The Clubtails (86 NA spp) are generally elongate,
marked with yellow and black, have clear wings and the eyes are separated
atop the head. The males of many have a terminally expanded abdominal
club. The larvae
are generally wedge-shaped burrowers in soft substrate. 29 species
in the genera
Dromogomphus
(1), Hagenius
(1),
Gomphus
(5), Arigomphus (3), Gomphurus
(5), Ophiogomphus
(6),
Hylogomphus
(2), Stylogomphus (1), and Stylurus
(5) are reported for Minnesota.
Most species of Clubtails inhabit rivers,
and it is the lack of appropriate habitat that is the reason for only three
species occuring on CCNHA. Gomphus
spicatus emerges abundantly from Fish Lake in late May and
early June. The larger
Arigomphus
cornutus emerges from Cedar Bog Lake during this same period.
Gomphurus
fraternusis an occasional visitant to the area from the Rum
River, 5 miles to the west.
