Delaware River Clubtail

Gomphurus septima delawarensis Donnelly and Carle, 2000


Allen Barlow

Class
Insecta (Insects)
Family
Gomphidae (Clubtails)
State Protection
Special Concern
Listed as Special Concern by New York State: at risk of becoming Threatened; not listed as Endangered or Threatened, but concern exists for its continued welfare in New York; NYS DEC may promulgate regulations as to the taking, importation, transportation, or possession as it deems necessary.
Federal Protection
Not Listed
State Conservation Status Rank
S1
Critically Imperiled in New York - Especially vulnerable to disappearing from New York due to extreme rarity or other factors; typically 5 or fewer populations or locations in New York, very few individuals, very restricted range, very few remaining acres (or miles of stream), and/or very steep declines.
Global Conservation Status Rank
G3T1
Critically Imperiled globally - The subspecies/variety is at very high risk of extinction due to extreme rarity or other factors; typically 5 or fewer populations or locations in the world, very few individuals, very restricted range, very few remaining acres (or miles of stream), and/or very steep declines. (The species as a whole is at moderate risk of extinction.)

Summary

Did you know?

Septima's Clubtail was recently petitioned for possible Federal Endangered Species listing, but only in the southeastern US, thus bypassing protection for the Delaware River endemic, delawarensis.

State Ranking Justification

This odonate is known only from a short stretch of the upper Delaware River. Directed collection efforts in 1994 and 1995 for the (sub)species description removed as many as 80 adults, suggesting the species was abundant at this time (Donnelly and Carle, 2000). Besides a single probable observation in 2008 near Port Jervis, there had been no more verified records in New York until 2014, when a small number of exuviae (shed skins) were again detected at two different known sites. This taxa is considered one of most at-risk odonates in the entire lower 48 sates (Bick 2003).

Short-term Trends

Presumably there was little survey effort on the upper Delaware between the mid-1990s and the NY Dragonfly and Damselfly Survey in the late 2000s. But between 2005-2010 there were at least 11 different surveys in four different years along the known stretch of river during the appropriate flight period. These experienced surveyors turned up only a single photograph of a possible adult female (White et al. 2010). While few of the surveys specifically targeted exuviae, it is safe to assume that if the species was anywhere near as abundant as in the 1990s, adults should have been detected. 

Long-term Trends

As in Alabama (Krotzer, 2002) this closely related species has re-appeared in New York after 20 years of not being detected, though in much reduced numbers. Clearly a marked decline has occurred since the species was first discovered in the 1990s and the removal at this time of large numbers of breeding individuals (Donnelly and Carle, 2000) may have been detrimental to the viability of this small endemic population. 

Conservation and Management

Threats

Donnelly (1993) described how New York City water supply dams on the headwaters of the east and west branches of the Delawarer River likely negatively affect sediment (i.e., larval habitat) dynamics far downstream. At the same time, much of the inhabited stretch of the river is currently being managed as a coldwater trout fishery, through increased dam releases (of cold reservoir water) to lower river temperatures in summer. Invasive Japanese Knotweed has become well established along the shoreline, including areas used for spring emergence, although at present it is unclear what the effects, if any, dense stands of this plant have on this species.

Conservation Strategies and Management Practices

There is a presumed uninhabited stretch of about 65 Km between Callicoon, the northern-most known locale on the upper Delaware to Downsville in Delaware County on the east Branch, where a male and a female were collected in 1995 (Donnelly and Carle, 2000). Further inventory along this stretch as well as along the west Branch, north of Hancock and the Beaverkill (upstream of the confluence with the East Branch) is urgently needed. The effects of managing the upper Delaware River as a coldwater trout sport fishery (via hypolimnial water releases from the upstream NYC water supply dams) should be investigated. In addition, the possible effects of the establishment of dense stands of invasive Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica) along the riverbanks may alter ecological processes along this reach of the river.

Research Needs

This taxa is sorely in need of taxonomic revision to full species status (see Donnelly and Carle, 2000).

Habitat

Habitat

The Delaware River Clubtail occupies moderate to large wooded rivers with some current, usually cobbly, but with finer sand and silt for larval habitat.
The larvae are though to inhabit relatively deep pools, either immediately downstream of rapids, or a tributary, especially where some fine mixed sediments have been deposited. Adults extensively use riparian forests for maturation, feeding and copulation.

Associated Ecological Communities

  • Confined river (guide)
    The aquatic community of relatively large, fast flowing sections of streams with a moderate to gentle gradient.

Associated Species

  • Cobra Clubtail (Gomphurus vastus)
  • Spine-crowned Clubtail (Hylogomphus abbreviatus) (guide)
  • Stygian Shadowdragon (Neurocordulia yamaskanensis)
  • Rusty Snaketail (Ophiogomphus rupinsulensis)

Range

New York State Distribution

It occurs only in the upper Delaware River along the New York/Pennsylvania border between Callicoon and Pond Eddy, a stretch of about 60 km. In the mid 1990s two adults were observed northward at the Pepacton Reservoir on the East Branch of the Delaware in Delaware County, but the East and West branches of the river above Hancock do not appear to support a breeding population. 

Global Distribution

The overall distribution of both subspecies is highly disjunct. Gomphus s. septima, known only from Alabama, North and South Carolina, was first discovered in the 1930s. It was rediscovered in Alabama after a 20 year absence and is now known from approximately 16 rivers, most in the Piedmont of North Carolina, but also in Alabama (Krotzer 2002). The Delaware River endemic G.s. delawarensis was discovered in 1993; it occurs only in the upper Delaware River in New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey from Mercer County New Jersey, north to the Pepacton Reservoir on the East Branch of the Delaware in Delaware County, a stretch of about 360 km.

Best Places to See

  • Upper Delaware River (Sullivan County)

Identification Comments

General Description

This is a rather large dull green and brown dragonfly with the lateral thoracic stripes nearly absent, no black facial stripes, and a small abdominal club which has small pale lateral spots. Mature larvae are larger than most other Gomphids. Gomphus septima delawarensis is different enough from its close relative, G. s. septima that it could have been described as a separate species, rather than as a subspecies (see, Donnelly and Carle, 2000).

Identifying Characteristics

Adults look and behave similarly to the Midland Clubtail (Gomphus fraternus); older larvae are much larger than most other clubtails.

Characters Most Useful for Identification

Larger size.

Best Life Stage for Proper Identification

Exuviae (shed skins) along river banks. Adults rarely observed.

Behavior

Although adults are elusive and have rarely been seen, some observations from the mid 1990s indicate that males spend time perched on rocks and logs at breeding habitats. Both sexes feed in nearby clearings where they rest on the ground and flat on leaves. Some fly high into the treetops to copulate, while other pairs remain low over the grass. This species often leaves the water during the heat of the day. Mating has been observed as late as 2:00 pm and oviposition even later. Females have been observed extruding eggs while perched on a rock, and then flying over the water in wide loops, tapping three times in 4-minute intervals and then flying into the treetops. Adults frequent regions of turbulent rapids with large emergent boulders, on which they often perch. Emergence occurs farther up on the river banks (1-2 meters) than most other Gomphids.

Diet

Larvae feed on smaller aquatic invertebrates and adults feed on insects which they capture in flight.

Best Time to See

Exuviae (shed skins) and adults have been collected along the upper Delaware from May 24-June 25, with the great majority of records coming during the first half of June.
 

  • Reproducing
  • Larvae present and active

The time of year you would expect to find Delaware River Clubtail reproducing and larvae present and active in New York.

Similar Species

  • Midland Clubtail (Gomphurus fraternus) (guide)
    The Midland Clubtail is usually blacker and has a more evident dorsal spot on the abdomen.

Delaware River Clubtail Images

Taxonomy

Delaware River Clubtail
Gomphurus septima delawarensis Donnelly and Carle, 2000

  • Kingdom Animalia
    • Phylum Arthropoda (Mandibulates)
      • Class Insecta (Insects)
        • Order Odonata (Dragonflies and Damselflies)
          • Family Gomphidae (Clubtails)

Additional Common Names

  • Septima's Clubtail

Synonyms

  • Gomphus septima delawarensis Donnelly and Carle, 2000

Comments on the Classification

This dragonfly is currently considered a subspecies (delawarensis) of Gomphus septima, but it could have been described as a separate species (Donnelly and Carle, 2000). It awaits revision to full species status.

Additional Resources

References

Bick, G.H. 2003. At-risk odonata of conterminus United States. Bulletin of American Odonatology 7(3):41-56

Carle, F.L. 1994. A survey of the Odonata of the Delaware River and its tributaries. US Fish and Wildlfie Service, NJ.

Donnelly, T.W. 1993. Impoundment of rivers: sediment regime and its effect on benthos. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 3:331-342.

Donnelly, T.W. 1999. The dragonflies and damselflies of New York. Prepared for the 1999 International Congress of Odonatology and First Symposium of the Worldwide Dragonfly Association. July 11-16, 1999. Colgate University, Hamilton, New York. 39 pp.

Donnelly, T.W. and F.L. Carle. 2000. A new subspecies of Gomphus (Gomphurus) septima from the Delaware River of New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania (Odonata, Gomphidae). International Journal of Odonatology 3(2):111-123.

Krotzer, S. 2002. Gomphus septima rediscovered in Alabama. Argia, 14(2):10.

New York Natural Heritage Program. 2024. New York Natural Heritage Program Databases. Albany, NY.

Paulson, D. 2011. Dragonflies and damselflies of the east. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey, USA.

Soltesz, Ken. 1993. Dragonfly studies on the Delaware River. Argia 5(2): 2-3.

Ware, J.L., E. Pilgrim, M.L. May, T.W. Donnelly, and K. Tennessen. 2016. Phylogenetic relationships of North American Gomphidae and their close relatives. Systematic Entomology 2016:1-10.

Westfall, M.J. 1956. A new species of Gomphus from Alabama (odonata). Quarterly Journal of the Florida Academy of Sciences 19 (4): 251-258.

White, Erin L., Jeffrey D. Corser, and Matthew D. Schlesinger. 2010. The New York Dragonfly and Damselfly Survey 2005-2009: distribution and status of the odonates of New York. New York Natural Heritage Program, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Albany, NY. 450 pp.

Links

About This Guide

This guide was authored by: Jeffrey D. Corser

Information for this guide was last updated on: November 26, 2019

Please cite this page as:
New York Natural Heritage Program. 2024. Online Conservation Guide for Gomphurus septima delawarensis. Available from: https://guides.nynhp.org/delaware-river-clubtail/. Accessed March 28, 2024.