About ATBI Additional Information TENNESSEE STATE PARK S This brochure was compiled and developed by DIVISION OF RESOURCE Tips For Observing and Photographing the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI) MANAGEMENT Dragonflies group. ATBI is an on-going project in Tennes- see State Parks and State Natural Areas. The All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI)

Dragonflies can be loosely lumped into catego- goal of ATBI is to document all species in Ten- ries of “perchers” or “flyers”. Perchers, such as nessee State Parks, monitor long-term trends in some of the skimmers, have a usual or favorite specific taxonomic groups, and promote educa- Dragonflies and perch which they return to repeatedly. Some tion about and preservation of all biodiversity flyers have a usual route, a beat which they fly with increased science and citizen education Damselflies of back and forth in the same area. You can pre- efforts. To access the ATBI database, go to focus your camera or binoculars on that area to www.state.tn.us/environment/parks/atbi. Warriors Path State get a close look. Some have a large, long beat and are more difficult to predict, so some luck For more information about ATBI, please con- Park and Sullivan and persistence are required to find them tact David R. Hill, 7th Floor, L & C Tower, 401 perched. Most odonates are most active in mid- Church St., Nashville, TN 37243. Email County dle of the day, but some are more active early [email protected].. Phone 615-253-2455. and late, roosting most of the day in the shade. Be prepared, research and study your subjects Dragonfly References first to know the preferred habitats. Binoculars, Giff Beaton. Dragonflies and Damselflies of Georgia and especially close-focus binoculars are a great aid the Southeast. for observing all nature subjects. Sidney Dunkle. Dragonflies through Binoculars: A Field Guide to Dragonflies of North America. Approach slowly, getting closer and snapping Blair Nikula. Stokes Beginner’s Guide to Dragonflies. away as you go (with today’s digital cameras, you can always delete later), a good distant shot http://www.odonatacentral.org/. Dragonfly Society of the is better than none and will be some aid in iden- Americas. This site has checklists of dragonflies by county. tifying later.

Try to align planes of focus; for example, a side Notes view is usually good, so move to the side for a clear side view of the dragonfly. A “3/4 view” can show face and eyes as well as the side. Some field marks are more important than oth- ers in differentiating one species from another. Photo © Marty Silver Get more than one angle if possible. Welcome to the wonderful world of dragonflies at Sun at your back is always good for photo- beautiful Warriors Path State Park! Of the graphic detail but be ready to use flash to “fill” approximate 154 species of odonates (dragonflies in the detail on the shadow side if the subject is Collecting of plants or animals in state parks and damselflies) in Tennessee, 71 have been back-lit or in any dark situation. and natural areas is prohibited. Please help documented in this park or in Sullivan County.

preserve Tennessee’s natural heritage by leav- Pictured above is a male Cherokee Clubtail ing plants and animals for others to enjoy. (Gomphus consanguis) which is unique to the Southern Appalachian Region. It can be found in the WARRIORS PATH ©2010 ATBI Group S T A T E PARK park during the late spring and early summer. Cannot be modified or reproduced except by 490 Hemlock Road written permission of ATBI Kingsport, TN 37663 Updated June 2010 Phone: (423) 239-8531 Dragonfly and Damselfly Checklist of Warriors Path State Park and Sullivan County

Broad-winged Damselflies Darners (Aeshnidae) Double-ringed Pennant (Calopterygidae) Shadow Darner Swift Setwing Sparkling Jewelwing Common Green Darner Common (Eastern) Pondhawk Ebony Jewelwing Comet Darner Blue Corporal American Rubyspot Springtime Darner Spangled Skimmer Spreadwings (lestidae) Fawn Darner Yellow-sided Skimmer Great Spreadwing Clubtails (Gomphidae) Slaty Skimmer Southern Spreadwing Black-shouldered Spinyleg Widow Skimmer Amber-winged Spreadwing Cherokee Clubtail Twelve-spotted Skimmer Slender Spreadwing Lancet Clubtail Blue Dasher Swamp Spreadwing Ashy Clubtail Wandering Glider Pond Damselflies (Coenagrionidae) Skillet Clubtail Spot-winged Glider Eastern Red Damsel Green-faced Clubtail Eastern Amberwing Blue-fronted Dancer Dragonhunter Common Whitetail Variable Dancer Common Sanddragon Ruby Meadowhawk Powdered Dancer Eastern Least Clubtail Autumn Meadowhawk Blue-ringed Dancer Spiketails (Cordulegastridae) Carolina Saddlebags Blue-tipped Dancer Tiger Spiketail Black Saddlebags Dusky Dancer Twin-spotted Spiketail Habitat Aurora Damsel Cruisers (Macromiidae) Azure Bluet Warriors Path State Park is in the Ridge Stream Cruiser and Valley region of upper East Tennes- Double-striped Bluet Allegheny River Cruiser see. Located on Fort Patrick Henry Lake, the park includes lake, lake shoreline, Familiar Bluet Illinois (Swift) River Cruiser woodland streams, ponds and upland field Turquoise Bluet Royal River Cruiser habitats. Stream Bluet Emeralds (Corduliidae) Orange Bluet Common Baskettail Good spots Slender Bluet Prince Baskettail *Stream, stream-side and emergent vege- tation Citrine Forktail Uhler’s Sundragon *Lake, lake-side and emergent vegetation Fragile Forktail Mocha Emerald *Trails, sunny spots and seeps Eastern Forktail Skimmers (Libellulidae) Dragonflies Petaltails (Petaluridae) *Edges of marshes and boggy areas Calico Pennant *Open areas and meadows Gray Petaltail Banded Pennant