Books About Dragonflies & Damselflies

WDA members and other dragonfly researchers have published a large number of books on the topic of dragonflies and damselflies, describing species from around the world. Here is a small selection of recent publications.

Libélulas de la Cordillera Occidental Colombiana, una Mirada desde el Tatamá | Dragonflies of the Colombian Cordillera Occidental, a look from Tatamá

Authors: Cornelio A Bota-Sierra, Juliana Sandoval-H, Daniela Ayala-Sánchez, & Rodolfo Novelo-Gutiérrez

Published: 2019, independent

Details: One of the first dragonfly field guides for Colombia, this gorgeous volume includes descriptions in both Spanish and English for 104 odonate species, Tatamá National Park, and general biology of Odonata.

Guide to Dragonflies & Damselflies of the Serra dos Orgaos

Authors: T. Kompier

Published: 2015 by Regua publications

Details: First comprehensive field guide to the Odonata of the Reserva Ecologica de Guapiacu and the Serra dos Orgaos in south-eastern Brazil. All 204 known species are illustrated in colour.

Atlas of Dragonflies in Britain and Ireland

Authors: Cham, S.; Nelson, B.; Prentice, S.; Smallshire, S.; Taylor, P.

Published: 2014 by Field Studies Council

Details: This atlas shows the distribution and reviews the recent status of the 57 species found in Britain and Ireland.

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of Eastern Africa: Handbook for all Odonata from Sudan to Zimbabwe

Authors: Dijkstra, K.-D.; Clausnitzer, V.

Published: 2014 by RMCA

Details: More than 500 species are illustrated with 1120 original drawings and over 360 colour photographs portraying 320 species.

Field Guide to the damselflies of New Guinea

Authors: Kalkman, V.J.; Orr, G.

Published: 2013 by NVL

Details: This field guide contains nearly 300 colour drawings and over 250 line drawings by Albert Orr and sixteen colour photographs taken in the field by Stephen Richards.

Huizhou Dragonflies

Author: Wu Hongdao

Published: 2012

Details: Chinese with Latin names; Hardcover/191 pages; ISBN: 9787503866135

Dragonflies and Damselflies of the East

Author: Dennis Paulson

Published: November 2011

Details: The first fully illustrated field guide to all 336 species of dragonflies and damselflies in eastern North America. Provides a color distribution map for every species.

Damselfly Genera of the New World. An Illustrated and Annotated Key to the Zygoptera

Authors: Rosser W. Garrison, Natalia von Ellenrieder, and Jerry A. Louton

Published: August 2010

Details: Provides a comprehensive, fully illustrated guide to the damselflies of North, Central, and South America. A companion volume to Dragonfly Genera of the New World, also by Rosser W. Garrison, Natalia von Ellenrieder, and Jerry A. Louton.

A photographic guide to the dragonflies of Singapore

Authors: H.B. Tang, L.K. Wang and M. Hämäläinen

Published: August 2010 by Raffles Museum, Singapore

Details: Covers all 124 species of Odonata (both dragonflies and damselflies) so far recorded in Singapore.

Natural Capital of Mexico (in Spanish)

Published: January 2010

Details: A five-volume set on the nature of Mexico, including Odonates.

Dragonflies and Damselflies of the West

Author: Dennis Paulson

Published: May 2009

Details: The first fully illustrated field guide to all 348 species of dragonflies and damselflies in western North America. Provides a color distribution map for every species.

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of South Africa

Authors: Samways, M.J.

Published: 2008 by Series Faunistica

Details: Full-colour guide to the Odonata of South Africa with excellent photos

The Metalwing Demoiselles of the Eastern Tropics

Authors: Albert G. Orr and Matti Hamalainen

Published: 2007 by Natural History Publications (Borneo) Kota Kinabalu

Details: This is a fine book production, which is not only an illustrated guide but a monographic treatment of the two rather colourful, florescent winged damselfly genera Matronoides and Neurobasis of Asia.

Dragonfly Genera of the New World. An Illustrated and Annotated Key to the Anisoptera

Authors: Rosser W. Garrison, Natalia von Ellenrieder, & Jerry A. Louton

Published: 2006

Details: Provides a comprehensive, fully illustrated guide to the dragonflies of North, Central, and South America.

A Guide to Dragonflies of Borneo: Their Identification and Biology

Authors: Albert G. Orr

Published: 2003 by Natural History Publications (Borneo) Kota Kinabalu

Details: The first guide to Borneo’s Dragonflies, with 275 species so far recorded, more than 40% occuring nowhere else.