Dragonflies and Damselflies
Quick Notes:
Clubtails
Clubtails can be very easy to photograph and almost impossible to tell apart. You usually need a top-down and sideways shot as well. Take extra care to try and get a good, up-close, top-down shot of the tip of the abdomen-not an art shot, so use flash and get details.
Damselflies
Generally small fluttery little creatures of the banks of streams and ponds. They can be difficult to photograph; they will seldom allow the close approach with a tripod necessary to get the fine details. Try to get a shot from the top and the side for each specimen. Start with a 3/4 shot that gives you top and side, and keep the length of the body parallel to your focal plane-both the head and the tip of the abdomen need to be in sharp focus. Finally, if they are still there, try to get close up, top-down and from-the-side pictures of the tip of the abdomen. They won’t be “artsy,” but they might help with an ID.
Darners
We have 3 major “groups” of Darners (Aeshnidae): 2 species of Anax, with their bright green thoraxes; Boyeria, Spotted Darners of autumn streams (I have no photos); and several genera of brightly checker patterned Darners that can be very difficult to distinguish one from another.
King Skimmers
Mostly Libellua, although the Common Whitetail is sometimes considered a separate genus-Plathemis.
Pennants
Pennants are in the genus Celithimis; we have two-the Halloween which has boldly patterned orange and black wings and the Calico, which is more reddish. There is a possibility of a third pennant (Banded) in the southern part of the mountains-but I have never seen one.
Pondhawks
One species-Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis). Extremely common, Pondhawks may be found on almost any medium size pond during the summer.
Small Skimmers
Two very common little dragonflies, a small blue dragonfly-the Blue Dasher-and a tiny orange dragonfly-the Eastern Amberwing.
Spiketails
We have four spiketails in the region. So far I have found only two. Look for these in high mountain streams and pools later in the summer. They tend to hang vertically and make short hunting forays.
Various Dragonflies
At this point, four species: Dot-tailed Whiteface, Black Saddlebags, and two Baskettails.