Please note we are not experts in the etymology of Latin names, neither are we Latin or Greek scholars. If you have any corrections to the translations below please contact us.
(Abbreviations; L. = from Latin, Gr. = from Greek).
| aenea | L. aeneus of a bronze colour
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| Aeshna | Gr. ugly, mishapen
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| Aeshnidae | see Aeshna
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| Agriidae |
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| Anax | Gr. lord, master, king
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| arctica | from the polar regions; arctic
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| Brachytron | Gr. brachys short, Gr. tron tool
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| boltonii | named in honour of ?Bolton
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| Calopteryx | Gr. kalos beautiful, Gr. pteryx wing; refers to the wings
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| cancellatum | L. cross-barred, latticed; possibly referring to the markings on the females and immature males
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| Coenagriidae |
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| Coenagrion |
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| coerulescens | L. bluish, becoming blue
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| Cordulegaster | Gr. kordylinus club-shaped, Gr. gaster belly; refers to the shape of the abdomen
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| Cordulegasteridae | see Cordulegaster
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| Cordulia | Gr. kordylinus club-shaped; refers to the shape of the abdomen
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| Corduliidae | see Cordulia
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| cyanea | Gr. kyaneos dark-blue; refers to the blue tip to the abdomen
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| cyathigerum | Gr. kyathos cup, L. gerula bearer, carry
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| danae | named for Danae, in Greek mythology the daughter of Acrisius, King of Argos.
Having been warned that she would bear a son who would eventually kill him, he shut her up in a brazen tower only to have Zeus
rescue her with the result that she gave birth to Perseus. Acrisius placed both in a wooden box and threw them into the sea.
By one of those twists of fate which make up Greek tragedies, Perseus grew up to kill his grandfather accidentally whilst
practising the discus.
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| depressa | L. flattened; refers to the flattened abdomen
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| dryas | L., Gr. a tree or wood nymph
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| elegans | L. elegant
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| Enallagma | Gr. enallax alternate, Gr. agma fragment, splinter; possibly refers to the alternate blue and black banding on the abdomen
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| ephippiger | L. ephippium saddle, L. ger carry; refers to the violet band at the base of the abdomen
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| flaveolum | L. flavus yellow; refers to the yellow wings
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| fonscolombii | after Fonscolombe (1772-1853) an authority on dragonflies
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| fulva | L. fulvus tawny orange; refers to the colour of immature males
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| Gomphidae | see Gomphus
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| Gomphus | Gr. gomphos bolt, nail; refers to the shape of the abdomen
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| grandis | L. big, showy; refers to the size of this species
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| Hemianax | Gr. hemisys half, Gr. anax lord, master, king; this genus is allied to Anax
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| imperator | L. commander-in-chief; in agression and agility in flight this species is unrivalled
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| Ischnura | Gr. ischnos withered, thin, weak, Gr. uro tail; species of this genus are relatively small and delicate damselflies
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| juncea | L. junceus of rushes; probably refers to habitat
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| Lestes | Gr. robber, pirate
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| Lestidae | see Lestes
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| Libellula | for a discussion on the etymology see Corbet (1999, p.561-2)
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| Libellulidae | see Libellula
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| lunulatum | L. shaped like a crescent moon; refers to the marking on the second abdominal segment
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| mixta | L. mixtus; mix, confuse
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| nymphula | L. nymph-like
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| Odonata | Gr. odon tooth, Gr. gnathos jaw;
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| Orthetrum | Gr. ortho straight, L. trum tool; refers to the straight anal appendages
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| parthenope | Gr. virgin
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| pratense | L. of the meadows; refers to habitat
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| puella | L. girl
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| pulchellum | L. pretty
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| pumilio | L. dwarf
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| Pyrrhosoma | Gr. pyrrhos flame-coloured, Gr. soma body; refers to the red body
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| quadrimaculata | L. quattuor four, L. maculosus spotted; refers to the four-spotted wings
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| sanguineum | L. sanguis blood; refers to the red colour of the body
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| Somatochlora | Gr. soma body, Gr. chloros green; refers to the green body
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| splendens | L. splendidus bright, shining; refers to the wings
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| sponsa | L. bride
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| striolatum | L. faintly striped or with fine lines
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| Sympetrum | Gr. syn with, Gr. petra rock, stone; probably refers to the behaviour of perching on stone
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| virgo | L. maiden
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| vulgatissimus | L. most common
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