AND OF SOUTHERN NEW YORK A Beginner’s Guide

The order is composed of two groups, the Damselflies (Zygoptera) and Dragonflies (Anisoptera). In North America there are approximately 122 species of damselflies and about 309 species of dragonflies. Of these, about 55 damselflies and 128 dragonflies occur in southern New York.

Distinguishing damselflies from dragonflies is relatively easy:

Damselflies – Front and hind wings similar in size and shape; eyes separated by more than their own width; at rest, wings meeting above the body or only partly expanded. Generally with weak, fluttery flight.

Dragonflies – Front and hind wings dissimilar in size and shape, the hind wing considerably wider at base than the front wing; eyes meeting middorsally or not separated by a space greater than their own width; at rest, wings held horizontally. Generally strong fliers.

Basic Anatomy

Dragonfly DAMSELFLIES

Broad-winged Damsels (Calopterygidae)

Wings held together at rest Wings with black, brown, amber or red markings Wings broad shaped without narrow stalk at base

8 species (2 genera) in North America

Spreadwings (Lestidae)

Wings spread at rest Wings clear or only slightly tinted Wings with narrow stalk at base Stigma long, length more than twice width

1 species (2 genera) in North America

Pond Damsels (Coenargrionidae)

Wings typically held together at rest Wings clear or only slightly yinted Wings with narrow stalk at base Stigmas short, length about equal to width

96 species (13 genera) in North America

Guide to the Genera of Common Pond Damsels of Southern New York

Pond Damsels are the most numerous and among the most difficult to identify of the Damselflies. The following key will help identify some of the major groups commonly encountered in our area.

1a. Tibial spines more than 2× the inter spine distance ...... Dancers (Argia) 1b. Tibial spines less than 2× the inter spine distance ...... 2

2a. Postocular spots absent ...... Aurora Damsel (Chromagrion) 2b. Postocular spots present...... 3

3a. Male generally with a pronounced dorsal projection of S10 ...... Forktails (Ischnura) 3b. Male generally with dorsal S10 projection ...... Bluets (Enallagma)

Bluets with mostly blue abdomen: Familiar, Hagen’s Bluets with mostly black abdomen: Stream, Skimming, Azure DRAGONFLIES

Petaltails Petaluridae 2 species (1 ) in North America Darners 39 species (12 genera) in North America Clubtails 98 species (14 genera) in North America Spiketails Cordulegastridae 8 species (1 genus) in North America Cruisers Macromiidae 9 species (2 genera) in North America Emeralds 49 species (7 genera) in North America Skimmer 105 species (26 genera) in North America

REFERENCES

Dunkle, S.W. 2000. Dragonflies through Binoculars. A Field Guide to Dragonflies of North America. Oxford University Press. 266 pp.

Lam, E. 2004. Damselflies of the Northeast. A guide to the species of eastern Canada and the northeastern United States. Biodiversity Books. Forest Hills. 96 pp.

Needham, J.G., M.J. Westfall, Jr., and M.L. May. 2000. Dragonflies of North America. Scientific Publishers, Gainesville, FL. 939 pp.

Nikula, B., J.L. Loose, M.R. Burne. 2003. A Field Guide to the Dragonflies and Damselflies of Massachusetts. Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife. Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program.197 pp.

Nikula, B. and J. Sones. 2002. Stokes Beginner’s Guide to Dragonflies and Damselflies. Little, Brown and Company, Boston, MA. 159 pp.

Rosche, L. 2002. Dragonflies and Damselflies of Northeast Ohio. Cleveland Museum of Natural History. 94 pp.

Westfall, M.J., Jr. and M.L. May. 1996. Damselflies of North America. Scientific Publishers, Gainesville, FL. 649 pp.

WEB SITES

J. Bangma (2003) NJODES The Dragonflies and Damselflies of New Jersey (http://www.njodes.com);

S. Walters (2001) The Mulberry Wing, Field Notes of the New York City and North Jersey Butterfly Clubs and more (http://www.hmana.org/mulberry/).

Connecticut flight periods: http://collections2.eeb.uconn.edu/collections/insects/dragonpages/ctdragons.htm

Ed Lam’s Damselfly Site: http://homepage.mac.com/edlam/DamselFrame-1.html Ed Lam’s Dragonfly Site: http://homepage.mac.com/edlam/dragonfly.html

Scan your dragonflies! Digital Dragonflies: http://www.dragonflies.org/

Odonata Information Network: http://www.afn.org/~iori/

Odonata of the United States (with state by state listings, photos, county distributions): http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/distr/insects/dfly/dflyusa.htm

Dragonflies of Central Park, NY: http://homepage.mac.com/edlam/DD_CP.html

Dragonflies of Massachusetts: http://www.odenews.net/masslist.htm Common Names of North American Dragonflies and Damselflies: http://www.ups.edu/biology/museum/NAdragons.html

Odonata Biodiversity: http://www.ups.edu/biology/museum/UPSdragonflies.html

Michigan Odonata Survey: http://insects.ummz.lsa.umich.edu/michodo/mos.html

Key to Odonata larvae of Michigan: http://insects.ummz.lsa.umich.edu/michodo/test/HOME.HTM

Ohio Odonata Society: http://mcnet.marietta.edu/~odonata/index.html

Odonate e-mail postings: http://www.birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/SEOD.html

Ode News: http://www.odenews.net/

Dragonfly Primer: http://www.gloriamundipress.com/dragonflies/id39.htm

Anisoptera of North America: http://pick1.pick.uga.edu/cgi-bin/20q?act=x_checklist&list=Anisoptera