General: White-belted Ringtail Dragonflies (Erpetogomphus compositus) are active daytime fliers occasionally seen around ponds and slow waters around Las Vegas. Adult males are recognized by their overall black and white color with yellow-orange on the end of the abdomen. On closer inspection, the thorax is striped black and yellow-green, the eyes are blue, and the face is pale green. Females are similar, but the color is not as bright.

These active creatures are harmless to humans, but they are voracious predators of small flying insects such as flies and mosquitoes. The larvae, however, can provide a bit of a bite. There are some good places to watch dragonflies around Las Vegas.

Taxonomy: Order Odonata, Suborder Anisoptera, Family Gomphidae (clubtails).