Odes Around Us

Top Photo: Carolina saddlebags. Dragonflies and damselflies belong to an order of insect called Odonata. Dragonflies are in the suborder Anisoptera, the damsels in the suborder Zygoptera. Dragonflies usually hold their wings out to their sides when at rest. They are typically larger and bulkier than damselfies. Dragons have large compound eyes which, in many species, cover most of the head. Some species eyes only just meet at the top of the head, but still cover a large portion ofRead more

Green Darner and Bullfrog

On Friday of last week the weather was unusually warm, as it had been all week. Besides the Autumn Meadowhawks buzzing all over the edge of the Wetlands, as mentioned earlier, I also saw a Common Whitetail. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get a photo of that slightly out of season skimmer. The next day as I walked along the north side of the Wetlands, I saw a Common Green Darner (Anax junius) sailing over the water. Luckily, the big darnerRead more

The Wheel, a Hopper, a Borer, and a Carpet Beetle

Dragonfly and damselfly species are picking up. Seen this period were (dates next to names indicate day in which that species was first observed this season) Fragile Forktail, Citrine Forktail (4/18), Orange Bluet (4/27), Skimming Bluet (4/28), Common Green Darner, Swamp Darner, Common Baskettail, Eastern Pondhawk (4/25), Blue Corporal (4/25), Blue Dasher (4/27), Common Whitetail, and Black Saddlebags (4/27). The Skimming Bluets in the image at left are configured in what is referred to as the “copulation wheel.” This configurationRead more

Butterflies, Dragons, Tent Dwellers, a Forester, and a Tiger

Fragile Forktails continue to emerge from the Wetlands (see Fragile Forktail, Explore the Wild Journal, March 16-31, 2009), although I’m now seeing females as well as males. Among the other odes observed during the first half of April were Common Green Darner, Swamp Darner, Common Baskettail, and Common Whitetail. Butterflies seen this period were Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Cabbage White, Orange Sulphur, Olive Hairstreak (4/9), Eastern Tailed-blue (4/3), Mourning Cloak (4/3), Silver-spotted Skipper (4/9), and Juvenal’s Duskywing. Now bivouacked on atRead more

The First Dragons and Damsels, a few early Leps

Finally, odes! That is, dragonflies and damselflies. The first Fragile Forktail that caught my attention this season was on March 18 when one individual was seen taking its first flight after emerging. This sighting is nine days later than the first sightings of this species last year, which occurred on the 9th of March. By March 21 many of these tiny, teneral damsels could be seen flying across the path on the north side of the Wetlands in search ofRead more

Hardy Insects Hang On

A lone Common Green Darner was seen early in the period and several Autumn Meadowhawks were out and about whenever the temps were able make it into the fifties. We may see meadowhawks lingering into December. One Sleepy Orange and one Common Buckeye were the only butterflies observed during the latter half of November.Read more

Late September Insects

Despite a general decrease in dragonfly activity, several dragonflies are still being seen in small numbers including Common Green Darner, Black Saddlebags and Wandering Glider. All three of these dragonfly species are known to move with the seasons. With the winds out of the north, mostly northeast for a good part of the period, I’m inclined to think that the individuals that are being seen are indeed migrants. Not on the move but still fairly common are Blue Dashers. SoRead more