Stenogomphurus rogersi

Stenogomphurus rogersi (Sable Clubtail)

A small, dark appearing clubtail. The males have turquoise eyes; pale face, and dark shoulders (not to be confused with Black-Shouldered Spinylegs (https://odonata.app/taxon/715356). The face is pale and can show some black lines crossing it. T1–2 broad and complete, touching at ends and often with stripe between them restricted and topped with spot; T3–4 fine, T3 incomplete. Its legs are black as is most of the abdomen; there are small light yellow triangles at the base of S3–6, and along the lower sides of the minuscule "club" (S7-S9). The female is colored similarly to the male but a bit more yellow on abdomen, including fine dorsal lines on segments and prominent patches on edges of S8–9. The wingtips of both sexes have a slightly dusky appearance.

Sources:

Paulson, Dennis. Dragonflies and Damselflies of the East (Princeton Field Guides Book 80) (p. 265).

Includes edits by

Nathaniel Schwartz (gnat79)

This species can be distinguished other species in its range as follows:

The similar Cherokee Clubtail (only rarely found on same stream) has T3 being incomplete or lacking. Overall darker, more likely to have black markings on face, also black front of occiput (pale in Cherokee). Fine pale line well separated from wider spot between T1 and T2 (usually slightly wider line merely expanded at top in Cherokee) and pale abdominal markings at absolute minimum in males, never more than edge of S8–9 (female abdomens much more similar). See Cherokee for species similar to both that species and this one.
The slender, dark abdomen produces superficial similarity to the Stylogomphus species (https://odonata.app/taxon/708184) and Lanthus species (https://odonata.app/taxon/707831). Can easily be distinguished from those distinctly smaller species by mostly pale sides of thorax, lack of pale lateral spots or rings on abdomen, and different appendages.

Paulson, Dennis. Dragonflies and Damselflies of the East (Princeton Field Guides Book 80) (p. 272).

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Males perch on sunlit vegetation overhanging stream or on flat rocks in shade at head of riffle, fly up into trees when disturbed. Males have been seen apparently guarding ovipositing females, very unusual for clubtails.

Small, clear forest streams up to 15 feet in width, alternating short pools with rocky riffles. Usually sand or gravel bottom. Often occur just below impoundments. In some places may be found on tiny streams as narrow as 1-2' wide.

Paulson, Dennis. Dragonflies and Damselflies of the East (Princeton Field Guides Book 80) (p. 272).

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