Andy Rabin and Kevin Munroe led us on a wonderful Dragonfly and Damselfly field trip last weekend.
We saw 25 species of dragonflies and 7 species of damselflies between the two locations we visited: Bles Park and Claude Moore Park.
It was a treat to get to see the dragonflies close up and to learn about the different strategies dragonflies us as they hunt for food or defend territory – some staking out a perch, some staying on the move, coursing up and down their territory.
We saw all sorts of dragonfly behavior and aspects of the lifecycle play out as well. We saw teneril (newly emerged, dragonflies) drying their wings. We saw a female laying eggs in water while being guarded by males. We saw a dragon uhnter eating another dragonfly.
Andy and Kevin have an infectious enthusiasm for dragonflies and damselflies and made it easy for us to learn how to id them.
Andy and Kevin will be doing a second field trip in July – sign up and learn about these great insects!
Dragonfly species: Common Green Darner, swamp Darner, Unicorn Clubtail, Black-shouldered Spineyleg, Dragonhunter, Prince Baskettail, Mocha Emerald, Calico Pennant, Halloween Pennant, Common Pondhawk, Spangled Skimmer, Slaty Skimmer, Widow Skimmer, Common Whitetail, Needham’s Skimmer, Twelve-spotted Skimmer, Painted Skimmer, Great Blue Skimmer, Blue Dasher, Wandering Glider, Spot-winged Glider, Eastern Amberwing, Carolina Saddlebags, Black Saddlebags,
Damselflies: Blue-fronted Dancer, Powdered Dancer, Blue-tipped Dancer, Familiar Bluet, Stream Bluet, Fragile Forktail, Eastern Forktail.
More photos can be seen on our facebook page and on iNaturalist