List of Odonata species of Israel

In Israel, 67 species of Odonata species have been recorded, belonging to eight different families. Israel is located at the crossroads of three continents and contains a wide variety of biomes concentrated in a small area; as a result, a relatively high diversity of Odonata species is observed despite its small size.

Due to extensive development in the region, many species are threatened. Notably, the Hula Lake drainage project led to the disappearance of several species that have not been observed in Israel since (such as Calopteryx hyalina, Urothemis edwardsii, and Rhyothemis semihyalina).

In 2015, the Academy of the Hebrew Language introduced Hebrew names for all species recorded in the country at the time, based on their morphology, coloration, or behavior.

Damselflies (Zygoptera)

Lestidae

Five species of Lestidae in three genera have been recorded in Israel: Genus Species Distribution in Israel Lestes Lestes barbarus Common mainly in northern Israel (Golan Heights) south to Netanya line Lestes macrostigma Extremely rare; no sightings for decades Lestes virens Fairly common in northern and central Israel Chalcolestes Chalcolestes parvidens Common, found from northern Israel to the central regions Sympecma Sympecma fusca Uncommon; more frequent in the north than in central regions

Calopterygidae

Two species of Calopterygidae in one genus have been recorded: Genus Species Distribution in Israel Calopteryx Calopteryx syriaca Very common in suitable habitats in rivers and streams in northern Israel, reaching south to Nahal Taninim Calopteryx hyalina Formerly recorded in the Hula Valley; not observed for decades and likely extirpated following the drainage of Hula Lake

Euphaeidae One species of Euphaeidae: Genus Species Distribution in Israel Epallage Epallage fatime Common in suitable habitats across most of the country

Platycnemididae

Two species of Platycnemididae in one genus: Genus Species Distribution in Israel Platycnemis Platycnemis dealbata Very common in northern and central Israel Platycnemis kervillei Small, localized population in the Hula Valley

Coenagrionidae

Fourteen species of Coenagrionidae in six genera have been recorded: Genus Species Distribution in Israel Agriocnemis Agriocnemis sania Uncommon; mainly in the Golan Heights and northern valleys Ceriagrion Ceriagrion georgifreyi Regularly observed in several sites in the Hula Valley, coastal plain, and Einot Tzukim Coenagrion Coenagrion scitulum Uncommon; mainly in the Golan Heights and Upper Galilee Coenagrion syriacum Common, especially in the Golan Heights and northern valleys Erythromma Erythromma lindenii Uncommon; northern Israel Erythromma viridulum Common in northern and central Israel up to the Jerusalem area Ischnura Ischnura elegans Very common in northern and central Israel; rarer in the south Ischnura evansi Common along the Syrian-African Rift Valley Ischnura fountaineae Locally common in freshwater habitats around the Dead Sea and south along the Arabah Ischnura pumilio Rare; mainly in the Golan Heights, Upper Galilee, and Hula Valley Ischnura senegalensis Common throughout Israel, especially in the south and along the Jordan Rift Valley Pseudagrion Pseudagrion sublacteum Common in the north and along the Jordan Rift Valley Pseudagrion syriacum Very common in northern Israel and along the Rift to the Dead Sea Pseudagrion torridum Common in northern valleys and along the coastal plain; local subspecies named P. t. hulae

Dragonflies (Anisoptera)

Aeshnidae

Seven species of Aeshnidae in three genera: Genus Species Distribution in Israel Aeshna Aeshna mixta Uncommon; mainly Upper Galilee Aeshna isoceles Uncommon; mainly northern Israel Anax Anax ephippiger Common migrant, also observed in arid regions Anax immaculifrons Rare; northern Israel Anax imperator Common throughout Israel Anax parthenope Common in most parts of the country Caliaeschna Caliaeschna microstigma Found in northern Israel

Gomphidae

Seven species of Gomphidae in four genera: Genus Species Distribution in Israel Gomphus Gomphus davidi Common in northern Israel and valleys Lindenia Lindenia tetraphylla Formerly observed in the Jordan and Hula valleys; recently only a single observation Onychogomphus Onychogomphus flexuosus Extremely rare; not observed for decades Onychogomphus lefebvrii Most common species of the genus; found in northern and eastern Israel south to Wadi Qelt Onychogomphus macrodon Rare; recorded in the Hula Valley and Jordan Valley Paragomphus Paragomphus genei Common mainly along the Jordan Rift Valley from north to southern Dead Sea Paragomphus sinaiticus Recently recorded species; small population found near Neot Smadar

Libellulidae

Twenty-nine species of Libellulidae in twelve genera: Genus Species Distribution in Israel Brachythemis Brachythemis fuscopalliata Extirpated following the drainage of Hula Lake Brachythemis impartita Very common in northern and central Israel and along the Rift Valley to Eilat Crocothemis Crocothemis erythraea Very common across most of Israel Crocothemis sanguinolenta Highly localized, mainly restricted to Nahal David Crocothemis servilia Uncommon; mainly eastern Israel Diplacodes Diplacodes lefebvrii Common throughout most of the country Libellula Libellula depressa Formerly recorded in northern Israel; not observed in recent years Libellula pontica Found in the Golan Heights and Hula Valley Orthetrum Orthetrum brunneum Common from northern Israel to approximately Beersheba Orthetrum cancellatum Recently recorded; population discovered in the Golan Heights in 2018 Orthetrum chrysostigma Very common across most of Israel Orthetrum coerulescens Common throughout the country Orthetrum ransonnetii Common in southern Israel, especially around Eilat Orthetrum sabina Fairly common in northern and central Israel; also along the Rift Valley Orthetrum taeniolatum Rare; recorded in The West Bank and the Golan Heights Orthetrum trinacria Fairly common in northern and central Israel Pantala Pantala flavescens Common migrant between August and November Rhyothemis Rhyothemis semihyalina Formerly common in the Hula Valley; extirpated following drainage Selysiothemis Selysiothemis nigra Increasingly observed across much of Israel in recent years Sympetrum Sympetrum fonscolombii Fairly common across most of Israel Sympetrum meridionale Common in northern and central Israel Sympetrum sanguineum Very rare; not recorded for decades Sympetrum sinaiticum Rediscovered in 2020 in southern Israel Sympetrum striolatum Common mainly in northern Israel Trithemis Trithemis annulata Very common across most of Israel Trithemis arteriosa Very common, especially in eastern and southern regions Trithemis festiva Extremely rare Urothemis Urothemis edwardsii Formerly common in the Hula Valley; extirpated following drainage Zygonyx Zygonyx torridus Common mainly in eastern Israel; also observed along the coastal plain

List of Odonata species of Israel

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