Top Photo: Blue dasher obelisking.

ODE

Certain dragonfly species, when perched in bright sunshine, may raise their abdomens upward to varying degrees to align with the sun. They do this, according to researchers, to minimize the surface area which is exposed to direct sunlight, thereby avoiding overheating. The behavior is called obelisking.

An obelisk is a square or rectangular structure, usually stone, tapered to a point (picture the Washington Monument). Researchers thought the dragonfly’s abdomen resembled an obelisk when describing this behavior in odonates.

Both males and females behave in this way.

The female blue dasher pictured here is not obelisking. However, notice how shiny and “clean” she is. She’s still drying out, which may take one to several hours after climbing out of the water and emerging from her nymphal skin.

I’ve identified a new species of dragonfly here at the museum. The dragonfly is common and very well may have been here in the many years that I have. I simply had not recorded it before. The insect is a shadow darner. I believe the one pictured is a female.

I first saw the large dragonfly coming towards me as I walked in the shaded backside of the outdoor loop. I thought it was a swamp darner, another even larger darner which I see often at the museum. Luckily, the darner perched amongst some vines on the side of the path where I could see it more clearly. It wasn’t a swamp darner after all but a shadow darner, species number 44 for the museum’s dragonfly and damselfly (Odonata) checklist.

Shadow darners are about 3” long. They have a long flight period, late spring to fall (April thru October). They tend to stick to the shadows in forested areas and may even be active after sundown.

LEP

Two butterflies that I noticed while visiting the Red Wolf Enclosure, share a common behavior, they like to bask in the dappled sunlight of the forest edge. The red spotted purple is more common here at the museum, at least more often seen during the two butterflies’ flight periods.

The tawny emperor is closely tied to the hackberry trees on the campus. They’re one of several species that has a relationship with the warty-barked tree, sometimes referred to as sugarberry. The other butterflies are hackberry emperor and American snout.

VESPID

Bald-faced hornets are common and well known for their large paper hives erected each year. The hives are usually hung from a tree limb and serve as a nursery and protective housing for the white-face vespidae.

They’ve been given a bad rap for pursuing and stinging people. Don’t poke at their hive and you should be fine.

HERP

And finally, as I walked the path near the top of the boardwalk leading down into Explore the Wild and the wetlands, I notice some folks ahead of me staring at something just off the path. As I got closer I could see it was a common snapping turtle.

From the direction it was facing it would be in the water of the wetlands in minutes if left undisturbed. This turtle, however, would be the object of much attention if I left it alone, only two feet off the path. Many people were passing by on their way to Earth Moves in Catch the Wind and would surely see the turtle and want a picture or at least a good stare at the hulking herp. And the turtle would most likely stand its ground and not move while being gawked at, a stalemate.

I decided to call the Animal Care Team, specifically Michaela. I wasn’t going to pick up the lumbering turtle and move it to the wetlands. Michaela is expert at such things, and seems to enjoy it.

Michaela was there in minutes. She deftly, and with no hesitation, picked up the hulk, and was off to the wetlands in a jiffy.

Thanks Michaela!

Ranger Greg