# Zebra Clubtail

*Stylurus scudderi*

Zebra Clubtail larvae spend years buried completely in riverbed sand, using a specialized tube-like abdomen to draw in oxygenated water from above.

- **Taxonomy:** Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Odonata › Gomphidae › Stylurus
- **IUCN Red List status:** Least Concern
- **Population trend:** stable
- **Biome:** wetland
- **Habitat:** Clean, rapid, sandy- or gravel-bottomed woodland streams and rivers.
- **Diet:** Carnivorous. Nymphs eat aquatic invertebrates; adults hunt flying insects like mosquitoes, flies, and moths in mid-air.
- **Range:** Northeastern United States, Southeastern Canada, Appalachian Mountains, Great Lakes Region
- **Size:** Wingspan of 60-70 mm; body length of 55-65 mm
- **Lifespan:** 1 to 3 years (mostly as aquatic larvae; adults live only 3 to 6 weeks)
- **Active:** diurnal
- **Threats:** Water pollution, siltation of riverbeds from runoff, damming of wild rivers, and shoreline deforestation.
- **Safe to approach?:** Harmless. These dragonflies are completely safe to observe. They do not sting and only bite if handled very roughly. Maintain a respectful distance to avoid disrupting their hunting or egg-laying. If one lands on you, remain still and enjoy the encounter.

## About

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## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/43b5d0d8-fd2d-4ff8-bab0-cf032348e0be
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/113410
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stylurus scudderi
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/2987267/medium.jpg (Jimmy Dee, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.