Mark's Odonata Blog

A few from Europe

2009-11-23T18:08:00.000-08:00

Just for fun here are a few species from Europe, all scanned slides hence the quality. No comment re distribution or flight period etc. Captions don't seem to want to go in so, the species are
Azure Damselflys.
Banded Demoiselle.
Banded Demoiselle.
Azure Damselfly.
Yellow Clubtail.
Yellow Clubtail.
White-legged Damselfly.
White-legged Damselfly.
Southern Skimmer.
Southern Emerald.
Small Red Damselfly.
Small red Damselfly.
Scarlet Darter.
Red-veined Darter.
Scarlet Darter.
Scarce Chaser.
Red-veined Darter.
Red-veined Darter.
Red-veined Darter.
Norfolk Hawker.
Large Red Damselfly.
Large Red Damselfly.
Highland Darter.
Golden-ringed Dragonfly.
Golden-ringed Dragonfly.
Goblet-marked Damselfly.
Four-spotted Chaser.
Common Darter.
Brown Hawker.
Broad-bodied Chaser.
Blue-tailed Damselfly.
Blue-tailed Damselfly.
Black-tailed Skimmer.
Black Darter.
Black Darter.
Banded Demoiselle.

Lets get out of the water!

2009-11-16T16:18:00.000-08:00

Emerging dragonflies 101

The flying dragonfly is representative of a relatively small part of the insects life. Without getting technical, mainly because I can't, the egg is laid by mummy and daddy (actually mummy, that bit I do know). It hatches and after much messing about ( I could use the word metamorphosis but can't spell it) changes into the bug in the water. After a sometimes lengthyperiod of time, enjoying themselves by eating smaller bugs they get the urge to leave the water.

One fine morning when the temperature is right, the bug (sorry Chris) hoiks itself up a reed stem and gets busy. The back of the bug splits and out climbs a soft, unformed version of the flying insect. Over a couple of hours it uses the suns heat to unpack, pumping bug fluid around its veins and becoming somewhat bigger than its former self. The wings too develop and eventually we have the chap itself. At this stage it is hard to ID the species but over a day or two the coloration comes and the wings stop looking badly varnished and become rather good.

The following sequence of images show this event taking place, sort of. The species is Sympetrum striolatum or Common Darter and I took the photos over a few hours one morning back in England. I presume the insects in North America do exactly the same although perhaps those just over the border do a lot of clapping and cheering about it.

The final image shows another species Aeshna mixta, or Migrant Hawker, in a newly emerged stage. At this age they are very vulnerable and make a tasty snack for those with a taste for them.

These are digital slide copies and so not as good as today's purely digital images are, I'm sure you will get over it.

Two from Florida

2009-11-14T16:23:00.000-08:00

In 2001 we spent a week sneezing and birding around Florida. Several sites had dragonflies and I was acutally able to buy the through binolculars guide at one place. Photos then were all on slides and some scan better than others.

These were the best (ok, obvious question, how bad were the rest)

Regal Darner top, Halloween Pennant Bottom.

Shadow Darner

2009-11-14T16:18:00.000-08:00

Shadow Darner Aeshna umbrosa

More dodginess I'm afraid.

Comments always welcome.

Flies July to October.

Springtime Darner

2009-11-14T16:15:00.000-08:00

Springtime Darner Basiaeschna janata

Very probably a dodgy ID!

Flies May to July

Canada Darner

2009-11-14T16:12:00.000-08:00

Canada Darner Aeshna canadensis

The darners are trickier than they should be and I may well have identified at least one of the individuals here wrongly, I need to make sure that when one finally lands I get shots from all angles!

The first image is of a younger insect (teneral), the glassy look to the wings and not quite finished look gives the game away.

Flies June to October.

Odonata exotica

2009-11-14T15:36:00.000-08:00

Back in 2006 we had a week's birding in the Atlantic Rainforest of Brazil, two hours or so west of Rio. One of the excursions we took was to a place called REGUA (it stands for something longer!). After the often claustrophobic jungle birding, a place with a wetland really was a breath of fresh air. Sadly we were only there a few hours but we made a mental note to go back some day. Now REGUA has a superb lodge and access to some truly magnificent wildlife watching (Google it). So, for those with an interest in Odonata, here are my photos, real eye-candy. I have a list of the dragonflies found at REGUA and so will set to identifying these over the long and bitter winter. If anyone wants to chip in with an ID, feel free.

Enjoy.

Marsh Bluet

2009-11-08T16:05:00.000-08:00

Marsh Bluet Enallagma ebrium

Photographed at Saddlebrook Bog, hard to split from Hagen's and Familiar Bluet but I did anyway.

Flies June to a smidge of August, don't they all!

Variable Dancer

2009-11-08T16:01:00.000-08:00

Variable Dancer Argia fumipennis

Photographed at St-Lazare sand pits, I thought it was just a colour variant until I started researching for these posts. Another one to find again next season.

Called Violet Dancer in some guides.

Flies June to September.

Northern Bluet

2009-11-08T15:56:00.000-08:00

Northern Bluet Enallagma annexum

Common around St-Lazare.

Flies June to a hint of August.

Hudsonian Whiteface

2009-11-08T15:53:00.000-08:00

Hudsonian Whiteface Leucorrhinia hudsonica

I can't remember where I photographed this and I'm a bit suspicious of my ID, given that these are compost by autumn and the leaf it is on has just a hint of autumn about it.

Flies May to July

Boreal Bluet

2009-11-08T15:49:00.000-08:00

Boreal Bluet Enallagma boreale

You just have to love those enallagmas, awkward sods the World over. I think this is Boreal but I'm always willing to listen to another opinion.

Flies May through July

Spotted Spreadwing

2009-11-08T15:25:00.000-08:00

Spotted Spreadwing Lestes congener

This species gets its name from two dark spots on the undersides of the thorax, perhaps hidden spots spreadwing would be a better name. A common species west of Montreal.

Flies June to September.

The photos include 1 male and the rest are the manky variations I think.

Powdered Dancer

2009-11-08T15:11:00.000-08:00

Powdered Dancer Argia moesta

Probably pretty common but I've only noticed it once, from near a stream near Rigaud. This species has a fondness for landing on roads so I've probably parked on a few without knowing it.

Flies June through August.

Mustached Clubtail

2009-11-08T15:07:00.000-08:00

Mustached Clubtail Gomphus adelphus

Seen only at Mt Tremblant Park, Lac Escalier from the picnic area by the barrage.

Flies June-July.

Crimson-ringed Whiteface

2009-11-08T15:04:00.000-08:00

Crimson-ringed Whiteface Leucorrhinia glacialis

I've only seen this species in Mt Tremblant Park at Lac Escalier.

Flies June through August.

Lyre-tipped Spreadwing

2009-11-07T18:44:00.000-08:00

Lyre-tipped Spreadwing Lestes unguiculatus

I hope I've got this one right, photographed around Saddlebrook Bog which is between the housing developments Saddlebrook and Cedarbrook.

Flies mid June to mid September.

Saffron-winged Meadowhawk

2009-11-07T18:38:00.000-08:00

Saffron-winged Meadowhawk Sympetrum rubigineux

I've only seen this species once, in the rough area at the west end of of St-Lazare sand pits.

This is a female.

They fly July through September

Azure Bluet

2009-11-07T18:14:00.000-08:00

Azure Bluet Enallagma aspersum

One of the tricky ones, I think I've called this right though. Photographed at St-Lazare sand pits.

Flight period June to August.

Cherry-faced Meadowhawk

2009-11-07T18:09:00.000-08:00

Cherry-faced Meadowhawk Sympetrum internum

A seemingly common species in our area and identified in-part on range, the very similar Ruby Meadowhawk appears to have a more southerly range. For difinitive ID you need to examine fiddly bits so we will call anything that looks the part Cherry-faced, not very scientific but practical.

Flies July to September.

Tule Bluet

2009-11-07T10:52:00.000-08:00

Tule Bluet Enallagma carunculatum

I think this is a female but the bluets are a tough bunch at times.

Flies late June through to September.

Hagen's Bluet

2009-11-07T10:43:00.000-08:00

Hagen's Bluet Enallagma hageni

There appear to be several species of bluet in the immediate St-Lazare area. Hagen's should one of the very common ones, I'll know better after a season of lookng more closely at them.

Flies June to early August.

Frosted Whiteface

2009-11-07T10:38:00.000-08:00

Frosted Whiteface Leucorrhinia frigida

I'm fairly sure this is correctly identified but am open to discussion.

I think this was photographed at St-Lazare on Saddlebrook Bog. According to the books they are a common species so I'll be on the look out for more photo opportunities next season.

Flies Late May to early August.

Autumn Meadowhawk

2009-11-06T19:12:00.000-08:00

Autumn Meadowhawk Sympetrum vicinum

Formerly known as Yellow-legged Meadowhawk.

I've only photgraphed one of these locally but they must be commoner. This was in vegetation by the seasonal pool at the west end of St-Lazare sand pits. I probably get them in the garden!

Spiny Baskettail

2009-11-06T19:07:00.000-08:00

Spiny Baskettail Epitheca spinigera

I'm not too sure I have this one right, it appears to be an older insect, hence the wash of ember in the wings. I photographed this one along the Gowan Road just east of Huntingdon, Southern Quebec.

Comments welcome.

Flies May to July.

Swift River Cruiser

2009-11-06T17:14:00.000-08:00

Swift River Cruiser Macromia illinoiensis

I've only seen one of these, I managed to bounce it off the bonnet of the car and, while it lay crocked on the roadside, took its photo. It partially recovered and sat on my hand a while, probably not typical habitat. Its most likely to be present along the cleaner rivers of the Laurentians and elsewhere.

It flies June through August.

Eastern Red Damselfly

2009-11-06T17:05:00.000-08:00

Eastern Red Damselfly Amphiagrion saucium

I've only seen one of these in Quebec, around seepage at the west end of St-Lazare sand pits.

Not a great photo but you get the idea.

Flies June & July

Eastern Forktail

2009-11-06T17:02:00.000-08:00

Eastern Forktail Ischnura verticalis

Hurrah a damselfly finally! This species is abundant at most wetlands and an easy to identify species. The last two sections of the tail are the bit to look at.

This image is interesting due to its resemblance to a Fragile Forktail, the thorasic stripe is broken but the last two segments are typical Eastern Forktail.

Red-waisted Whiteface

2009-11-06T16:55:00.000-08:00

Red-waisted Whiteface Leucorrhinia proxma

A reasonably common species around west Montreal.

Flight period late May through to September.

These insects are males of the white form which is the easiest to identify, thankfully.

Lancet Clubtail

2009-11-06T16:43:00.000-08:00

Lancet Clubtail Gomphus exilis

Common around St-Lazare at least but another tricky ID.

You will note that the species text is pretty limited in the posts so far but it will increase as I learn more.

This species flies from the end of May to early August.

Ashy Clubtail

2009-11-06T16:16:00.000-08:00

Ashy Clubtail Gomphus lividus

With clubtails we move into the realms of the difficult as many share similar markings so care is needed to ID them. I hope I get the ones posted right and will happily listen to advice.

I photographed this at St-Lazare sandpits. According to the books its bounces along like a woodpecker in flight but presumably poses considerably less risk to trees.

They fly June-July-ish

White-faced Meadowhawk

2009-11-06T16:08:00.000-08:00

White-faced Meadowhawk Sympetrum obtrusum

A common and wide spread species in our area and the full adult males are easy to ID. For the females and tenerals (immatures) just ignore them unless you really want to fiddle with their genital plates, in which case get a magazine, you are reading the wrong blog.

They fly from June to late August give or take.

Dragonhunter

2009-11-05T16:16:00.000-08:00

Dragonhunter Hagenius brevitylus

A great name for a dragonfly. A big insect with a distinctive kink at the tail end which makes the a doddlle to ID in flight. As you might have guessed they like to munch other dragonflies which probably makes them unpopular at dragonfly get togethers. I see them easily in Mt Tremblant Park on the streams.

A true summer insect, on the wing from mid June to August unless the weathers lousy.

Dot-tailed Whiteface

2009-11-05T16:08:00.000-08:00

Dot-tailed Whiteface Leucorrhinia intacta

A common species out west of Montreal, abundant at many wetland sites including St-Lazare sand pits, Saddlebrook Bog and Dundee.

Helpful ID features include the dot on the tail and the white face.

Flight period Mid May to late August.

Eastern Pondhawk

2009-11-05T16:01:00.000-08:00

Eastern Pondhawk Erythemis simplicicollis

A great looking insect where both sexes are quite stunning in their own way. A common species in Southern Quebec and easy to find on well vegetated ponds.

Flies late June to early September.

The blue ones are males, green females.

Blue Dasher

2009-11-05T15:53:00.000-08:00

Blue Dasher Pachydiplax longipennis

Rare in Quebec and not mentioned in Les Odonates du Quebec by Pilon & Lagace. I'm pretty sure I photographed this insect at Dundee, certainly in our part of Quebec so they do occur. Probably like most insects, particularly odonata, they are spreading north. Something to look for next season.

Flight period June to the beginning of September, good luck.

Chalk-fronted Corporal

2009-11-04T17:41:00.000-08:00

Chalk-fronted Corporal Ladona julia

A very common species around Southern Quebec favouring boggy ponds to breed in. A great one for landing on roads and tracks, often in numbers. The shape of the insect is quite distinctive although there are confusion species such as Frosted Whiteface.

A flier in late May through July.

Two males top, two females bottom.

Ebony Jewelwing

2009-11-04T17:32:00.000-08:00

Ebony Jewelwing Calopteryx maculata

Found along brisk little streams with a gravel or rocky bottom, weed strands and plenty of bankside vegetation. These pretty little half damsel half dragonflies are usually seen bouncing along on blobby looking wings, the males looking for females to date, or other males to give a good kicking to. We should get River Jewelwing too locally although I have yet to find one.

A June to August species and probably like most calopteryx species, tolerant of some level of pollution.

The top photo is a male, the bottom, female.

Twelve-spotted Skimmer

2009-11-04T17:11:00.000-08:00

Twelve-spotted Skimmer Libellula pulchella

Not uncommon in our area (Montreal and south) but fairly local. A very good place to to see this special insect is from the boarwalk at I'le Bizzard. They are such distinctive insects that they are noticed by even the environmentally challenged i.e 99% of the population.

Twelve-spots fly June to August.

The top two photos are males, the bottom three females.

Common Whitetail

2009-11-04T17:01:00.000-08:00

Common Whitetail Plathemis lydia

Like the name says, it is common in Southern Quebec, probably familiar in most gardens and found in the types of habitat associated with weedy ditches and well vegetated ponds.

They fly June to August and are so distinctive that even the inexperienced can ID them although you might confuse them with Twelve-spotted Skimmers after a few beers at a picnic.

The top one is a female, the bottom four are three adult males and one young male, sexed by the blue webbing on the hind wings (thanks again Chris).

Eastern Amberwing

2009-11-04T16:54:00.000-08:00

Eastern Amberwing Perithemis tenera

Not photographed in Quebec but just down the road in Boston. There is probably no real reason why this smart little species should not occur in Quebec so something ot look out for. This is a female, the males have a beautiful amber suffusion to the wing, hence the name.

They fly, according one dragonfly book, in the summer, no really!

Four-spotted Skimmer

2009-11-03T15:50:00.000-08:00

Four-spotted Skimmer Libellula quadrimaculata

A pretty common species found in just about any vegetated water habitat. Very easy to identiify thanks to the four spots on the wings, two front, two back on each side which is what their Scientific name of quadri (four) maculata (spots) means. In Europe this species is known as Four-spotted Chaser with the same Scientific name.

I've never noticed the bright whtae face on mature insects in the European versions but presume I just overlooked it. This is a very territorial insect although they usually become more social later in the day.

Enjoy this insect from May to late August.

Green Darner

2009-11-03T15:19:00.000-08:00

Green Darner Anax junius

A fairly common lump of a species around Southern Quebec in most habitats. Not a great one for landing and letting you take a picture although sometimes you get lucky. As a species to ID the great big dot between the eyes is a dead giveaway.

Green Darners fly May to September, swarming late in the season before undertaking a southerly migration. This happy lifestyle has seen odd ones cross the Atlantic to Europe where Odonuts (like me, sadly) travel to see them. Draglonfly enthusiasts probably need a term for those who seek out new species and will travel to see rare ones, answers on an email to...

The one here is a possibly a female although young males can look very similar. I'll post a nice adult male when I get the chance of one.

Calico Pennant

2009-11-03T15:06:00.000-08:00

Calico Pennant Celithemis indienne

A pretty spectacular species that is not very widespread out west of Montreal but that seems to be common where it does occur. I find it to be pretty common at St-Lazare sand pits. To see it there go to the very end of the track to the Base de Plein Air (signposted), where you can pay to park, or you can park by the soccer pitches and walk down. Go through the big steel fence and search the ground to the right where there is a spring fed largish pool. Also they get about 200m further west where there is a seasonal pool (good for other species) and they are easy to find on vegetation.

Calico Pennants fly June through to August.

The first two images are of females, the last four males.

Racket-tailed Emerald

2009-11-02T15:38:00.000-08:00

Racket-tailed Emerald Dorocordulia libera

A very similar species to American Emerald but in flight it shows a kinked tail and on the deck it has yellowy orange patches at the area just past the ends of the wings, of course getting one on the deck is not always easy.

Generally a more northern species than American Emerald, they fly late May into late July. Around Quebec I've seen them at Mt Tremblant and Tadoussac.

American Emerald

2009-11-01T15:06:00.000-08:00

American Emerald Cordulia shurtlffi

This can be a tricky one to ID if you only see a blobby tailed small to medium dragonfly belt past, never to return. Given a decent view you can ID them by looking at the features on the sheet below. They really are fantastics insects, look at the Frank Sinatra eyes on it.

I've seen them at several places in Quebec including around St-Lazare. They fly from late May to early July.

Dragonfly pages intro

2009-10-31T18:52:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my first post of Dragonfly & Damselfly photographs taken mostly around Quebec, a few are from Ontario and still a few more from further afield.

Hardened Odonata enthusiasts tend to blind the casual interest with science. Scientific names, talk of identifying species by their reproductive organs, adding the original describer of the species to their names, some never even refer to the popular, and for the sake of this blog, English names. That is fine but, if you just want to enjoy them, identify them, get to know them by sight it can seem over complicated.

I intend to blog for each species I photograph. For now I have around 45 species to upload, I expect to add to this with each season and I'll update species already present when new photographs are taken. I'm also going to try to give some idea where local people (that is local to Montreal) can see things within the species accounts.

If you visit the blog and find errors (quite likely) please let me know at DennisM@videotron.ca

Now back to the insects.

Dragonflies spend most of their lives as larvae devouring things smaller than themselves in the water, then they climb out and become, in most cases, inspirational.

Below a typical scene of a dragonfly over water, species possibly Green Darner, thanks Chris.

These ugly crusts are called Naiads and are the bodies of the aquatic stage of the dragonflies life They climb up a stem and climb out of their bodies. They do this so they can breed. The flying adults are voracious eating and breeding machines and have been for millions of years. If dragonflies were the size of Canada Geese they would probably take prey as large as a rabbit, any bigger and small children and the vertically challenged would need to beware.

When they breed, some species form a cartwheel (page 69 in the Karma Sutra). The male fertilises the eggs, the female lays them, they never speak of this meeting again. In some other species the male clamps the female just behind the neck and then either dunks the female into the water or holds her under, its only a matter of time before the first feminist dragonfly evolves, and quite right too.

And so on we go....