Dragonflies and Damselflies

Dragonflies and Damselflies ... but first, a moth -- Virginia Ctenucha, a lovely creature that I've seen in several locations during recent perambulations ...

Virginia Ctenucha

Virginia Ctenucha

Next, a brief sampling of recent dragonflies ... Slaty Skimmer and Widow Skimmer ...

Slaty Skimmer

Widow Skimmer

 ... and a damselfly, the Ebony Jewelwing ...

Ebony Jewelwing

Closing out this post are three damselflies - which also illustrate the challenges of these almost imaginary insects.

The first is a Marsh Bluet - probably - since according to Lam's "Damselflies of the Northeast," this species is nearly identical to 3 other species and can only be reliably identified by examining the shape of male 's cerci - and that requires netting it, then using a magnifying glass.

Marsh Bluet (? probable or ? possible)

The next 2 can be identified in the field with binoculars or a camera and I am reasonably certain on the IDs: Northern Bluet and Aurora Damsel:

Northern Bluet

Aurora Damsel

Hope you can get outside and enjoy the wonders of the season.

 

and Things with Wings

About the time that the birds stop singing, the dragonflies start flying. These fascinating little creatures are a relatively new pursuit for me, so it often takes time to figure out what I have seen and photographed. Which is okay by my, because at heart I am a researcher ... a pager of books and puzzle solver.

An added benefit of this sometimes perplexing quest for a name and ID, is the opportunity to study the photographs and pause to appreciate the beauty and variety of the creatures.

On two different visits to the Wilson Wetlands in Putney, the Beaverpond Clubtail was flying. The second visit yielded these photos ...

Beaverpond Clubtail

Beaverpond Clubtail

Chalk-fronted Corporal was flying at beaverponds in large numbers in Somerset in the Green Mountain NF and at Wilson's Wetlands in Putney. The first 2 photos are from Somerset, the 3rd from Putney ...

Chalk-fronted Corporal - female

Chalk-fronted Corporal - male (on guard duty)

Chalk-fronted Corporal

On a sunny afternoon in the backyard, this Common Baskettail landed on my pant leg. Panic ! ... no camera. But not to worry, the iPad has a reasonably good camera. The photo even shows the male appendage, which I was later able to examine with a magnifying glass. The 2nd photo was taken at the Rutland Marsh ...

Common Baskettail

Common Baskettail

Photographing dragonflies with a 400mm lens can present challenges, but when the photos are sharp, they reveal a beauty which can't be seen with the naked eye. That was experience with the next 3 photos. The first is a Dot-tailed Whiteface at Wilson's Wetlands ...

Dot-tailed Whiteface

Along the forest service road in Somerset (near the big beaver pond/wetlands, for SE Vermont folk who may be looking at this), was this Frosted Whiteface female ...

Frosted Whiteface female

Frosted Whiteface female

Damselflies are so small as to be almost a figment of the imagination. Nevertheless, at the same location where I saw the Frosted Whiteface was a virtual swarm of Northern Bluets, including this one which paused briefly ...

Northern Bluet

And finally, a disclaimer. I am quite confident about the IDs on these insects, but I am new to this. If you think I may have mis-IDed, don't hesitate to raise the question.

Things with Wings - 3

Many dragonflies are an ID challenge, but nothing compared to the Damselflies.

In addition to Stokes Beginners Guide to Dragonflies and Dragonflies and Damselflies of the East by Dennis Paulson, a very good, and essential, resource is Damselflies of the Northeast by Ed Lam.

By way of illustrating the challenge of Damselfly ID, each species in this guide is accompanied by a symbol indicating the level of observation usually required for a damselfly to be identified to species:

• in the field
• in the hand
• under the microscope

That said, the challenge of the damselflies is a rewarding one - these creatures are small, delicate, require alertness to see, and are often breathtakingly beautiful

Ebony Jewelwing - Calopterys maculata, 2.0" - Broadwing family

Ebony Jewelwing - female

Ebony Jewelwing - male

Variable Dancer - Argia fumipennis, 1.2" - Pond Damsel family

Variable Dancer - male

Variable Dancer - female

Eastern Forktail - Ischnura verticalis, 1.1" - Pond Damsel family

Eastern Forktail

Eastern Forktail

  Northern Bluet - Enallagma cyathigerum, 1.4" - Pond Damsel family (Note: Bluets are tough - hope I got this right)

Northern Bluet

Flies - Butter, Dragon, Damsel

There are lots of winged creatures which attract the attention of the fraternity/sorority of binocular toters and camera pointers.

Here are a some in the "FLY" category, beginning with a few in my backyard ...

Viceroy

Viceroy

Pearl Crescent

Tawny-edged Skipper (note extended probosis

Tawny-edged Skipper (note the "curled" probosis)

A new area of exploration and learning for me are dragonflies and damselflies. Please consider these IDs to be tentative. If you can confirm or correct the IDs, your input will be much appreciated.

Blue Corporal

Northern Bluet

Blue Corporal - female (but very tentative ID)

An editorial comment: Butterfly guides are beginning to approach the usefulness and quality of bird guides. Not so the guides to dragonflies and damselflies. I have several, and they are exercises in frustration. Somewhere I hope there is a Peterson/Sibley/Kaufman for these fascinating creatures.

Good Birding ... or butterflying, dragonflying, or whatever!!