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.
It’s been more than a week since Tropical Storm Isaias moved swiftly up the Atlantic seaboard leaving wind and flood damage in its wake. Here in the Lower Susquehanna River Watershed, the brevity of its presence minimized the effects.
Tropical Storm Isaias moves north-northeast across the Delmarva Peninsula.
You may have noticed some summertime visitors flying about during these hot humid days that followed Isaias’ passing. They’re the dragonflies.
Our familiar friend the Wandering Glider is widespread throughout the valley right now—dropping eggs on shiny automobile hoods that look to them like a nice quiet puddle of water.
The Wandering Glider is a global traveler. Here in the lower Susquehanna valley, it is currently abundant around still water and in large parking lots.
Each of the other common migratory species is here too. Look for them patrolling the skies over large bodies of water and over adjacent fallow land and meadows where tiny flying insects abound. Did these dragonflies arrive on the winds associated with the tropical storm, or did they move in with the waves of warm air that followed it? Probably a little of both.
The Common Green Darner, a large dragonfly, can be the most abundant of the migratory species. Watch for high-flying swarms in the coming weeks.The Black Saddlebags is recognized in flight by the black base of each hindwing. These patches give the appearance of a pair of saddlebags draped across the dragonfly’s thorax.The Twelve-spotted Skimmer(Libellula pulchella) is a regular migrant.The Prince Baskettail (Epitheca princeps) can occur among mixed groups of dragonflies. Despite it rarely being mentioned as a migrant, its proclivity for non-stop day-long flight makes it a likely sighting among sizeable swarms.
Big swarms of dragonflies don’t go unnoticed by predators—particularly birds. The southbound migration of kites, Broad-winged Hawks, American Kestrels, and Merlins often coincides with the swarming of migratory dragonflies in late summer. Each of these raptors will grab and feed upon these insects while on the wing—so keep an eye on the sky.
This Peregrine Falcon found the congregations of hundreds of dragonflies worthy of a closer look……and an acrobatic fly-by to disrupt the swarms. Fun, fun, fun, fun, fun.
