Dragonflies in Missouri in August

Yes, August is one of the best months to see dragonflies in Missouri. It is the 3rd busiest month of the year, with 2,974 of the 16,815 sightings logged across the year (17.7%), 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.

Stillwater Clubtail photographed in MissouriWandering Glider photographed in MissouriSmoky Shadowdragon photographed in Missouri
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Peak month for dragonflies in Missouri

17.7%

of yearly sightings

2,974

records in August

#3

busiest month of 12

16,815

verified records a year

July 22.9%, August 17.7%, September 9.2%. Busiest month is June at 27.9%.

Best months: June, July, AugustPeak season right now

16,815 verified observations of dragonflies in Missouri, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When dragonflies are recorded in Missouri

Peak month

June

4,685 records (27.9% of the year)

Quietest month

December

5 records

MonthObservationsShare
January120.1%
February100.1%
March500.3%
April7564.5%
May2,30513.7%
Junepeak4,68527.9%
Julypeak3,84422.9%
Augustpeak2,97417.7%
September1,5549.2%
October5353.2%
November850.5%
December50%

Dragonflies you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Common Whitetail1,670
Widow Skimmer1,215
Eastern Pondhawk1,202
Blue Dasher1,152
Ebony Jewelwing1,031
Springwater Dancer555
Eastern Amberwing537
Blue-fronted Dancer497

In Missouri, August carries 17.7% of the year's dragonflies sightings, about 9.4 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 3rd busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity is easing off from July (22.9%) into August, and it heads toward September (9.2%) 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 Missouri are Common Whitetail, Widow Skimmer and Eastern Pondhawk. 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

  • Common Whitetail1,670 records
  • Widow Skimmer1,215 records
  • Eastern Pondhawk1,202 records
  • Blue Dasher1,152 records
  • Ebony Jewelwing1,031 records
  • Springwater Dancer555 records
Plan your tripGeorge Washington Carver National Monument

Plan your dragonfly trip in Missouri

Start with live tours near George Washington Carver 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 Missouri in August?+

Yes. August accounts for 2,974 of the 16,815 verified dragonflies sightings logged in Missouri across the year, which is 17.7% of the annual total.

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

August is one of the best months. It ranks 3rd of the year and sits inside the peak window of June, July and August.

What month is best for dragonflies in Missouri?+

June is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through June, July and August, based on 16,815 verified observations.

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

The most-recorded species in Missouri are Common Whitetail, Widow Skimmer and Eastern Pondhawk, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.