The Plains Clubtail is approximately 2.1 inches or 52 mm in length. The face is yellow and the eyes are blue. The thorax is yellow-green with broad black stripes. The abdomen is black with narrow yellow arrowheads pointing towards the end of the abdomen. Segment 9 has a rectangular yellow spot. The female is colored as the male. The male has yellow tibia and black femurs. This clubtail is similar to the Pronghorn Clubtail, but the male claspers (appendages at the end of the abdomen used to capture females for mating) are straight and pointed. The Pronghorn claspers are angled.
The Plains Clubtail is probably common in June and early July in our area near large muddy rivers and streams with moderate flows. It may not be seen regularly in Fontenelle Forest or Neale Woods.
These clubtails usually perch on or near the ground. Females fly low over the water tapping their abdomens to the water surface to lay eggs.
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