Ottawa County
Known species: 84
Total Observations: 1,633
Population: 41,153
Area in Square Miles: 255
People per Square Mile: 67
Observations per Square Mile: 6.4
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 | Ottawa Total | Ohio Total | Ottawa 2023 | Last Sighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Dasher | Pachydiplax longipennis | 227 | 13,169 | 27 | 2023 |
| Eastern Forktail | Ischnura verticalis | 169 | 13,326 | 35 | 2023 |
| Eastern Pondhawk | Erythemis simplicicollis | 158 | 13,870 | 10 | 2023 |
| Common Green Darner | Anax junius | 90 | 4,146 | 12 | 2023 |
| Halloween Pennant | Celithemis eponina | 67 | 3,628 | 13 | 2023 |
| Widow Skimmer | Libellula luctuosa | 58 | 10,352 | 9 | 2023 |
| Eastern Amberwing | Perithemis tenera | 58 | 8,819 | 3 | 2023 |
| Autumn Meadowhawk | Sympetrum vicinum | 55 | 6,971 | 6 | 2023 |
| Fragile Forktail | Ischnura posita | 54 | 10,727 | 10 | 2023 |
| Common Whitetail | Plathemis lydia | 51 | 9,898 | 2 | 2023 |
| Slender Spreadwing | Lestes rectangularis | 46 | 3,492 | 3 | 2023 |
| Black Saddlebags | Tramea lacerata | 45 | 2,839 | 0 | 2022 |
| Stygian Shadowdragon | Neurocordulia yamaskanensis | 43 | 68 | 0 | 1990 |
| Cobra Clubtail | Gomphurus vastus | 38 | 377 | 0 | 1952 |
| Familiar Bluet | Enallagma civile | 37 | 5,111 | 6 | 2023 |
| Powdered Dancer | Argia moesta | 30 | 4,247 | 1 | 2023 |
| Twelve-spotted Skimmer | Libellula pulchella | 25 | 3,377 | 1 | 2023 |
| Orange Bluet | Enallagma signatum | 23 | 3,184 | 5 | 2023 |
| Swamp Darner | Epiaeschna heros | 23 | 620 | 3 | 2023 |
| Stream Bluet | Enallagma exsulans | 23 | 4,097 | 2 | 2023 |
| Band-winged Meadowhawk | Sympetrum semicinctum | 20 | 860 | 0 | 2021 |
| Tule Bluet | Enallagma carunculatum | 20 | 498 | 0 | 2021 |
| Wandering Glider | Pantala flavescens | 18 | 1,241 | 5 | 2023 |
| Calico Pennant | Celithemis elisa | 17 | 2,752 | 0 | 2022 |
| Spot-winged Glider | Pantala hymenaea | 14 | 478 | 0 | 2020 |
| Russet-tipped Clubtail | Stylurus plagiatus | 12 | 307 | 0 | 1943 |
| Marsh Bluet | Enallagma ebrium | 12 | 66 | 0 | 1961 |
| Blue-fronted Dancer | Argia apicalis | 11 | 5,692 | 0 | 2022 |
| Prince Baskettail | Epitheca princeps | 11 | 2,390 | 0 | 2022 |
| Swift River Cruiser | Macromia illinoiensis | 11 | 688 | 0 | 1990 |
| American Rubyspot | Hetaerina americana | 10 | 3,761 | 0 | 2018 |
| Midland Clubtail | Gomphurus fraternus | 10 | 802 | 0 | 1952 |
| Blue-ringed Dancer | Argia sedula | 8 | 2,364 | 0 | 2022 |
| Carolina Saddlebags | Tramea carolina | 8 | 1,048 | 0 | 2019 |
| Vesper Bluet | Enallagma vesperum | 7 | 740 | 3 | 2023 |
| Green-striped Darner | Aeshna verticalis | 7 | 262 | 1 | 2023 |
| Double-striped Bluet | Enallagma basidens | 7 | 4,313 | 0 | 2022 |
| Ruby Meadowhawk | Sympetrum rubicundulum | 7 | 942 | 0 | 1969 |
| Lance-tipped Darner | Aeshna constricta | 7 | 358 | 0 | 2019 |
| Painted Skimmer | Libellula semifasciata | 6 | 1,056 | 0 | 2022 |
| Citrine Forktail | Ischnura hastata | 6 | 899 | 0 | 2022 |
| Shadow Darner | Aeshna umbrosa | 5 | 1,031 | 2 | 2023 |
| Flag-tailed Spinyleg | Dromogomphus spoliatus | 5 | 743 | 0 | 2019 |
| Sweetflag Spreadwing | Lestes forcipatus | 4 | 443 | 0 | 1951 |
| Lyre-tipped Spreadwing | Lestes unguiculatus | 4 | 180 | 0 | 1933 |
| Red Saddlebags | Tramea onusta | 4 | 145 | 0 | 2022 |
| Hagen's Bluet | Enallagma hageni | 4 | 84 | 0 | 1947 |
| Skimming Bluet | Enallagma geminatum | 3 | 3,109 | 0 | 2015 |
| Elegant Spreadwing | Lestes inaequalis | 3 | 479 | 0 | 2022 |
| Southern Spreadwing | Lestes australis | 3 | 255 | 0 | 1970 |
| Variegated Meadowhawk | Sympetrum corruptum | 3 | 117 | 0 | 2020 |
| Northern Spreadwing | Lestes disjunctus | 3 | 24 | 0 | 1920 |
| Slaty Skimmer | Libellula incesta | 2 | 4,032 | 1 | 2023 |
| Ebony Jewelwing | Calopteryx maculata | 2 | 7,169 | 0 | 2021 |
| Blue-tipped Dancer | Argia tibialis | 2 | 3,785 | 0 | 2022 |
| Emerald Spreadwing | Lestes dryas | 2 | 479 | 0 | 2018 |
| Gilded River Cruiser | Macromia pacifica | 2 | 73 | 0 | 2006 |
| Umber Shadowdragon | Neurocordulia obsoleta | 2 | 6 | 0 | 1950 |
| Unicorn Clubtail | Arigomphus villosipes | 1 | 1,687 | 1 | 2023 |
| Four-spotted Skimmer | Libellula quadrimaculata | 1 | 285 | 1 | 2023 |
| Violet Dancer | Argia fumipennis violacea | 1 | 6,247 | 0 | 1967 |
| Azure Bluet | Enallagma aspersum | 1 | 2,115 | 0 | 2021 |
| Westfall's Slender Bluet | Enallagma traviatum westfalli | 1 | 1,991 | 0 | 2022 |
| Dot-tailed Whiteface | Leucorrhinia intacta | 1 | 1,357 | 0 | 1920 |
| Eastern Red Damsel | Amphiagrion saucium | 1 | 1,230 | 0 | 1968 |
| Blue-faced Meadowhawk | Sympetrum ambiguum | 1 | 1,204 | 0 | 1933 |
| Ashy Clubtail | Phanogomphus lividus | 1 | 874 | 0 | 1955 |
| Common Baskettail | Epitheca cynosura | 1 | 748 | 0 | 1921 |
| Swamp Spreadwing | Lestes vigilax | 1 | 544 | 0 | 1895 |
| Black-shouldered Spinyleg | Dromogomphus spinosus | 1 | 542 | 0 | 1934 |
| Comet Darner | Anax longipes | 1 | 515 | 0 | 1942 |
| Aurora Damsel | Chromagrion conditum | 1 | 471 | 0 | 1991 |
| Great Blue Skimmer | Libellula vibrans | 1 | 467 | 0 | 2022 |
| Rainbow Bluet | Enallagma antennatum | 1 | 458 | 0 | 1970 |
| Sedge Sprite | Nehalennia irene | 1 | 359 | 0 | 1920 |
| Spatterdock Darner | Rhionaeschna mutata | 1 | 335 | 0 | 1929 |
| Arrow Clubtail | Stylurus spiniceps | 1 | 305 | 0 | 1937 |
| Cyrano Darner | Nasiaeschna pentacantha | 1 | 277 | 0 | 2022 |
| White-faced Meadowhawk | Sympetrum obtrusum | 1 | 272 | 0 | 1920 |
| Black-tipped Darner | Aeshna tuberculifera | 1 | 141 | 0 | 1938 |
| Northern Bluet | Enallagma annexum | 1 | 65 | 0 | 1970 |
| Golden-winged Skimmer | Libellula auripennis | 1 | 44 | 0 | 1964 |
| Allegheny River Cruiser | Macromia alleghaniensis | 1 | 16 | 0 | 1934 |
| Band-winged Dragonlet | Erythrodiplax umbrata | 1 | 16 | 0 | 2018 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal River Cruiser | Macromia taeniolata | 536 | 127 | 4 | late Jul-Aug |
| Mocha Emerald | Somatochlora linearis | 192 | 18 | 4 | late Jun-late Aug |
| Pronghorn Clubtail | Phanogomphus graslinellus | 451 | 125 | 3 | late May-early Jun |
| Spotted Spreadwing | Lestes congener | 731 | 75 | 3 | late Aug-late Sep |
| Dusky Dancer | Argia translata | 1,376 | 71 | 3 | Jul |
| Macromia Hybrid | Macromia pacifica x taeniolata | 90 | 62 | 3 | late Jul-mid Aug |
| Great Spreadwing | Archilestes grandis | 824 | 121 | 2 | Sep |
| Amber-winged Spreadwing | Lestes eurinus | 610 | 18 | 2 | Jun-Jul |
| Handsome Clubtail | Gomphurus crassus | 170 | 16 | 2 | late May-early Jun |
| Fawn Darner | Boyeria vinosa | 440 | 14 | 2 | Aug-Sep |
| Arrowhead Spiketail | Cordulegaster obliqua | 172 | 8 | 2 | late May-early Jun |
| Wabash River Cruiser | Macromia wabashensis | 25 | 8 | 2 | Aug |
| Lancet Clubtail | Phanogomphus exilis | 1,518 | 3 | 2 | early Jun |
| Banded Pennant | Celithemis fasciata | 684 | 131 | 1 | Jul |
| Dusky Clubtail | Phanogomphus spicatus | 191 | 93 | 1 | early Jun |
| Swift Setwing | Dythemis velox | 340 | 54 | 1 | Jul-Aug |
| Belted Whiteface | Leucorrhinia proxima | 33 | 33 | 1 | early Jun |
| Turquoise Bluet | Enallagma divagans | 768 | 31 | 1 | May-Jun |
| Striped Saddlebags | Tramea darwini | 33 | 30 | 1 | early Oct |
| Chalk-fronted Corporal | Ladona julia | 59 | 16 | 1 | late May |
| Plains Clubtail | Gomphurus externus | 189 | 11 | 1 | mid Jun-mid Jul |
| Frosted Whiteface | Leucorrhinia frigida | 29 | 6 | 1 | early Jun |
| Dragonhunter | Hagenius brevistylus | 439 | 5 | 1 | mid Jun |
| Mottled Darner | Aeshna clepsydra | 31 | 5 | 1 | Sep |
| Spangled Skimmer | Libellula cyanea | 1,037 | 3 | 1 | Jun |
| Clamp-tipped Emerald | Somatochlora tenebrosa | 208 | 3 | 1 | Aug |
| Elusive Clubtail | Stylurus notatus | 101 | 2 | 1 | Sep |
| Slender Baskettail | Epitheca costalis | 19 | 2 | 1 | late May |
| Gray Petaltail | Tachopteryx thoreyi | 390 | 1 | 1 | Jun |
| Sphagnum Sprite | Nehalennia gracilis | 370 | 1 | 1 | late Jun-early Jul |
| Skillet Clubtail | Gomphurus ventricosus | 26 | 1 | 1 | Jun |
| Little Blue Dragonlet | Erythrodiplax minuscula | 5 | 1 | 1 | Jun |
| Lilypad Clubtail | Arigomphus furcifer | 113 | 0 | 0 | early Jun |
| Boreal Bluet | Enallagma boreale | 44 | 0 | 0 | Jun |
| Canada Darner | Aeshna canadensis | 41 | 0 | 0 | Sep |
| Hine's Emerald | Somatochlora hineana | 24 | 0 | 0 | Jun |
| Saffron-winged Meadowhawk | Sympetrum costiferum | 20 | 0 | 0 | Oct |
| Cherry-faced Meadowhawk | Sympetrum internum | 14 | 0 | 0 | Sep |
| Kennedy's Emerald | Somatochlora kennedyi | 1 | 0 | 0 | Jul |
Ottawa County lies within the Maumee Lake Plains area of the Huron-Erie Lake Plains ecoregion, which was the location of the now mostly-drained and channelized Black Swamp. The county also includes North Bass, Middle Bass and South Bass islands. Located on Lake Erie, the county includes the Portage River and the Toussaint River (see Ottawa County Watershed Map). The county is bordered on the SE by Sandusky Bay. The county is entirely within the Lake Erie Watershed (See p. 11 in Ohio Coastal Atlas: Chapter 2 for a detailed watershed map).
Places to Visit
Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge consists of 8,000 acres of wetlands, grasslands and forests. Is is associated with a further 2,000 acres of non-federal protected land. 33 odonata species have been identified
Metzger Marsh Wildlife Area is located along the shore of Lake Erie, contiguous with Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge. 25 species have been identified
Magee Marsh Wildlife Area is located along the shore of Lake Erie, contiguous with Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge. 29 species have been identified
Portage River Water Trail. Map shows parkland, river access points, 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.
Page updated 22 February 2024