skimmer1,866 records
  • Twelve-spotted Skimmer1,833 records
  • Common Whitetail1,711 records
Plan your tripGrand Portage National Monument

Plan your dragonfly trip in Minnesota

Start with live tours near Grand Portage 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 Minnesota in July?+

Yes. July accounts for 11,840 of the 43,459 verified dragonflies sightings logged in Minnesota across the year, which is 27.2% of the annual total.

Is July a good time to see dragonflies in Minnesota?+

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

What month is best for dragonflies in Minnesota?+

June is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through June, July and August, based on 43,459 verified observations.

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

The most-recorded species in Minnesota are Autumn Meadowhawk, Eastern Forktail and Common Green Darner, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.