About Phanogomphus quadricolor (Walsh, 1863)
Phanogomphus quadricolor, commonly called the rapids clubtail, is a dragonfly species that belongs to the Gomphidae family. It is native to eastern North America, where its natural habitat is medium to large rivers. This species is threatened by declining habitat quality. Its common name derives from both its preferred habitat and its physical appearance. "Rapids" refers to fast-flowing, turbulent sections of a river, while "clubtail" refers to the shape of the species' tail, which resembles a club. The rapids clubtail is a small dragonfly, measuring 1.6 to 1.8 inches (41 to 46 mm) in total length. Adult individuals have bluish-green eyes set on a yellowish-green face. Their bodies bear brownish-black and yellowish-green stripes, and their wings are transparent. Adult rapids clubtails feed on small flying insects. Aquatic larvae of this species hatch in slow-moving pools. Until recently, Phanogomphus quadricolor was classified as a member of the genus Gomphus. In 2017, the taxon Phanogomphus was elevated from the rank of subgenus to full genus, and this species was reclassified as a member of Phanogomphus.
