Sulphur-tipped Clubtail (Gomphus militaris)

Sulphur-tipped Clubtail
Gomphus militaris

The Sulphur-tipped Clubtail (Gomphus militaris) is a fairly common gomphid of the south-central United States and parts of Mexico. In the United States it occurs as far west as New Mexico and Colorado and ranges east to eastern Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and into parts of Iowa, Nebraska and Missouri. The first shot on this page was a digital capture with a Canon 10D and EF 70-200 F/2.8 L IS lens and 2X extender and 550 EX flash in western Travis County near Austin, Texas in May, 2004. This particular male was resting along side of a small stream in an area where a small amount of water was flowing over a flat rock. Some individuals show more yellow in the thorax, but others can be greenish like this one.
The next shot, of a female, was taken in June, 2004, in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, with the same equipment as described previously.
The next shot was taken in Hidalgo Co., Texas in May, 2006, and shows a pair in copula. This image was taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark II and EF 300mm F/4 L IS and 2X extender and 580 flash.
The nest 4 images were taken in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in April, 2008, with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and an EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender.



The female shown here was at Bentsen State Park, Hidalgo Co., Texas, in June, 2008.
The female Sulphur-tipped Clubtail shown here was in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in March, 2009. This image was taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender.
The male and female in the next two images were also in Austin, Travis Co., Texas in March, 2009.

The next two shots of a female and a male Sulphur-tipped Clubtail, were taken in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in April, 2009, with a Canon EOS 50D and an EF 70-200mm F/2.8 L IS lens and 2X extender.

The next 4 shots of Sulphur-tipped Clubtail (first shot of a male, next 3 of females) were taken in May, 2009, in Travis Co., Texas, with a Canon EOS 50D and an EF 70-200mm F/2.8 L IS lens and 2X extender and 580 flash.



The next 2 shots of male Sulphur-tipped Clubtails were taken in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in April, 2010, with a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and an EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender and 580 flash.

The male Sulphur-tipped Clubtail shown here was near the edge of the Rio Grande, Starr Co., Texas, in April, 2010. This image was taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and an EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender and 580 flash.
The female Sulphur-tipped Clubtail shown here was in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in April, 2010. This image was taken with the same gear as the previous shot.
The male Sulphur-tipped Clubtail on the right as well as the dorsal view of a female in the next image were taken in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in March, 2011. with a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and a Sigma 50-500mm lens and Canon 580 flash.

The next two shots of male Sulphur-tipped Clubtails were taken in Cottonwood Canyon, Comanche National Grasslands, Baca Co., Colorado, in July, 2011 with a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and a Sigma 50-500mm lens and Canon 580 flash.

Sulphur-tipped Clubtail Gomphus militaris pair in copula Buescher State Park, Bastrop Co., Texas 16 April 2013
Sulphur-tipped Clubtail Gomphus militaris pair in copula Buescher State Park, Bastrop Co., Texas 16 April 2013
Sulphur-tipped Clubtail Gomphus militaris male Buescher State Park, Bastrop Co., Texas 16 April 2013
Sulphur-tipped Clubtail Gomphus militaris male Hornsby Bend, Austin, Travis Co., Texas 30 May 2013
Sulphur-tipped Clubtail Gomphus militaris male Hornsby Bend, Austin, Travis Co., Texas 30 May 2013
Sulphur-tipped Clubtail Gomphus militaris male Hornsby Bend, Austin, Travis Co., Texas 1 July 2013