Dragons and Damsels
Do The Odonata With Me!
Story and photos by Donna M. Traylor
Did you ever notice those large insects zipping over streams and ponds all summer long, skimming the water, then shooting about in zigzag patterns that make your head spin watching them? Dragonflies and damselflies, collectively belonging to the taxonomic order Odonata, are named for their prominent biting mouthparts and predatory nature. Not to worry they don't bite or sting people! Amazing is the fact that there are more species of dragonflies in Sussex County, New Jersey (145, out of a possible 182 in NJ) than any other county in the United States.
Large and black or dark brown, with a double row of
bright yellow
spots on the top of the abdomen and bold
yellow stripes on the
thorax, the twin spotted spiketail
is commonly found patrolling
long distances along New
Jersey’s forested streams and rivers.
Dragonflies, by definition, are stout and large bodied with round
heads and eyes covering much of the top and sides of the head. The
forewings and hind wings are different shapes and are held straight
out to the sides while resting. They are strong fliers. Damselflies,
on the other hand, are more delicate and small bodied. Their abdomens
are narrow, their heads are wider than long and the eyes are separated
by more than their own width. Distinctive from dragonflies, damselfly
forewings and hindwings are similar in shape and held either pressed
above the body or are only partially open at rest. For the most part,
they are much weaker fliers. In New Jersey, the season for dragonflies
and damselflies runs from April through October, although the best
month for spotting the most species would be June. This coincides with
the increasing photoperiod (length of daylight) and moderating temperatures.
A large, iridescent, broadwing damselfly with black wings,
the
ebony jewelwing is a common sight flitting around
small streams
as summer approaches.
Damselfly forewings and hindwings are similar
in shape
and held either pressed above the body or are only
partially
open at rest.
These miniature predators actually start their life span as larvae and may spend one or more years under water! Once they surface, they go through a molt in the morning hours that leaves them vulnerable to other predators. Later in the day, their body parts and wings are dry, and they're ready to start their adult flying life. As adults, their life cycle is anywhere from several weeks to months. Food preferences range from insects, mosquitoes, butterflies and other dragonflies they are non-discriminatory on this point. Preparing for the next generation, the adults will lay their eggs on or in plant stems located in ponds and streams, or sometimes in the sediment. The best places to find dragonflies and damselflies are usually in clear, clean water; like a swiftly moving stream, a pond or lake. However, forested areas with associated stream complexes may offer up a smaller percentage of species. Another good location to watch them is in farm fields and open areas that have an abundance of insects.
Skimmers are the most common and
colorful dragonflies with two
pairs of
large gossamer wings extended outward
from the body when
at rest.
Above: Widow skimmer.
Common whitetail
Blue dasher
So who is looking at dragonflies and damselflies? It appears that this is the "new birding". Many tried and true birders, in their quest for knowledge and new things to look at while enjoying the outdoors, have included butterflies and dragonflies on their "to do" list. Tom Halliwell, past president of the New Jersey chapter of NABA (North American Butterfly Association), became intrigued with dragonflies about five years ago after meeting and sharing lots of field time with odonate expert Allen Barlow. A long time birder turned butterflier, Tom became fascinated with these colorful, quick moving fliers. They presented "a new challenge" he says. "It seemed like a natural progression since I enjoy all aspects of the natural world. Their predatory behavior is extremely interesting." Other birders-turned-dragonfliers include George Nixon, who, under Tom's expertise, has become a serious student of Odonata. He has formed a group, JOE (for Jersey Odonate Enthusiasts) whose sole purpose is to conduct field trips in New Jersey to seek out all species of dragons and damsels. A major activity for JOE will be to conduct surveys within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and various NJ Nature Conservancy preserves. For educational material with species descriptions and photographs, flight periods and checklists, as well as upcoming field trips (in season) check their website.
Now that you're intrigued, how do you get started identifying dragonflies? Close focus binoculars are the first piece of equipment necessary. They should preferably focus down to 5 to 7 feet. A digital camera with close focus capability helps when referring back to species seen that day in the field. Next, a 10x loupe or magnifying glass is helpful in making distinctions between closely related species. There are now many field guides available, including the Stokes Guide to Dragonflies and Damselfies, Damselflies of the Northeast by Ed Lam and the Field Guide to Dragonflies and Damselflies of Massachusetts by Nikula, Loose and Burne (applicable for NJ) and Dragonflies Through Binoculars by Sid Dunkle.
With binoculars and field guides in hand, mark your calendars for the second annual Sussex County Birding and Nature Festival, June 2-3, 2007 sponsored by the County of Sussex and the New Jersey Audubon Society. There will be dozens of field trips and workshops on birds, butterflies, dragonflies and nature related topics to choose from, and nationally acclaimed author Jeffrey Glassberg will be the keynote speaker on Saturday evening. Hope to see you there!
The festival will be hosted at the Appalachian Hotel at Mountain Creek and funded in part through a grant from NJ Travel and Tourism (www.visitnj.org). For registration information, click here.