Dragonflies and Damselflies in Your Pocket: A Guide to the Odonates of the Upper Midwest (Bur Oak Guide) [1 ed.] 1587297868, 9781587297861

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a bur oak guide

Dragonflies and Damselflies

in your pocket

  Ann Johnson

A Guide to the Odonates of the Upper Midwest

damselflies As the name implies, broad-winged damsels have a broader shape to the wings than most damselflies. They are also some of the more colorful, with a metallic sheen to the thorax and abdomen. All four midwestern species are found near moving water.

River Jewelwing, Calopteryx aequabilis size: 2.1 in. id: clear wings with large black tips habitat: streams in north flight season: late spring through early fall

Ebony Jewelwing, Calopteryx maculata size: 2.2 in. id: black wings and blue-green body habitat: rivers and streams flight season: late spring through early fall

American Rubyspot, Hetaerina americana size: 1.5–1.8 in. id: ruby red inner wing and thorax habitat: rivers and streams flight season: late spring through early fall

Spreadwings are easily identifiable because they break the mold of damselflies. Although they have the narrow abdomen of a damselfly, they perch with their wings spread. Adults are mostly blue and get powdery, or pruinose, with age. Identifying these species usually involves close examination of the claspers, the end of the abdomen. Note the insets in the photos below.

Lyre-tipped Spreadwing Lestes unguiculatus size: 1.3–1.6 in. id: named for lyre shape of claspers habitat: in and near wetlands and perhaps the most common spreadwing of the prairie, where it is often found feeding a considerable distance from water flight season: mid to late summer

Amber-winged Spreadwing, Lestes eurinus size: 1.8–2.1 in. id: in good light, the amber wash on the wings makes this spreadwing recognizable habitat: primarily near fishless ponds flight season: midsummer

Slender Spreadwing Lestes rectangularis size: 1.7–2.1 in. id: long, slender abdomen extends well beyond the wing length compared to other spreadwings habitat: shaded areas near any type of water flight season: late spring into fall

Pond damsels come in all colors and sizes and include such groups as dancers, bluets, and forktails. Some can be identified by sight; others require careful scrutiny under a hand lens or microscope. Those illustrated here are some of the easier to identify.

Blue-fronted Dancer, Argia apicalis size: 1.2–1.6 in. id: bright blue eyes, thorax, and tail tip with limited black thoracic stripes habitat: close to moving water flight season: late spring to early fall

Powdered Dancer, Argia moesta size: 1.5–1.7 in. id: powder blue thorax and tail tip habitat: rivers with riffles and rocks for perching, also some lakes flight season: late spring to early fall

Violet Dancer Argia fumipennis violacea size: 1.2–1.3 in. id: purple thorax and abdomen, blue tail tip habitat: a variety of wetlands although most common in grasses around ponds and lakes flight season: late spring into fall

Bluets are not always blue, but those that are seem to be among the most difficult to identify. Most fall into one of two categories: black abdomens with blue markings or blue abdomens with black markings. One of each is illustrated below.

Familiar Bluet Enallagma civile size: 1.1–1.5 in. id: a “blue” bluet common throughout nation; beware of similar species habitat: lakes, ponds, and rivers flight season: late spring into early fall

Azure Bluet, Enallagma aspersum size: 1–1.3 in. id: a “black” bluet with a primarily black central abdomen, the only bluet with three blue final segments habitat: shallow lakes and ponds in southern part of region flight season: late spring into early fall

Rainbow Bluet Enallagma antennatum size: 1–1.3 in. id: colorful and unmistakable habitat: near slow or stagnant water flight season: late spring into early fall

Orange Bluet, Enallagma signatum size: 1.1–1.5 in. id: orange eyespots, thorax, and tail tip habitat: lakes and ponds with floating vegetation flight season: mid to late summer

Forktails are tiny damselflies commonly found in grasses near all wetlands. Fragile Forktail Ischnura posita size: 0.8–1.1 in. id: broken shoulder stripe creates an exclamation point, black tail tip habitat: near any moist area flight season: late spring into early fall

Eastern Forktail, Ischnura verticalis size: 0.8–1.3 in. id: solid shoulder stripe, blue tail tip habitat: near any moist area flight season: late spring into early fall

dragonflies

Darners are named after darning needles because of their long, tapered shape. Most are very colorful and entertaining to watch, as they often feed in swarms. Common Green Darner Anax junius size: 3 in. id: bull’s-eye on back of head habitat: common around any water and surrounding uplands flight season: one of the earliest bugs of spring, flies well into fall after first frost, large migrating swarms seen feeding in late summer and early fall

Fawn Darner, Boyeria vinosa size: 2.6 in. id: brown with two small yellow spots on thorax, dark spots at base of wings habitat: near banks of rivers and streams, often in shade; watch for it darting about fallen branches flight season: late summer into fall

Mosaic darners are primarily black or brown with blue abdominal markings and blue to green stripes on the thorax. They range from 2.7 to 3 inches long and can be common near wooded wetlands and prairie marshes. Most are seen from late summer through fall, even after first frost. Shadow and Lance-tipped Darners are the most widespread over the Upper Midwest.

clockwise, starting at top left: Shadow Darner, Aeshna umbrosa;

Lance-tipped Darner, Aeshna constricta; Canada Darner, Aeshna canadensis,

found north and east; Blue-eyed Darner, Rhionaeschna multicolor, found in western part of area. Spatterdock Darner, Rhionaeschna mutata (not shown), is an eastern look-alike to Blue-eyed Darner.

Clubtails are some of the most sought-after dragonflies because most have enlarged and sometimes very colorful abdomens. Some species like still waters and are found at lakes and ponds; others have an affinity for rivers and streams. Jade Clubtail Arigomphus submedianus size: 2.1 in. id: green eyes and body with narrow rusty club, two yellow claspers at end of abdomen habitat: common at lakes and ponds in southern part of area flight season: midsummer

Flag-tailed Spinyleg Dromogomphus spoliatus size: 2.3 in. id: very wide rusty club, long legs habitat: lakes and ponds in southern part of area flight season: midsummer

Dragonhunter, Hagenius brevistylus size: 3.3 in. id: green eyes, wide yellow thoracic stripes, and long black legs habitat: forest rivers and streams flight season: early to late summer

Many of the river clubtails are striking with their broad clubs and yellow spots. Most perch low and are easily observed. Not pictured are hanging clubtails (Stylurus), which perch high in treetops when not patrolling the rivers.

Plains Clubtail Gomphus externus

Midland Clubtail, Gomphus fraternus size: 2.2 in. id: very similar to Plains Clubtail, but upper thoracic stripe is broken habitat: rivers, more commonly in northern part of region flight season: early summer

size: 2.1 in. id: yellow or green thoracic stripes, broad club with yellow spots habitat: rivers throughout most of region flight season: late spring through midsummer

Cobra Clubtail Gomphus vastus size: 2.1 in. id: black with brilliant green eyes and yellow markings on its broad club habitat: near large rivers flight season: late spring to early summer

Common Sanddragon Progomphus obscurus size: 2 in. id: dark brown and yellow on abdomen ending with two yellow claspers habitat: common along sandy rivers and streams; flies up and down rivers, then lands on exposed sandbars flight season: midsummer

Cruisers are black dragonflies with varying amounts of yellow markings. Powerful fliers, they are usually seen patrolling up and down rivers. Swift River Cruiser, Macromia illinoiensis size: 2.8 in. id: black and yellow with brilliant green eyes, yellow markings vary from less in north (M. i. illinoiensis) to more in south (M. i. georgina) habitat: medium to large rivers flight season: mid to late summer

Emeralds are best known for their emerald green eyes. Many are small brown dragonflies with an abdomen that may broaden on particular segments, and many have metallic green and yellow markings on the sides of the thorax as seen in this Ocellated Emerald, Somatochlora minor. The most widespread species are the baskettails. size: 1.7 in. id: Two round yellow spots on side of thorax habitat: northern forests flight season: mid to late summer

Common Baskettail Epitheca cynosura size: 1.6 in. id: brown with blue-green eyes habitat: common in woodlands near ponds and lakes flight season: late spring into early summer

Prince Baskettail Epitheca princeps size: 2.2–3.2 in. id: brown with variable wing spots habitat: breeds in still waters, often feeds over grasslands flight season: midsummer

Skimmers are the show-offs of the dragonfly world. Most are colorful and well marked, allowing easy identification with the naked eye or through binoculars. Skimmers generally find a perch with a good view and watch for prey to fly by. They dart out to snatch their prey and often return immediately to their perch. Although a few may be seen near rivers, they prefer ponds and lakes. Calico Pennant, Celithemis elisa size: 1.2 in. id: a showy red dragonfly with red wing spots habitat: near deeper lakes and ponds flight season: late spring to early fall

female

male

Halloween Pennant, Celithemis eponina size: 1.5 in. id: male orange and black-brown, female more yellow habitat: loves to sit on prairie grass stems and wave in wind, breeds in nearby lakes and ponds flight season: early summer to fall

Dot-tailed Whiteface Leucorrhinia intacta size: 1.3 in. id: a descriptive name for a small black dragonfly with white face and yellow dot on tail habitat: ponds and lakes flight season: late spring to midsummer

male

female

Eastern Amberwing, Perithemis tenera size: 0.9 in. id: orange and wasplike at first glance habitat: ponds and lakes, early inhabitant of new wetlands flight season: common in midsummer

male

female

Common Whitetail, Plathemis lydia size: 1.7 in. id: adult male unmistakable as abdomen turns powdery white habitat: ponds and lakes flight season: early spring through fall

male

Eastern Pondhawk, Erythemis simplicicollis size: 1.7 in. id: male blue with white claspers and green face, female green with black markings, young males blue with some green on thorax habitat: ponds, lakes, and marshes flight season: late spring through early fall

female

male

female

Blue Dasher, Pachydiplax longipennis size: 1–1.7 in. id: one of the most common dragonflies nationwide, small blue bug with white face habitat: any still water and associated uplands, hunts from exposed perches flight season: summer

male

female

Widow Skimmer, Libellula luctuosa size: 1.8 in. id: one of the most recognized and identifiable dragonflies with its blue, black, and white coloration habitat: any still water and associated uplands flight season: summer

male

Twelve-spotted Skimmer, Libellula pulchella size: 2 in. id: large and showy dragonfly with blue abdomen and black and white wing spots habitat: still, shallow water flight season: late spring through late summer

female

Black Saddlebags Tramea lacerata size: 2.1 in. id: fairly large and black with big black patches on inner wings, yellow spot on rear of abdomen habitat: breeds in still waters; seen more often patrolling than perched, often on prairies and other grasslands flight season: late spring through early fall

Red Saddlebags Tramea onusta size: 1.8 in. id: the most common red counterpart to Black Saddlebags in our area; more southern Carolina Saddlebags, Tramea carolina, is similar habitat: lakes and ponds flight season: late spring through summer

Meadowhawks are small (1.3-1.5 in.) red bugs that are very similar to each other. A few are unique enough to be identified by sight; others must be closely examined.

clockwise from top left: Blue-faced Meadowhawk, Sympetrum ambiguum; Band-winged Meadowhawk, Sympetrum semicinctum; Variegated Meadowhawk, Sympetrum corruptum; Cherry-faced Meadowhawk, Sympetrum internum. White-faced and Ruby Meadowhawks, Sympetrum obtrusum and S. rubicundulum, are similar to Cherry-faced Meadowhawks and intergrades are not uncommon.

Dragonflies and Damselflies in Your Pocket Just as more and more people enjoy watching birds and butterflies, watching the many shimmering dragonflies and damselflies _ collectively called odonates, from Odonata, the name of this order of aquatic insects _ has become a popular pastime. Dragonflies and Damselflies in Your Pocket introduces us to almost fifty of the largest and showiest odonates of the Upper Midwest that can be identified on the wing.   Ann Johnson’s text is clear and informative, and her photographs are stunning. In addition to providing useful general information about broad-winged damsels, spreadwings, pond damsels, darners, clubtails, cruisers, emeralds, and skimmers, she includes common and scientific names, sizes, general flight seasons, and the best habitats—from rocky rivers to still waters—in which to find each species.   With their extremely large eyes, elongated transparent wings, long and slender abdomens, and prehensile extendible jaws, dragonflies and damselflies are efficient hunters and quick, darting fliers. Their beauty and their behavior make them delightful subjects for birdwatchers and other nature lovers. Dragonflies and Damselflies in Your Pocket will greatly enhance your appreciation of these winged marvels.

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