Arrowhead Spiketail (Zoraena obliqua), Woodstock, New York, 11 June 2025. Photo Frank Beres
August 2025 DSA Species of the Month:
Arrowhead Spiketail (Zoraena obliqua)
This month’s DSA Species of the month is the Arrowhead Spiketail (Zoraena obliqua, formerly Cordulegaster obliqua). These striking Spiketails are primarily a species of the Eastern United States, ranging from Maine to northern Florida. Adults are approximately 80 mm (a little over three inches) in the northern areas, but may be slightly larger in the south. The common name stems from the unique and characteristic yellow arrowhead shapes that line the dorsal surface of the abdomen. The New York Natural Heritage Program lists Arrowhead Spiketails as S3 (vulnerable) in the state, and a sighting of this rarity is often the highlight of any June dragon hunt. Join Frank Beres as he enjoys encountering this elusive species.
Summer Surveys in the Catskills
Catskill Park in New York is a well known and often visited area for outdoor activities such as hiking, fly fishing, and skiing. The same factors that create excellent opportunities for recreation —vast sections of protected streams, wetlands, forests, and fields—also promote biodiversity though high habitat and water quality. Therefore, local dragonhunting is always an adventure.
The potential for rare Odonates throughout the park is heightened, and one can actually feel that when out on a survey, whether it’s for Snaketails (Ophiogomphus) on rocky and sandy streams; or Emeralds (Corduliidae) in remote bogs; or swarms of Darners (Aeshnidae) in meadows. The combination of high habitat quality and relatively undersurveyed areas add to the excitement for each new survey. However, as anyone reading this knows, some days are better than others. June 11th, 2025 was one of the good ones.
Follow the Arrow
Our survey occurred at Yankeetown Pond at the edge of the Catskills in Woodstock, New York. This area is a complex mix of forest and wetland, with intermittent streams and seeps descending from the higher elevation uplands. Although this season has been marked by unpredictable and often very wet weather, the day was 77 degrees Fahrenheit, clear and calm. A perfect mix for myself and colleague Chris Benincasa.
Yankeetown Pond, Woodstock, New York (undated). Photo Frank Parisio
A robust Odonate assemblage was flying over a shallow wetland section, requiring little more than knee boots and balance to access. The approximately two hour survey was dominated by common skimmers (Libellulidae), with high abundances of Spangled Skimmers (Libellula cyanea), Slaty Skimmers (L. incesta), Eastern Pondhawks (Erythemis simplicicollis) and approximately one billion Blue Dashers (Pachydiplax longipennis). A few Painted Skimmers (L. semifasciata) (one of my favorites) made the odd appearance, as well as a handful of the early season Dot-tailed Whitefaces (Leucorrhinia intacta) still battling for small perches at the water's edge.
Harlequin Darners (Gomphaeschna furcillata), Woodstock, New York, 11 June 2025. Photo Frank Beres
The area was also patrolled by several Harlequin Darners (Gomphaeschna furcillata) that were grabbed to see if they might be the ultra-rare Taper-taileds (G. antilope). No luck there.
Although the Skimmers put on a dazzling display while squabbling and jockeying for position, nothing could distract Chris and I from a huge, black and yellow helicopter that lazily drifted in from the forest edge. Then another. And another.
Arrowhead Spiketail (Zoraena obliqua), Woodstock, New York, 11 June 2025. Photo Frank Beres
In total, we sighted Arrowhead Spiketails (Zoraena obliqua) at least ten times throughout the day, often perching at the tips of dead branches for long periods and allowing for several close-up photographs.
Chris Benincasa with a captured Arrowhead Spiketail (Zoraena obliqua), Woodstock, New York, 11 June 2025. Photo Frank Beres
Surprisingly, no Delta-spotted Spiketails (Z. diastatops) were mixed in, although they have been more common here in previous years. The day couldn’t possibly get any better than this, right?
Up close with an Arrowhead Spiketail (Zoraena obliqua), Woodstock, New York, 11 June 2025. Photo Frank Beres
Follow the…Other Arrow?
After exploring much of the wetland and nearby vernal pool, our list had grown to 25 species. This included multiple other Arrowheads in a nearby field and an amazing observation of Cyrano Darners (Nasiaeschna pentacantha) patrolling over a nearby woodland/vernal pool, a first for the area and potentially for Catskill Park as a whole.
Cyrano Darner (Nasiaeschna pentacantha), another rarity found patrolling a nearby woodland pool. Woodstock, New York, 11 June 2025. Photo Frank Beres
We saw several battles between the two individuals that often ended with a large splash onto the surface of the pool, with the victor continuing to patrol and the runner-up flying up over the canopy. It only took about 35 minutes of wading into the chest-deep smelly water, in the blazing sun, while being devoured by mosquitos and deer flies before Chris deftly netted the Cyrano for photos—these were decidedly much less agreeable than the Arrowheads. You may recall that I really like this species (see my previous DSA Species of the Month here).
Chris Benincase after successfully netting the Cyrano Darner (Nasiaeschna pentacantha), Woodstock, New York, 11 June 2025. Photo Frank Beres
We decided to take one more look in the wetland on the way back to the parking area and had traveled further in when something caught my eye. An actual arrow sticking out of the ground? Like—one that you shoot with a bow.
The errant arrow that was discovered at the forested edge of the wetland, Woodstock, New York, 11 June 2025. Photo Frank Beres
It appeared that one of the neighbors of this protected area had a terrible aim, and had fired directly into the wetland an undetermined amount of time ago. Thankfully not right at that second while I was standing there. We obviously could not pass up this opportunity and quickly netted a nearby Spiketail.
An Arrowhead Spiketail (Zoreana obliqua) posed on an arrow. Woodstock, New York, 11 June 2025. Photo Frank Beres
After a quick pose with our prop, we left the area to let the dragonflies go about their dragonfly business, while keeping an eye out for any more projectiles on the way to the vehicle.
Frank Beres with a variety of arrows. Woodstock, New York, 11 June 2025. Photo Chris Benincasa
Frank Beres is a Hudson Valley naturalist and ecologist for the New York City Department of Environmental Protection. In addition to photographing and documenting rare species of Odonates and bioindicators in the Catskill and Croton NYC watersheds, he leads many interpretive walks each year to introduce others to the wide world of biodiversity. Contact him on Instagram (@phrankberes) or via email at othernaturephoto@gmail.com.
