During recent weeks, as temperatures have warmed into the 70s and 80s, early season odonates—damselflies and dragonflies—have taken to the wing along our watercourses and wetlands to prey upon small flying insects.
In addition to wetlands, many vegetated streams, ponds, lakes, and rivers are prime locations to find a variety of damselflies and dragonflies.A male Common Whitetail (top) and some Eastern Amberwings (Perithemis tenera) patrol the edge of a verdant pond in search of small flying insects. In addition to defending territories for hunting, many males will begin chasing off potential rivals as the breeding season gets underway. Both of these dragonflies are tolerant of mud-bottomed waters during their aquatic larval stages of life and may be the only species found at places like farm ponds.The Fragile Forktail is common throughout the Lower Susquehanna River Watershed. It is the most likely damselfly to colonize garden ponds, wet ditches, and other small bodies of water.Having just mated with the male seen in the previous image, this female Fragile Forktail prepares to oviposit (lay her eggs) among the submerged plant matter in the shallows of this pond. After hatching, the larval damselflies will spend an entire year as aquatic predators before taking flight as adults next spring.The Blue Dasher is a common dragonfly around streams, ponds, and wetlands. It can frequently be found perched in sunny woodland clearings, even those quite a distance from their breeding area.The Eastern Forktail (Ischnura verticalis) is a common damselfly around almost any calm, vegetated waters. They frequently perch on emergent plant leaves and stems.The Common Baskettail (Epitheca cynosura) is currently numerous around tree-lined pond and lake shores. They spend nearly all of their time on the wing and frequently dart in and out of the shade while hunting and defending their territory from other dragonflies. Unless you happen to catch a quick glimpse of them in good sunlight, these hyperactive insects will appear completely black in color.Another Common Baskettail, this one mostly lacking any black coloration on the base section of the hindwings.The Lancet Clubtail is a handsome early season dragonfly of slow clear streams, ponds, and wetlands. They spend much of their time perched, watching for prey.We found this Lancet Clubtail about 100 yards from a mountain stream perched on the ground atop some debris on a seldom-traveled forest road,……and this one clinging to some shrubs along the shore of a clear woodland pond.
If you’re out and about in coming days, you’ll find that flights of Common Green Darners, Black Saddlebags, and other species are underway as well. As the waters of the lower Susquehanna valley continue to warm, an even greater variety of these insects will take to the wing. To help with the identification of those you see, be certain to click the “Damselflies and Dragonflies” tab at the top of this page.
Some of of you may have been wondering why there has been no new content for a while. Well, rest assured that your editor has been replumbed and rewired by some of the best in the business during his recent stay at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and he is getting a little stronger every day. More field trips will be on the way soon!
In the meantime, have a look at some of the wide variety of dragonflies gathered along the shoreline at Gifford Pinchot State Park in York County, Pennsylvania. The lake was drained during the winter to perform some maintenance projects and has yet to refill because of the dry spring and early summer we’ve been experiencing. These photos show species seen mostly in the vegetated shallows near the dam.
An ever-on-the-wing Common Green Darner.A Unicorn Clubtail (Arigomphus villosipes).A Black-shouldered Spinyleg (Dromogomphus spinosus).A male Slaty Skimmer (Libellula incesta).A male Slaty Skimmer.A female Slaty Skimmer.A female Swamp Darner (Epiaeschna heros) ovipositing.Very common damselflies, Familiar Bluets (Enallagma civile), a breeding male (right) and female (left) in wheel position.Another common damselfly, a male Powdered Dancer (Argia moesta).Breeding Great Blue Skimmers (Libellula vibrans) in wheel position.Lancet Clubtails (Phanogomphus exilis), a male (above) and a female (below) in wheel position.Black Saddlebags, a male (right) clasping a female (left).
There are lots of others there too. Do have a look.
