Dragonflies in Montana in September

Yes, September is a good month to see dragonflies in Montana. It is the 4th busiest month of the year, with 508 of the 4,060 sightings logged across the year (12.5%), 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.

Variegated Meadowhawk photographed in MontanaPaddle-tailed Darner photographed in MontanaFlame Skimmer photographed in Montana
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Good month for dragonflies in Montana

12.5%

of yearly sightings

508

records in September

#4

busiest month of 12

4,060

verified records a year

August 25.5%, September 12.5%, October 2.2%. Busiest month is July at 38.4%.

Best months: July, August, JunePeak season right now

4,060 verified observations of dragonflies in Montana, recorded across 10 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When dragonflies are recorded in Montana

Peak month

July

1,560 records (38.4% of the year)

Quietest month

January

No verified records

MonthObservationsShare
January00%
February00%
March10%
April50.1%
May1513.7%
Junepeak70317.3%
Julypeak1,56038.4%
Augustpeak1,03625.5%
September50812.5%
October892.2%
November60.1%
December10%

Dragonflies you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Band-winged Meadowhawk185
Striped Meadowhawk180
Variegated Meadowhawk147
Twelve-spotted Skimmer142
White-faced Meadowhawk136
Saffron-winged Meadowhawk130
Paddle-tailed Darner122
Pacific Forktail121

In Montana, September carries 12.5% of the year's dragonflies sightings, about 4.2 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 4th busiest of the twelve months, out of 10 months with recorded activity.

Activity is easing off from August (25.5%) into September, and it heads toward October (2.2%) after. The busiest month is July (38.4%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.

The dragonflies most often recorded in Montana are Band-winged Meadowhawk, Striped Meadowhawk and Variegated Meadowhawk. Those counts are annual totals rather than a September split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in September itself.

Which dragonflies you are most likely to see

  • Band-winged Meadowhawk185 records
  • Striped Meadowhawk180 records
  • Variegated Meadowhawk147 records
  • Twelve-spotted Skimmer142 records
  • White-faced Meadowhawk136 records
  • Saffron-winged Meadowhawk130 records
Plan your tripBig Hole National Battlefield

Plan your dragonfly trip in Montana

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

Frequently asked questions

Can you see dragonflies in Montana in September?+

Yes. September accounts for 508 of the 4,060 verified dragonflies sightings logged in Montana across the year, which is 12.5% of the annual total.

Is September a good time to see dragonflies in Montana?+

September is the 4th busiest month. It is workable, though July and August is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.

What month is best for dragonflies in Montana?+

July is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through July, August and June, based on 4,060 verified observations.

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

The most-recorded species in Montana are Band-winged Meadowhawk, Striped Meadowhawk and Variegated Meadowhawk, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.