Family: Gomphidae
Length: typically 60-65 mm
Stylurus spiniceps is North America's largest member of the hanging clubtail group. Both the black and pale green areas of the sides of the thorax are broad. The abdomen is largely black, with some pale areas on the sides of S9, and usually on S8 as well. Dorsally, S9 and S10 are black.
A key trait in separating the Arrow Clubtail from similar species is that on Arrow Clubtails abdominal segment S9 is substantially longer than S8.
The preferred habitat for Stylurus spiniceps is river shores, or occasionally lakes or the banks of large creeks. The species shows a preference for bodies of water with sandy bottoms.
In West Virginia this species has been reported primarily from north-central counties. The one shown here was photographed on a willow tree in the West Fork River in Harrison County, on 1 September 2004.
