Dragonflies and Damselflies

Prince Baskettail (Epitheca Princeps)

Prince Baskettail (Epitheca Princeps)

Dot-Tailed Whiteface Mating Pair 3

Dot-Tailed Whiteface Mating Pair 3

Dot-Tailed Whiteface Mating Pair 2

Dot-Tailed Whiteface Mating Pair 2

Dot-Tailed Whiteface Mating Pair

Dot-Tailed Whiteface Mating Pair

Dot-Tailed Whiteface (Leucorrhinia Intacta): Note dot on tail and white face

Dot-Tailed Whiteface (Leucorrhinia Intacta): Note dot on tail and white face

Common Baskettail (Epitheca Cynosura): Long genitalia distinguishes from Beaverpond Baskettail

Common Baskettail (Epitheca Cynosura): Long genitalia distinguishes from Beaverpond Baskettail

Black Saddlebags (Tramea Lacerata): Patrols small ponds and lakes

Black Saddlebags (Tramea Lacerata): Patrols small ponds and lakes

Spiketail 5

Spiketail 5

Spiketail 4

Spiketail 4

Spiketail 3

Spiketail 3

Spiketail 2

Spiketail 2

Spiketail

Spiketail

Quick Notes:

Z

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.

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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.

Z

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.

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King Skimmers

Mostly Libellua, although the Common Whitetail is sometimes considered a separate genus-Plathemis.

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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.

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Pondhawks

One species-Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis). Extremely common, Pondhawks may be found on almost any medium size pond during the summer.

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Small Skimmers

Two very common little dragonflies, a small blue dragonfly-the Blue Dasher-and a tiny orange dragonfly-the Eastern Amberwing.

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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.

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Various Dragonflies

At this point, four species: Dot-tailed Whiteface, Black Saddlebags, and two Baskettails.