Franklin County
Known species county: 114 (highest in state)
Total Observations county: 15,014 (highest in state)
Population: 1,212,263 (2nd highest in state)
Area in Square Miles: 532
People per Square Mile: 2,228 (2nd highest in state)
Observations per Square Mile: 28.2 (2nd highest in state)
County iNaturalist observations
The Observed Species table provides statistical data on all odonata species that have been observed in the county. Below that is a Target Species table listing species that have not yet been documented in this county, but are likely to exist in the county. This list is data-driven by listing species records from neighboring counties.
Observed Species
Common Name | Scientific Name | Franklin Total | Ohio Total | Franklin 2023 | Last Sighted |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Eastern Forktail | Ischnura verticalis | 1,433 | 13,326 | 154 | 2023 |
Eastern Pondhawk | Erythemis simplicicollis | 1,161 | 13,870 | 196 | 2023 |
Blue Dasher | Pachydiplax longipennis | 1,130 | 13,169 | 180 | 2023 |
Widow Skimmer | Libellula luctuosa | 1,009 | 10,352 | 224 | 2023 |
Common Whitetail | Plathemis lydia | 776 | 9,898 | 159 | 2023 |
Fragile Forktail | Ischnura posita | 750 | 10,727 | 121 | 2023 |
Ebony Jewelwing | Calopteryx maculata | 644 | 7,169 | 198 | 2023 |
Familiar Bluet | Enallagma civile | 552 | 5,111 | 61 | 2023 |
Powdered Dancer | Argia moesta | 507 | 4,247 | 104 | 2023 |
Blue-fronted Dancer | Argia apicalis | 486 | 5,692 | 95 | 2023 |
Halloween Pennant | Celithemis eponina | 472 | 3,628 | 126 | 2023 |
Eastern Amberwing | Perithemis tenera | 464 | 8,819 | 124 | 2023 |
Double-striped Bluet | Enallagma basidens | 395 | 4,313 | 71 | 2023 |
Stream Bluet | Enallagma exsulans | 381 | 4,097 | 145 | 2023 |
Blue-tipped Dancer | Argia tibialis | 348 | 3,785 | 86 | 2023 |
American Rubyspot | Hetaerina americana | 282 | 3,761 | 113 | 2023 |
Common Green Darner | Anax junius | 266 | 4,146 | 57 | 2023 |
Autumn Meadowhawk | Sympetrum vicinum | 258 | 6,971 | 23 | 2023 |
Calico Pennant | Celithemis elisa | 241 | 2,752 | 73 | 2023 |
Violet Dancer | Argia fumipennis violacea | 231 | 6,247 | 50 | 2023 |
Black Saddlebags | Tramea lacerata | 218 | 2,839 | 34 | 2023 |
Blue-ringed Dancer | Argia sedula | 180 | 2,364 | 60 | 2023 |
Prince Baskettail | Epitheca princeps | 155 | 2,390 | 34 | 2023 |
Twelve-spotted Skimmer | Libellula pulchella | 149 | 3,377 | 25 | 2023 |
Rusty Snaketail | Ophiogomphus rupinsulensis | 132 | 245 | 100 | 2023 |
Dusky Dancer | Argia translata | 123 | 1,376 | 26 | 2023 |
Orange Bluet | Enallagma signatum | 122 | 3,184 | 25 | 2023 |
Skimming Bluet | Enallagma geminatum | 121 | 3,109 | 29 | 2023 |
Slender Spreadwing | Lestes rectangularis | 116 | 3,492 | 9 | 2023 |
Slaty Skimmer | Libellula incesta | 115 | 4,032 | 48 | 2023 |
Blue-faced Meadowhawk | Sympetrum ambiguum | 85 | 1,204 | 9 | 2023 |
Great Spreadwing | Archilestes grandis | 83 | 824 | 12 | 2023 |
Wandering Glider | Pantala flavescens | 83 | 1,241 | 7 | 2023 |
Carolina Saddlebags | Tramea carolina | 83 | 1,048 | 5 | 2023 |
Azure Bluet | Enallagma aspersum | 83 | 2,115 | 2 | 2023 |
Handsome Clubtail | Gomphurus crassus | 72 | 170 | 49 | 2023 |
Rapids Clubtail | Phanogomphus quadricolor | 70 | 287 | 59 | 2023 |
Unicorn Clubtail | Arigomphus villosipes | 65 | 1,687 | 33 | 2023 |
Swamp Darner | Epiaeschna heros | 65 | 620 | 7 | 2023 |
Westfall's Slender Bluet | Enallagma traviatum westfalli | 64 | 1,991 | 29 | 2023 |
Shadow Darner | Aeshna umbrosa | 52 | 1,031 | 4 | 2023 |
Black-shouldered Spinyleg | Dromogomphus spinosus | 49 | 542 | 11 | 2023 |
Citrine Forktail | Ischnura hastata | 42 | 899 | 0 | 2022 |
Ashy Clubtail | Phanogomphus lividus | 39 | 874 | 33 | 2023 |
Dragonhunter | Hagenius brevistylus | 38 | 439 | 14 | 2023 |
Fawn Darner | Boyeria vinosa | 38 | 440 | 3 | 2023 |
Midland Clubtail | Gomphurus fraternus | 34 | 802 | 11 | 2023 |
Turquoise Bluet | Enallagma divagans | 33 | 768 | 21 | 2023 |
Great Blue Skimmer | Libellula vibrans | 30 | 467 | 1 | 2023 |
Swift River Cruiser | Macromia illinoiensis | 28 | 688 | 5 | 2023 |
Springtime Darner | Basiaeschna janata | 26 | 298 | 11 | 2023 |
Spotted Spreadwing | Lestes congener | 24 | 731 | 2 | 2023 |
Pronghorn Clubtail | Phanogomphus graslinellus | 23 | 451 | 1 | 2023 |
Painted Skimmer | Libellula semifasciata | 22 | 1,056 | 3 | 2023 |
Ruby Meadowhawk | Sympetrum rubicundulum | 22 | 942 | 0 | 2019 |
Comet Darner | Anax longipes | 21 | 515 | 3 | 2023 |
Royal River Cruiser | Macromia taeniolata | 21 | 536 | 0 | 2022 |
Spot-winged Glider | Pantala hymenaea | 20 | 478 | 6 | 2023 |
Splendid Clubtail | Gomphurus lineatifrons | 18 | 95 | 13 | 2023 |
Vesper Bluet | Enallagma vesperum | 18 | 740 | 0 | 2021 |
Cyrano Darner | Nasiaeschna pentacantha | 17 | 277 | 4 | 2023 |
Dot-tailed Whiteface | Leucorrhinia intacta | 17 | 1,357 | 0 | 1936 |
Rainbow Bluet | Enallagma antennatum | 15 | 458 | 1 | 2023 |
Four-spotted Skimmer | Libellula quadrimaculata | 12 | 285 | 11 | 2023 |
Common Baskettail | Epitheca cynosura | 12 | 748 | 0 | 2021 |
Flag-tailed Spinyleg | Dromogomphus spoliatus | 12 | 743 | 0 | 2021 |
Lyre-tipped Spreadwing | Lestes unguiculatus | 11 | 180 | 0 | 2010 |
Eastern Red Damsel | Amphiagrion saucium | 10 | 1,230 | 5 | 2023 |
Southern Spreadwing | Lestes australis | 10 | 255 | 0 | 2019 |
Swift Setwing | Dythemis velox | 9 | 340 | 6 | 2023 |
Red Saddlebags | Tramea onusta | 9 | 145 | 2 | 2023 |
Banded Pennant | Celithemis fasciata | 7 | 684 | 5 | 2023 |
Emerald Spreadwing | Lestes dryas | 6 | 479 | 2 | 2023 |
Macromia Hybrid | Macromia pacifica x taeniolata | 5 | 90 | 2 | 2023 |
Lancet Clubtail | Phanogomphus exilis | 5 | 1,518 | 1 | 2023 |
White-faced Meadowhawk | Sympetrum obtrusum | 5 | 272 | 1 | 2023 |
Amber-winged Spreadwing | Lestes eurinus | 5 | 610 | 0 | 1989 |
Sweetflag Spreadwing | Lestes forcipatus | 5 | 443 | 0 | 2022 |
Sedge Sprite | Nehalennia irene | 4 | 359 | 0 | 2018 |
Spatterdock Darner | Rhionaeschna mutata | 4 | 335 | 0 | 2019 |
Russet-tipped Clubtail | Stylurus plagiatus | 4 | 307 | 0 | 2016 |
Eastern Least Clubtail | Stylogomphus albistylus | 3 | 262 | 1 | 2023 |
Aurora Damsel | Chromagrion conditum | 3 | 471 | 0 | 1935 |
Cobra Clubtail | Gomphurus vastus | 3 | 377 | 0 | 1900 |
Arrowhead Spiketail | Cordulegaster obliqua | 3 | 172 | 0 | 2019 |
Blue Corporal | Ladona deplanata | 2 | 446 | 0 | 2018 |
Arrow Clubtail | Stylurus spiniceps | 2 | 305 | 0 | 2008 |
Green-striped Darner | Aeshna verticalis | 2 | 262 | 0 | 2019 |
Dusky Clubtail | Phanogomphus spicatus | 2 | 191 | 0 | 1947 |
Variegated Meadowhawk | Sympetrum corruptum | 2 | 117 | 0 | 2020 |
Gilded River Cruiser | Macromia pacifica | 2 | 73 | 0 | 2006 |
Stygian Shadowdragon | Neurocordulia yamaskanensis | 2 | 68 | 0 | 2018 |
Marsh Bluet | Enallagma ebrium | 2 | 66 | 0 | 1947 |
Boreal Bluet | Enallagma boreale | 2 | 44 | 0 | 1930 |
Allegheny River Cruiser | Macromia alleghaniensis | 2 | 16 | 0 | 1993 |
Rambur's Forktail | Ischnura ramburii | 1 | 15 | 1 | 2023 |
Spangled Skimmer | Libellula cyanea | 1 | 1,037 | 0 | 2017 |
Band-winged Meadowhawk | Sympetrum semicinctum | 1 | 860 | 0 | 1899 |
Swamp Spreadwing | Lestes vigilax | 1 | 544 | 0 | 2018 |
Tule Bluet | Enallagma carunculatum | 1 | 498 | 0 | 1896 |
Lance-tipped Darner | Aeshna constricta | 1 | 358 | 0 | 1951 |
Mocha Emerald | Somatochlora linearis | 1 | 192 | 0 | 1975 |
Eastern Ringtail | Erpetogomphus designatus | 1 | 150 | 0 | 2010 |
Stream Cruiser | Didymops transversa | 1 | 121 | 0 | 1896 |
Hagen's Bluet | Enallagma hageni | 1 | 84 | 0 | 1937 |
River Jewelwing | Calopteryx aequabilis | 1 | 77 | 0 | 1895 |
Green-faced Clubtail | Hylogomphus viridifrons | 1 | 59 | 0 | 1903 |
Golden-winged Skimmer | Libellula auripennis | 1 | 44 | 0 | 2022 |
Skillet Clubtail | Gomphurus ventricosus | 1 | 26 | 0 | 1994 |
Northern Spreadwing | Lestes disjunctus | 1 | 24 | 0 | 2009 |
Saffron-winged Meadowhawk | Sympetrum costiferum | 1 | 20 | 0 | 1895 |
Smoky Shadowdragon | Neurocordulia molesta | 1 | 18 | 0 | 1991 |
Taper-tailed Darner | Gomphaeschna antilope | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1896 |
Atlantic Bluet | Enallagma doubledayi | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1897 |
Target Species
Target species are potential County Records - species not yet documented in the county. 'Local Obs' is Local Observations and indicates the number of times that the species has been observed in adjacent counties since 2000, and '# of Counties' is the number of adjacent counties in which those recent observations took place. Zero local observations or recent counties means the existing records are historical. 'Peak Active' is a relative description of when the species has been known to fly.Common Name | Scientific Name | Ohio Obs | Local Obs | # of Counties | Peak Active |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Elegant Spreadwing | Lestes inaequalis | 479 | 10 | 3 | Jun |
Tiger Spiketail | Cordulegaster erronea | 106 | 7 | 2 | Jul |
Gray Petaltail | Tachopteryx thoreyi | 390 | 4 | 2 | Jun |
Twin-spotted Spiketail | Cordulegaster maculata | 90 | 4 | 2 | late May-mid Jun |
Smoky Rubyspot | Hetaerina titia | 346 | 2 | 2 | early Sep |
Clamp-tipped Emerald | Somatochlora tenebrosa | 208 | 2 | 2 | Aug |
Lilypad Forktail | Ischnura kellicotti | 733 | 78 | 1 | Jun-Sep |
Laura's Clubtail | Stylurus laurae | 50 | 4 | 1 | late Jul-early Sep |
Common Sanddragon | Progomphus obscurus | 141 | 1 | 1 | late Jun-mid Jul |
Black-tipped Darner | Aeshna tuberculifera | 141 | 1 | 1 | late Aug-early Sep |
Lilypad Clubtail | Arigomphus furcifer | 113 | 1 | 1 | early Jun |
Wabash River Cruiser | Macromia wabashensis | 25 | 1 | 1 | Aug |
Sphagnum Sprite | Nehalennia gracilis | 370 | 0 | 0 | late Jun-early Jul |
Brown Spiketail | Cordulegaster bilineata | 216 | 0 | 0 | late May-early Jun |
Plains Clubtail | Gomphurus externus | 189 | 0 | 0 | mid Jun-mid Jul |
Delta-spotted Spiketail | Cordulegaster diastatops | 131 | 0 | 0 | early Jun |
Northern Pygmy Clubtail | Lanthus parvulus | 7 | 0 | 0 | Jun |
Franklin County is located in the Till Plains ecoregion. It is the state’s second most populous county, the second most densely populated one. It is the home of Ohio’s capital city, Columbus, which at almost 226 square miles represents over 40% of the entire county. Only about 8% of the sprawling city of Columbus is park space (which is about half the national city median). However, the county does benefit from the Columbus & Franklin County Metro Parks, which has 28,500 acres of land, some of which is located in the surrounding 6 counties. The county also many retention basins and other artificial ponds, some of which are visited by over 30 species. the Olentangy River joins the Scioto River in central Columbus. Major creeks in the county include Big Darby Creek, Big Walnut Creek, and Alum Creek.
Places to visit
Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park “features more than 7,000 acres of forest, prairies and wetlands. It stretches along 13 miles of the Big and Little Darby creeks, both State and National Scenic Rivers. Besides the areas surrounding the creeks, there are also over 1,600 acres of restored wetlands and prairies." 68 species have been identified in the park.
39 species have been identified in the 148 acre Whetstone Park, which includes a cement and an earthen pond, Scioto River access, and Adena Brook. Whetstone Prairie is a 5.1 acre area converted into native Ohio prairie with vernal pools and woodland buffer.
Ohio State’s Wilma H. Schiermeier Olentangy River Wetland Research Park is a 52 acre research institute open to the public. 21 odonate species have been observed.
Sawmill Wetlands Education Area is a 17 acre complex of vernal pools, surrounded by development. Swamp Darners can be observed in May and early June.
Olentangy River Water Trail Map and Guide covers the area from SR 161 to Broad Street, showing access points, all riverside parkland, and facilities.
County Observation Activity
This graph shows the total number of odonata observations for the county in brown, with the average for all Ohio counties in blue. The season is divided into 10 or 11 day segments by Month – basically early-month, mid-month, and late-month.
The cement duck pond in the Park of Roses is an oda hotspot.
Page updated 20 February 2024