TTHEHE BBOGHAUNTEROGHAUNTER Occasional News About the and of

Number 9 On the web at www.wingsenvironmental.com/boghaunter Spring 2007

Courting On securing and navigating

Editor’s Note: The has asked various odonatologists to share their wisdom about locating certain noteworthy genera. The series begins with Paul-Michael Brunelle’s sage (and duly witty) advice on Somatochlora and Neurocordulia. Even if you hold no particular interest in these genera, Brunelle’s dispatch is a tutorial in persistence and attention to detail, which are indispensable field skills. The Boghaunter intends to continue this series with reports on various other choice genera, particularly members of the Gomphidae.

By Paul M. Brunelle he Boghaunter has asked me to give you some tips on finding the Striped Emeralds (Somatochlora) and the T Shadowdragons (Neurocordulia). Both of these genera are challenges to encounter – the Striped Emeralds because most of the inhabit peatlands that become progressively rarer as you move south, and which are not frequently surveyed, and the Shadowdragons because they fly in the evening when we rarely look for them. Consequently, many of the species of these two genera are considered rare – though they may actually be common in places. (Broad-tailed Shadowdragon), for example, is the most common dragonfly species on Canoose Stream, its type locale, but you would never know that unless you collect exuviae (the larvae are painfully difficult to find) or collect adults well after sunset. Specimens of these genera in public collections are few and far between, and we should definitely be trying to increase the holdings available to taxonomists. Note that I consider none of these species Bryan Pfeiffer Pfeiffer Bryan vulnerable to collection that follows the Dragonfly Society of the © (Continued on page 2) Somatochlora williamsoni (Williamson’s Emerald)

Change Comes to The Boghaunter By Bryan Pfeiffer (PDF) files to the web site and alert might like, I’ve elected to cease subscribers by email. categorizing issues with Volume and ime, expense and technology have One benefit is that we’re now in full color. Number. This is our ninth edition of the T caught up to The Boghaunter. We Acrobat allows you to easily print files newsletter; so I’ll start the new system here regret to report the demise of our print front-to-back for taking The Boghaunter to with issue “Number 9.” edition. your favorite reading locale. This benefit is Finally, many thanks to those of you who To be sure, nothing can replace words and particularly noticeable in this issue. Paul donated money to the production of The images on paper. But it has become hard Brunelle’s habitat images, which, Boghaunter. It offered me inspiration and a enough for me to find the time and finances regrettably, were cropped and reduced in much-needed (but hardly entire) portion of to produce two issues of this newsletter order to fit, are more vivid and recognizable the production and postage costs. each year. (Our last was the Spring 2006 in this color PDF version compared to The dregs of tropical storm Barry are still in edition.) The lure of electronic publishing is black-and white on paper. Vermont; so I can get back to the 120 or so too compelling. So, for this and future Also, because The Boghaunter is more, as skins I collected from the White River on issues, I’ll post Adobe Acrobat Reader the credo above attests, “occasional” than I June 3. Now Flying in Vermont THE BOGHAUNTER is an occasional newsletter about the dragonflies and damselflies of Vermont. It is By Bryan Pfeiffer available for no charge, although contributions to help offset our production time are welcome. e had hoped that (Ringed Boghaunter) would be the first W flying ode of the season this year. No such luck (despite much searching that CONTRIBUTIONS to THE BOGHAUNTER can take two began May 8). However, Kevin Hemeon found his first on forms: financial and editorial. The newsletter May10 in Pownal. On May 30, Bryan Pfeiffer had Lestes eurinus (Amber-winged appears one or two times per year. Your articles, Spreadwing) emerging at a in Fairlee. On May 31 Mike Blust had quite a haul of photos, and ideas are welcome as well. The next skins (representing at least five species) from the Poultney River in West Haven. issue should appear in December. Here’s a partial list of what was on the wing as of June 3 (or before): THE BOGHAUNTER is on the web in color at: www.wingsenvironmental.com/boghaunter. Calopteryx amata (Superb Jewelwing) Gomphus quadricolor (Rapids Clubtail) Calopteryx maculata (Ebony Jewelwing) Lanthus vernalis (Southern Pygmy Clubtail) THE BOGHAUNTER Amphiagrion saucium (E. Red Damsel) Ophiogomphus carolus (Riffle Snaketail) 113 Bartlett Road Argia moesta (Powdered Dancer) Ophiogomphus rupinsulensis (Rusty Snktail) Plainfield, VT 05667 Chromagron conditum (Aurora Damsel) Cordulegaster sp. (Spiketail species) [email protected] Coenagrion resolutum (Taiga Bluet) Didymops transversa (Stream Cruiser) Editor …………….……………...… Bryan Pfeiffer Enallagma boreale (Boreal Bluet) Dorocordulia libera (Racket-tailed Emerald) Enallagma annexum (Northern Bluet) Epitheca canis (Beaverpond Baskettail) THE BOGHAUNTER expresses gratitude to Paul- Enallagma antennatum (Rainbow Bluet) Epitheca cynosura (Common Baskettail) Michael Brunelle and the Department of Ischnura verticalis (Eastern Forktail) Epitheca spinigera (Spiny Baskettail) Inland Fisheries and Wildlife for inspiration and Ischnura posita (Fragile Forktail) Neurocordulia yamaskanensis use of the Williamsonia fletcheri image on the Irene (Sedge Sprite) Ladona julia (Chalk-fronted Corporal) front-page banner Anax junius (Common Green Darner) Libellula lydia (Common Whitetail) Basiaeshna janata (Springtime Darner) Libellula luctuosa (Widow Skimmer) © The Boghaunter 2007 Gomphus abbreviatus (Spine-crwnd Clubtail) L. quadrimaculata (Four-spotted Skimmer) Nothing from this newsletter can be reproduced without Gomphus borealis (Beaverpond Clubtail) intacta (Dot-tailed Whiteface) permission from the editor (which is easy to get). Gomphus descriptus (Harpoon Clubtail) Leucorrhinia frigida (Frosted Whiteface) Back Cover Image: Williamsonia lintneri (Ringed Gomphus lividus (Ashy Clubtail) L. hudsonica (Hudsonian Whiteface) Boghaunter), a female photographed by Bryan Pfeiffer Gomphus spicatus (Dusky Clubtail) L. glacialis (Crimson-ringed Whiteface) in on 13May2007.

Corduliidae Continued (Continued from page 1) with some of the species, and larva (exuviae) specimens with determination guaranteed by the teneral are valuable in general. Americas policy (http://odonatacentral.bfl.utexas.edu/dsa1/ Exuviae are also very valuable, particularly if you document collectingpolicy.htm). Most are myriad in the north, or after where you found them by photographs or detailed descriptions dark, and bloody difficult to find here. Some are hard to find of the habitat. I have provided some location photographs, as anywhere. And many (most in my opinion) are hard or these give you a search image for specific habitat types. impossible to accurately identify to species on the wing. I have Rearing is an excellent way of determining what you've found. no hesitation in giving exact locales (if I have them, and Google I'm sure there is an intrepid bog fanatic out there who doesn't Earth coordinate references) on where to find even the rarest mind shifting a ton or two of peat and in search of species. Manual collection does not present even the remotest rare larvae (note that the larva of S. incurvata is undescribed). risk to populations of in Acadia (in other groups of Collecting in May and early June will give the best prospects for flora and fauna I acknowledge that it does). In the Maritime emergence-ready specimens, which should emerge shortly after Provinces there are no legally protected species, and in Maine being raised to room temperature. while there are several, they are not in these two genera. If you find any of the following species (or any odonate) in the One unfortunate aspect of conservation politics is that many Atlantic Provinces, please let us at the Atlantic Dragonfly species rarely encountered are relegated to the status Inventory Program know; if in Maine, I can take the information “undetermined” or comparable terms. Essentially this means that for the Maine and Dragonfly Survey. (In Vermont, we do not know enough about them to make a considered send data to [email protected].) Bear in mind judgment as to their rarity (and often their habitat preferences), that there are no useless records of Odonata for even our most and by extrapolation the degree to which they are endangered by common species (Ischnura verticalis natch). We have only one human activity, if any. While this is perfectly appropriate as far record per sixty square kilometers (about 23 square miles) after as it goes, the subsequent treatment of species ranked more than 100 years of study. undetermined is a serious problem. In many, if not most, jurisdictions, species ranked as undetermined seem to be basically forgotten; rather than attracting interest and support for Finding the Striped Emeralds study, they are not considered at all. Only incidental encounters, (Somatochlora) in the Northeast or private survey, develop sufficient data on these species to bring them back to official attention; hence my interest in seeing he Somatochlora includes some of the most desirable further data. T of the northeastern species, mostly because it contains a group of subarctic species which are rarely found below 45°N Of particular interest would be specimens of tenerals and their latitude (where I suspect most of you readers are): albicincta, associated exuviae. There may well be undescribed species lurking out there, considering how few contacts we have had (Continued on page 3)

Page 2 T HE BOGHAUNTER Number 9 • Spring 2007 (Continued from page 2) Somatochlora brevicincta Robert 1954 brevicincta, cingulata, forcipata, franklini, incurvata, kennedyi, Emerald (Photo 2) and septentrionalis. There is, however a group of southern Identifying: Moderate size, robust, abdomen with partial white species which affect us frostbacks similarly: calverti, filosa, rings. Distinctive in the hand. Resembles albicincta and walshii Georgiana and linearis. I won't have anything to say about the on the wing in appearance and behaviour. latter group because I haven't seen any of them in flight. Range: Northern, trans-continental, rare in Acadia (rare Many of the northern Emeralds are associated with peatlands everywhere, even in Quebec). ( and fens), some are found at slow running waters (albicincta, cingulata, elongata, minor, williamsoni). Although Flight Period: Last week of June (thanks to Stuart Tingley for searching for larvae or exuviae of the running waters species is a discovering this) to mid-August (but there are two records of good idea, and can give you a hint where they will be flying later males in September). on, these life stages of the peatland species are excruciatingly Foraging: Has not been encountered in feeding swarms away hard to find; seeing the adults is generally much more likely. The from water, or patrolling roads (but one teneral female was taken following general advice is based on my experiences with the circling in a sunlit patch of road not far from a bog). genus in Acadia (Maine and the Maritime Provinces). Aquatic Habitat: Fen areas Look for woods road aligned within and bordering bogs, not at about east to west. You can see the secondary (open, firm-edged) the little devils a mile off in the Experience indicates that pitching rocks ponds of those bogs. Search early evening (also on bogs). at them when you've missed a swing is image for the habitat is bright Intersections of woods roads are green Sphagnum-filling pools excellent places, as both the sun- an ineffective technique. (do NOT wade light-heartedly in loving and shade-loving species these places). I have found that end up there at one point or the territorial male Libellula other. quadrimaculata (Four-spotted Skimmer) in a bog or fen are During windy days you can find many species of dragonflies in indicators for brevicincta. the “wind shadows” formed by stands of trees, and particularly Flight Style: Males fly slowly during the day at about knee level along the sheltered side of bogs. The flying species from all above the surface, with frequent protracted hovers. Females around are concentrated in these calm areas, so a really windy spend as little time as possible at the ponds, ovipositing day can be very productive if you find the right spot. frantically then “booking,” to use the scientific term. Very Exuviae of the stream and lake species are usually found near the annoying to the collector and presumably to males of the species, shore, but exuviae of the bog and fen species are more of a which of course is why she does it. challenge. I have had the most success looking for them along Netting Advice: Slosh (carefully) over to where you suspect the paths in the bog, but you have to look carefully; they are will be when you get there, keep your net low, try not to usually covered in peat and quite inconspicuous. weep or rant when you miss, unless you're alone. WTFIIYD: Along Highway 108 in mid there is Somatochlora albicincta (Burmeister 1839) one bog (only one) about the size of a football field ("Stuart's Ringed Emerald (Photo 1) Bog”). The species is there some years (it may be irruptive). Identifying: Moderate size, robust, abdomen ringed in white. Wade across the bog at the east end to the side away from the Distinctive in the hand. Resembles brevicincta and walshii on the road until you find, or fall into, what appears to be a green wing in appearance and behaviour. Sphagnum stream. Wait for it…. Range: Northern, trans-continental, rare in Acadia. Somatochlora cingulata Selys 1871 Flight Period: First week of July to mid-August. Lake Emerald (Photo 3) Foraging: Has not been encountered in feeding swarms away from water or patrolling roads. Identifying: Large size, robust, abdomen ringed in white. Distinctive in the hand. Resembles Didymops transversa (Stream Aquatic Habitat: Slow-running waters; bog streams, still waters, Cruiser) and Epitheca princeps (Prince Baskettail) in appearance beaver ponds, backwaters of otherwise rapid streams and rivers, on the wing, and in behaviour when feeding away from water. and coves of lakes. Search image for the habitat is sparse emergent plants in slow water. Range: Northern, trans-continental, fairly common in the Maritime Provinces, sometimes abundant, uncommon in Maine. Flight Style: Males fly slowly during the day at about knee level along the edge of the water feature, with frequent hovers. Flight Period: Last week of June to late August. Females fly much more quickly and oviposit in the margins. Foraging: Commonly encountered feeding away from water but Netting Advice: Put your net on the shore and sweep up to them usually solo or in small numbers, often patrols roads. Flight is when they reach the right place. Experience indicates that much like a Darner’s when foraging. pitching rocks at them when you've missed a swing is an Aquatic Habitat: Lakes, the secondary ponds of bogs, and ineffective technique. rivers. At water, it will generally be seen wherever it is most Where To Find It If You're Desperate (WTFIIYD): See difficult to get to. The larvae are usually found at active comments under cingulata as well. Drive along highways 108 or lakeshores, where wave-wash and currents keep silt from forming 180, which cross mid to northern New Brunswick, stopping at the on the bottom. ponds and still waters along the way. Do not take the lumber Flight Style: Males fly close to the water surface at prodigious trucks casually anywhere in northern Maine or New Brunswick, speeds well away from shore. They tend to approach the shore park well off the road. (Continued on page 4)

Number 9 • Spring 2007 T HE BOGHAUNTER Page 3 (Continued from page 3) Aquatic Habitat: I have seen it ovipositing into moist Sphagnum on an old skidder trail, and males are found most closely (but usually not closely enough) at points. These protecting territories in Sphagnum areas surrounding bogs. guys do not hover. Walker (1975) reports it from tiny streams. Netting Advice: Wading is the only practical solution where the Flight Style: Males fly straight and fast along roads, apparently bottom is firm enough to support you (not in bog ponds). somewhat slower at streams. Frustratingly, the insect then begins to consider you part of the Netting Advice: When encountering them flying along roads, shore and moves out further. Canoes or boats are not a good idea consider yourself “at bat.” I have found that in this situation, unless you want to end up swimming. But swimming perhaps? trying to figure out which way the next dragonfly is going to With the net gripped in your teeth, commando style? Persist. come is counter-productive; they always come from the This may be one of the species in which a “fly” is useful; direction you're not looking. Best to pick a direction and ignore something resembling a female dipping her tail might well bring those who pass you from behind. the male into reach (let me know how it goes). My greatest success in capturing this species was in a moderately fast current WTFIIYD: In northern Maine and New Brunswick, during river about calf-deep along which the males were rocketing in a June, they appear to be flying on every lumber road. I first straight, uninterrupted path a few metres out from the shore. realized how common they were in this context when I realized that several of the dragonflies I found stuck on the net racked on WTFIIYD: The river I mention above is in Mt. Carleton the top of my Jeep were forcipata. I also drive with a net in front Provincial Park in northern New Brunswick, just south of of the radiator during most years, but that does not extend more Highway 180. A bridge on North Shore Road crosses the river, than a meter above the road, and I have not taken forcipata in it. and the pool downstream around the corner is happy hunting ground for a number of Somatochlora (one-stop shopping for albicincta, cingulata, elongata, minor, williamsoni). The park Somatochlora franklini (Selys 1861) people are unusually friendly and helpful, but it would be a good Delicate Emerald (Photo 4) idea to let them know that you're going to be netting when you arrive. Identifying: Moderate size, males are very slim, hindwings with a small dark patch beside the membranule (a suede-like membrane at the basal angle of the hindwing – often dark in Somatochlora elongata (Scudder 1866) whole or part – can confuse). Distinctive in the hand. Resembles Ski-tipped Emerald forcipata and incurvata on the wing in appearance and behaviour. Identifying: Large size, slim, thorax with strong white bars. Distinctive in the hand. Resembles williamsoni on the wing in Range: Northern, trans-continental, not much further south than appearance and behaviour. northern New England, uncommon in Acadia. Range: Southern, west to the Great Lakes region, south along Flight Period: Late May to early August. At its bog habitats the the Appalacians, common for its genus in Acadia. species seems to be chased away later in its flight by the larger incurvata, which has similar habits. Flight Period: Mid June to mid September. Foraging: Commonly encountered foraging on roads, usually at Foraging: Commonly encountered feeding away from water, an infuriating height. Does not often fly rapidly along the roads sometimes in abundance, often patrols roads. Flight is much like as does forcipata. a Darner's when foraging. Aquatic Habitat: I have seen it ovipositing in small areas of Aquatic habitat: All slow waters. open water between the woody stems of bog shrubs, but not in Flight Style: Males fly about knee height along the shore, with the open ponds. A good tactic with this species (and some bog frequent hovers. Females oviposit in protected areas by driving Darners) is to stand still and listen for the sound of wings their eggs into a bank then washing their abdomen tips in the clashing in the brush stems. Most interestingly, this species' water; however, they also lay directly onto the water surface. I females (in common with incurvata) appear to lay by preference once saw a female laying in the small pool within a hollow in footprints in moss lawns of bogs. I have seen it laying in a standing stump. She was less than a metre from the males moose print, and likely the depression of that print would have intently searching the shore; I could almost hear her chuckling. filled in shortly afterward leaving the larvae to develop in the Netting Advice: As with albicincta. saturated moss. See the comment under incurvata as well. It is interesting to speculate as to whether the extinction of the WTFIIYD: See cingulata, but almost any still or slow-moving Caribou in the east affected these species, by reducing the water. footprints in bogs. Males patrol over moss-choked pools or moss lawns. In patterned bogs, the males will tend to patrol the length (Scudder 1861) of the elongated depressions. Forcipate Emerald Flight Style: Males fly straight and at moderate speed, females are somewhat fluttery in flight when searching for laying areas. Identifying: Moderate size, slim, thorax with strong white markings. Distinctive in the hand. Resembles franklini on the Netting Advice: The species is not particularly wary, so it is wing in appearance and behaviour. best to note the direction in which the male is traveling and slog over to an interception point (excellent cardiac exercise), Range: Northern, trans-continental, south along the keeping your net low and about flat to the bog surface, and Appalacians, uncommon in Acadia. sweeping upwards when it comes within reach. Of course, just Flight Period: Late May to mid September. before the conditions are perfect it will spot another male thirty Foraging: Commonly encountered patrolling roads early in the meters away and charge off to challenge it. At this point, do not season. Flight is straight and fast along the length of the road delete your expletives, but also do not pursue immediately. above waist height, but usually not too high up. Annoying though it is to have it fly away, it is much more (Continued on page 5)

Page 4 T HE BOGHAUNTER Number 9 • Spring 2007 (Continued from page 4) encountered the males behaving territorially in pocket bogs with little standing water. aggravating to toil along after it, only to have it return to its Flight Style and Netting Advice: Much like franklini. original patrol area, now behind you. Be patient, there are advantages to standing still even in the austere habitats of a bog. WTFIIYD: Very similar to franklini, but flies a little earlier. Once, in northern Maine, when waiting for a franklini, I was treated to the sight of a very large bear rising up from behind the Somatochlora minor Calvert 1898 trees a stone's throw away from me in the direction I had been Ocellated Emerald (Photo 6) traveling. As the trees on this bog were only a metre or so high, it looked like a scene from a science fiction movie (Bearzilla). Identifying: Small size, fairly robust, thorax with strong white All participants, including, alas, the franklini, left the scene markings. Distinctive in the hand. Resembles walshii on the unscathed. wing in appearance, and elongata and williamsoni in behaviour. WTFIIYD: In May and June, look for them Range: Northern, trans-continental, not on the moss lawns of large bogs, or flying much further south than Massachusetts, over heaths. common in Acadia. Flight Period: Early June to late August. Foraging: Rarely encountered patrolling (Walker 1918) roads. Incurvate Emerald (Photo 5) Aquatic Habitat: Slow streams and Identifying: Large size, slim. A bit difficult stillwaters, much like the habitats described to discriminate in the hand. Resembles for albicincta and elongata. They are forcipata and franklini on the wing in abundant in the little streams that drain appearance and behaviour. Everlasting Barrens Bog (see septentrionalis below). Range: Northern, west to the Great Lakes region, south along the Appalacians to ; Flight Style: Males fly judiciously along common in Acadia; in fact one of the most the stream bank, with frequent hovers, common dragonflies in August in its habitat. much like elongata and williamsoni. Flight Period: Late June to mid October, a Netting Advice: As with elongata. very long flight period. At its bog habitats Clamp-tipped Emerald WTFIIYD: Should be found at most slow the species chases away the smaller franklini, running waters in the region. which has similar habits. Foraging: Commonly encountered foraging on roads, flying fast Somatochlora septentrionalis (Hagen 1861) like forcipata, but usually lower (about waist height). A common Muskeg Emerald (Photo 7) species for road kill in Acadia. Identifying: Moderate size, fairly robust, wings with a relatively Aquatic Habitat: As with franklini, particularly regarding large triangular dark spot along the membranule. A bit difficult laying in footsteps in the moss lawns. On one occasion I was in the hand, and depending how north you are, you should keep surveying a bog near a good-sized pond choked with bright whitehousei in mind. Resembles kennedyi on the wing in green Sphagnum and with no open water. I had seen absolutely appearance, and Cordulia shurtleffii (American Emerald) in nothing for over half an hour until I saw an Aeshna subarctica behaviour. (Subarctic Darner) on (as usual) the other side of the pond, so I walked gingerly through the pond to bag it, but before I got there Range: Very northern, trans-continental, it does not get below it booked (again, as usual). By the time I had turned around, northern New Brunswick and Cape Breton Island, where it is there were two incurvata females laying in my open footsteps. rare and confined to highlands bogs. One of the few species in North America not known from the contiguous US (is found in Flight Style and Netting Advice: Very similar to franklini. ). I have scrutinized bogs in northern Maine with no luck WTFIIYD: Very similar to franklini, but flies a little later. for this species, though it is found in similar habitats at the same latitude and elevation in New Brunswick. Somatochlora kennedyi Walker 1918 Flight Period: Mid June to mid August. Kennedy's Emerald Foraging: Has not, in this region, been found away from water. Identifying: Large size, slim. Distinctive in the hand. Aquatic Habitat: My first encounter with this species was in Resembles forcipata and franklini on the wing in appearance and late August in a sloped bog in the Cape Breton Highlands. I had behaviour. been in the Highlands earlier in the month, looking for Range: Northern, trans-continental, not much further south than septentrionalis and other northern species, but had no luck for New York, uncommon in Acadia. this species, which I knew from a specimen in the Museum that had been taken somewhere up there. Not that I Flight Period: Mid May to late August, a very early emergence didn't see Emeralds. I spent a full day chasing them from pond for the genus. to pond, always a tad short, always on the wrong side of the Foraging: Often encountered foraging on roads, flying fast pond. For you sailors out there, they seemed to have the lee gage about waist height. on me, in the heavy winds typical over these bogs they just sailed away when spooked. By late August the male Emeralds Aquatic Habitat: I have seen it ovipositing in small areas of were no longer evident at the small ponds where they were open water between the woody stems of bog shrubs as with earlier in the month and I had given up on seeing the species. franklini. Walker (1975) gives bogs and swamps as the likely habitat, but notes that it has been taken laying in ponds. I have (Continued on page 6)

Number 9 • Spring 2007 T HE BOGHAUNTER Page 5 (Continued from page 5) Range: Southern and eastern, fairly common in Maine, rare in the Maritime Provinces. There is a large pond (or small lake) on this particular bog in Flight Period: Late June to early September. which I had not seen the annoying Emeralds (probably because the larger Darners and cingulata shooed them away). Late in Foraging: Occasionally encountered patroling roads. Flight is August there were no dragonflies at this pond and I netted a fairly straight and fast along the length of the road above waist female septentrionalis laying at speed while flying along its height, sometimes high up. I have seen it feeding at the quaking margin. The following year I was in the Highlands in intersection of dirt roads often enough to suspect that's a good July, and found the males and females abundant in the smaller place to look for it. The species is reputed to love shade, and my ponds along with Aeshna sitchensis (Zigzag Darner). Here the first encounter with it was of a male flying along a heavily females tended to tap their eggs into the water in one small area shaded ditch, but all of my other encounters have been in full (less than 50 cm in diameter), behaviour quite at odds with that sunlight. Blair Nikula mentioned to me once that the species during my first encounter. In a bog found by Stuart Tingley in flies in powerline cuttings, and with that search image I have northern New Brunswick, males were territorial at the down- found it a few times since. wind ends of secondary ponds (there were none of the small Aquatic Habitat: Edmund shallow pools) where the debris Walker characterized this as an had built up around the shore in "inhabitant of small forest a pinkish matt under shallow They are quite stately in their progress, streams with intermittent rapids water (I collected larvae in these rarely pausing, rarely speeding up. and pools" and he was places the following year). undoubtedly right, but I have Cordulia shurtleffii was This makes not getting near them all the never encountered it at these territorial along the firmer-edged habitats in Acadia, and I've been shores of the pond. When a more aggravating. to a few. The one larval patrolling septentrionalis met a collection we have was from a patrolling shurtleffii they clashed slow stream through a bog/fen in pro forma, their hearts just didn't seem to be in it. Maine. Students of the Humboldt (Eagle Hill) larval odonate Flight Style: In the sloped bogs of the Cape Breton Highlands, seminar industriously dipped this stream for a morning and came males fly at a moderate speed into the wind along the length of up with some pretty neat stuff, most of which I stated one small pond and on to the next. They are quite stately in their authoritatively was Cordulia shurtleffi because of the dark progress, rarely pausing, rarely speeding up. This makes not lateral thoracic marks. Pride goeth before the fall. This particular getting near them all the more aggravating. In northern New seminar was attended by a small, stalwart band of naturalists Brunswick they establish territories at the soft shorelines of who just loved to catch me in an error. In this case many of the secondary ponds, patrolling back and forth over their domain, in shurtleffii proved to have dorsal hooks and to key to tenebrosa a manner typical of shurtleffii. (some others were actually shurtleffi). Bronco Quick collected more the following year and they emerged as tenebrosa, Netting Advice: Don't chase them, stand and hold your ground confirming the determination, so the habitat in this case is also at the end of a pond with the wind at your back. Pick an area confirmed as being within floating Sphagnum moss in the slow- with the least complicated pond structure. Don't complain about flowing stream. And note that shurtleffi and Dorocordulia sp. the wind, in this part of the world you would be drained dry by are not the only Emeralds with lateral stripes on the thorax blackflies without it. (although tenebrosa's are not as long). WTFIIYD: Anyone wanting to find this species in Acadia Flight Style: I haven't seen these at water, but suspect that they should contact me for detailed directions. Both the bogs I would fly similarly to elongata, minor, williamsoni and C. mention above are reachable with a normal car (leave the Ferrari shurtleffii. Let me know if you find out. at home). If you have access to Google Earth, you can see the northern New Brunswick bog (Renous Bog) at 46°54'4.97"N, Netting Advice: As with the other species that patrol roads, but -66°37'10.63"W but the imagery is not very good for that area. keep an eye out for lurkers in the shadows. I once saw dragonfly The Cape Breton Highlands bog (Everlasting Barrens Bog) is at in the deep shadows below a spruce tree but only by the glint of 46°40'10.91"N, -60°38'50.37"W and the imagery is excellent for two green eyes, and I did not succeed in netting it. this area, you can nearly see the bugs. The large pond is at the WTFIIYD: Blair's advice seems the soundest: powerline north end of the bog (note how quaking bog is consuming it), the cuttings. secondary ponds south of it and a little west, and the flark ponds at which septentrionalis is found are over at the east side of the Somatochlora walshii (Scudder 1866) complex. The little streams draining the bogs are generally patrolled by minor and Cordulegaster diastatops (Delta-spotted Brush-tipped Emerald (Photo 9) Spiketail). This bog is outside Cape Breton Highlands National Identifying: Small size, fairly robust, males have hairy Park (the smaller bog adjacent to the northwest is partially in the terminalia. Distinctive in the hand. Resembles albicincta and park) and no permission is needed to sample there. brevicincta on the wing in appearance and behaviour (but not habitat). Somatochlora tenebrosa (Say 1839) Range: Not particularly northern, trans-continental with a big Clamp-tipped Emerald (Photo 8) gap in the prairies, south to , common in Acadia. This is a species that I have very little experience with, its Flight Period: Early June to mid September, one record in mid- greatest abundance being south of Acadia. October. Identifying: Large size, slim, the male terminalia is an easy call, Foraging: Commonly encountered patroling roads, where they female ovipositor not so much, little colour on the side of the fly very fast along the length of the road just above the surface, thorax. Distinctive in the hand. Resembles elongata and incurvata on the wing in size, appearance and behaviour. (Continued on page 7)

Page 6 T HE BOGHAUNTER Number 9 • Spring 2007 (Continued from page 6) weaving from side to side. Females haunt sun-lit forest clearings and roads. Aquatic Habitat: I have several times seen it ovipositing into the muck of the animal paths in fens and bogs, Sphagnum- choked ponds in bogs , and Sphagnum- choked brooks, scarcely more than trickles. It probably lays in the back- waters of lakes and running waters. Flight Style: Males patrol over aquatic features at about knee height, very similar to the flight of albicincta and brevicincta. Netting Advice: When the males are flying along roads, much the same advice as for forcipata, however, walshii is particularly difficult because it flies so low down and weaves from side to side like a drunken sailor. I've had a lot of luck

collecting them on dirt roads with the net Pfeiffer Bryan attached to the front of my Jeep. © Somatochlora walshii (Brush-tipped Emerald) WTFIIYD: Common, so it should be fairly easy to find, but in my experience you get the socks. About 8:00pm EST, it is worthwhile to return to the water best results at grassy fens and marshes. and start keeping your eyes open. Somatochlora williamsoni Walker 1907 Flight of Neurocordulia in Acadia is heralded by the appearance of a particularly nasty mosquito species with striped legs (bring Williamson's Emerald the bug spray), and also by a fairly sudden cooling of the air Identifying: Moderate size, slim, thorax without strong white (have a sweater). Whether you're shivering or scratching, flight markings (except tenerals have these markings and could easily should begin within 15 minutes. Light overcast does not seem to be mistaken for elongata). Distinctive in the hand. Resembles discourage them. elongata on the wing in appearance and behaviour. I suggest that you find a stream or river with a bridge over it Range: Somewhat northern, reaches west into the Prairie both because of simplicity of access and the fact that this will be Provinces, south to , common in Maine, less public land, and because running waters are usually bridged at common in the Maritimes. narrow sections, which means rapids, which is usually where michaeli and yamaskanensis are to be found. Also, the bridge Flight Period: Mid June to mid September. lets you get up in the air where the initial flight occurs, rather Foraging, Flight Style, Netting Advice: Similar to elongata in than drooling on the bank. However, standing around on a all respects. bridge in the dark looking into the sky should not be done without caution – think road hockey and watch out for cars.

Finding the Shadowdragons Neurocordulia michaeli Brunelle 2000 (Neurocordulia) in the Northeast Broadtailed Shadowdragon (Photos 10 to 14) ince I first encountered exuviae of Neurocordulia in 1993, I Identifying: Small size for northern species of the genus, S have spent about 100 nights searching for adults in Acadia, females very plump when gravid, both genders wide of abdomen and I suppose I have become quite proficient at it. Nevertheless, compared to congeners. Distinctive in the hand. In overall form I have taken adults on only 35 occasions, a rather low success this species resembles an Epitheca (Baskettail) more than a ratio considering I was carefully selecting the habitats for Shadowdragon. evening survey – so netting one is still a thrill. Range: Northeastern and north central, fairly common in Maine I would encourage you to survey all sorts of aquatic habitats in (many exuviae records), rare in the Maritime Provinces the late evening, as much more occurs there when it is dusk than (confined to western New Brunswick). It has been taken quite we know. Nick Donnelly suggested to me years ago that there high in latitude in , and appears to be the most northern was late-day Gomphid activity, and subsequently Tony Thomas of its genus. in New Brunswick discovered that Stylurus scudderi (Zebra Flight Period: Early June to mid-August. Clubtail) is largely crepuscular in flight. Foraging: Has never, to my knowledge, been taken other than I think one reason why few of us go out at this time is that there in the evening at its larval habitat, although tenerals have is a prolonged period of relative inactivity at water from late sometimes been seen feeding over water earlier in the day. I afternoon until early evening. I call this the “calm before the believe they hang up in the shaded understory of the forest until swarm,” and during this period there are few things to see the evenings. One evening at Canoose Stream, Nick Donnelly (although I have noticed that stream and river Corduliid females had directed my attention to a Turkey Vulture flying hundreds of take advantage of the male's absence to get a little uninterrupted metres up, and as I focussed my binoculars I saw myriad laying done). So this is a good time to have dinner and dry your (Continued on page 8)

Number 9 • Spring 2007 T HE BOGHAUNTER Page 7 (Continued from page 7) Range: Southern and eastern, fairly common in Maine, not dragonflies apparently feeding up where the sun was still reported from the Maritime Provinces. shining. They flew like Emeralds, and in form could have been Flight Period: Late May to early September. N. michaeli and/or Epitheca; so the lives of these species may be more complex than we know. How we will find out the truth of Foraging: Not to my knowledge taken except at its aquatic this I have no idea. Perhaps a helicopter-towed net? habitat and in the evening. Aquatic Habitat: N. michaeli is a species of medium to large Aquatic Habitat: Lakes with rocky substrate. I mention above rivers with coarse substrate (angular football-sized rocks) and a that it has been taken at a river, and exuviae have been taken at rapids, riffles, pool structure. small fast streams, but these seem to be the exception to the rule. My only encounter with adults was at Mud Pond, near Old Flight Style: The species is usually abundant when Mayflies are Town, Maine. The lake, in spite of its name, has coarse angular emerging, and those people with sharp eyes can usually see the substrate where I found obsoleta, but is elsewhere bog- swarm following the swarms of Mayflies. Flight begins late in margined. The water is turbid. Bronco Quick did an extensive the evening, at perhaps 21:00EST, well after the sun has gone exuviae survey at this lake, yielding many records of the species, down, and about when you can't see details in the marginal trees Helocordulia uhleri (Uhler’s Sundragon) and (interestingly) and brush, although the sky is still fairly light. Initially, both Gomphus abbreviatus (Spine-crowned Clubtail). genders seem to be up high, then the females go down to the water surface to oviposit. When flying up high they travel only Flight Style: At Mud Pond the adults fly at extraordinary speed moderately quickly in straight lines for a couple of metres then just above the surface of the water, the females laying at full make an abrupt turn followed by another straight travel. This is speed. I believe that this is the fastest dragonfly that I have ever fairly distinctive behavior and, combined with the comparatively seen. They go from shoreline prominence to prominence (much small size and thick abdomen, makes it possible to recognize, at like S. cingulata), and I had the most luck swinging around a least tentatively, the species in flight. When down at the water large emergent boulder, which they would circle at speed (this surface, the females fly very rapidly and very close to the water large boulder is at the coordinates I have given below). surface. They fly at least until the sky is fully dark, however this WTFIIYD: Mud Pond is located at 44°56'50.56"N, is a period of only three-quarters of an hour or so. Shortly after -68°46'42.75"W. This is a municipal park with good access to the emergence date, tenerals can sometimes be found lazily the water. feeding on Mayflies much earlier in the day. Netting Advice: Initially, take a position on a bridge cross the Neurocordulia yamaskanensis (Provancher stream or river and try (emphasis on try) to net males and 1875) Stygian Shadowdragon (Photo 15) females as they rocket around. You need to see them against the sky, so stay low to the road (locals will question your sanity, but Identifying: Large size, slim. Distinctive in the hand. that is a small price to pay). Photo 12 shows Michael Brunelle Resembles Somatochlora on the wing in size, appearance and demonstrating good form. If there is a light breeze, stay on the behaviour. side of the bridge that the breeze is blowing toward. Later, when Range: Southern and eastern, uncommon in Maine and the there seems to be less activity over the bridge, the best technique Maritime Provinces. is to wade into the water at the foot of a pool with the current flowing down behind you, but facing upstream. Females will Flight Period: Early June to late July. oviposit at high speed up the rapids, and often circle at the foot Foraging: Not to my knowledge taken in Acadia except at its of the pool and head back down during this circle you have a aquatic habitat and in the evening, although Nick Donnelly tells reasonable chance to net them, swinging parallel to the water me he has encountered it flying in sun at mid-day. surface and almost touching it. Good luck. Aquatic Habitat: Much like michaeli, and its rarity in Acadia is Larvae are difficult to find, but hand-checking rocks in the strange; there should be abundant habitat and few direct stream or river has yielded a few. In late May or early June (in competitors. Acadia) the emergence-sized larvae can be found in settle points along the shore; little coves or backwaters beside current in Flight Style: At the East Branch , males patrol the which waterlogged sticks have built up on the bottom. Photo 13 edges of the fast water segment running under the bridge. They shows a shallow back-water of the Eel River, beside which a are found at water level much more often than is michaeli, and much higher density of emerging michaeli were found than on they seem associated with the shore much more than that the banks exposed to direct current. The foam is indicative of the species. Females were (contrary to michaeli) much harder to countercurrent eddy here, and the substrate is gravel rather than catch ovipositing at speed up the center of the run and out onto rocks. the stillwater. WTFIIYD: I have only encountered michaeli in abundance on Netting Advice: I had the most success by finding a slightly three rivers, Canoose Stream and Eel River in New Brunswick, concave section of shoreline and sweeping it with a net and the Northwest Saint John River in northwest Maine. During whenever I heard wings moving. June and early July the species is present in great numbers at WTFIIYD: East Branch Union River, Highway 179, Hancock these sites. See photos for further details. Exuviae collection County, Maine. suggests that it is fairly common in Maine and western New Brunswick. Paul-Michael Brunelle has been studying the Odonata of the Atlantic provinces of and northern New England for 20 years. He planned and helped coordinate the Maine Damselfly (Say 1839) and Dragonfly Survey, was retained by Parks Canada to study Umber Shadowdragon Odonata in Cape Breton Highlands, taught Odonata seminars at Eagle Hill (Humboldt Field Research Institute, Steuben, Maine) Identifying: Intermediate in size between michaeli and and discovered Neurocordulia michaeli (Broadtailed yamaskanensis, and slim. Distinctive in the hand. Resembles Shadowdragon) in New Brunswick. He also founded the Atlantic yamaskanensis and Somatochlora on the wing in size, Dragonfly Inventory Program. He lives in Nova Scotia. appearance and behaviour.

Page 8 T HE BOGHAUNTER Number 9 • Spring 2007 Details For Habitat Photographs On The Following Pages

Photo 1: North Branch Clearwater Brook, upstream of lay in these paths in August and September, when the grass is Highway 108, Victoria County, New Brunswick. On August 17 bright green, and males patrol the paths, the wetter areas of the 2004, S. albicincta males were territorial in backwaters of this fen, and to a lesser extent along the lake shore. otherwise fast-flowing brook. Notice the green grassy emergents at the shore in the cove – the males were patrolling Photo 10: Canoose Stream, Highway 745, Charlotte County, along those stands. New Brunswick. The type locale for the species. Our first (known) contact with N. michaeli was exuviae taken in 1993 Photo 2: Chamberlain Fen, Piscataquis County, Maine. On July from the retaining wall just visible at the right hand shore. This 5 2001, S. brevicincta males were territorial over the bright photo is taken much earlier than michaeli flies – during the green areas, which were very wet, and a female was taken flight there will be little or no foliage details visible, but the sky ovipositing in the mucky pond in the background. Google Earth will be only slightly darker. 45°22'26.00"N, 67°21'31.37"W. 46°12'4.35"N, 69° 9'9.67"W will put the cursor at where the photo was taken looking southwest. Photo 11: Eel River, Harten Road crossing, York County, New Brunswick. This is a very rich habitat for N. michaeli, with vast Photo 3: Frying Pan Lake, Rockwood Park, Saint John County, numbers emerging in early June, and easy access. New Brunswick. On July 31 2006, S. cingulata males were flying over the surface of the lake, usually not approaching Photo 12: Michael stalking Neurocordulia on the bridge at Eel shore. Note the rocky bottom and few emergent waterplants. River. In spite of the fine form he displays, neither of us 45°18'17.41"N, 66° 3'23.34"W. succeeded in catching any, although he could see clouds of them feeding on Mayflies not far away (I was having trouble Photo 4: Drysdales Bog Fen, Halifax County, Nova Scotia. seeing the tip of my nose). Shortly after, however, he informed Typical of the footsteps you make when you slog across a soft me that they were flying down near the water under the bridge area of a fen – and which franklini and incurvata females seem and we moved down and into the river, where he caught his to prefer ovipositing in. Note the small pools in each footstep – namesake for the first time. Heck of a night. the moss will have bounced back to its original surface in a matter of days. Some people have expressed concern that Photo 13: When I first visited the Eel River at this location, on trampling in a bog or fen might be bad for the habitat, but I take June 6 2003, I saw no trace of N. michaeli – the following day the view that these habitats used to house many Caribou, made they were emerging in numbers. I had taken a michaeli skin on extinct by humans, and the subsequent lack of their footsteps the grass beside fast current on one side of the river, while Kate may have had a negative influence on some bog species. Our Bredin was searching for exuviae on the other side. She called footsteps are probably not greatly significant one way or the out that she had found an emerging dragonfly, and by the time I other with respect to dragonflies. 44°36'11.29"N, 63° crossed over had found several more. Along this 2-3 metre 41'26.32"W. stretch of back-current there were more michaeli emerging than we encountered in total elsewhere – convincing evidence that Photo 5: Drysdales Bog Fen as in Photo 4. This is a typical they drift down on emergence day (or before) and crawl out area for S. incurvata (and Aeshna sitchensis) to fly – low down where the current deposits them. Foam in this type of habitat is over the fen surface. Female incurvata oviposit in the small indicative of a slow-current area. open areas. In the background you can see the ATV tracks which seem to be the principal threat to such habitats (though Photo 14: Northwest Saint John River, American Realty Tote the tracks would have to be much more extensive than shown to Road, near Daaquam on the Québec border, Aroostook County, have an impact). Bogs and fens are catagorized as wetlands, Maine. There is a huge flight of N. michaeli at this river, and and driving ATVs across them has been made illegal in some presumably on the Daaquam river which is just visible subnationals. downstream. As the latter river flows into Maine only a few kilometers west of this point, it is likely that michaeli will be Photo 6: A small tributary of Trafton Brook, Victoria County, found in that province. 46°36'6.98"N, 69° 58'56.94"W. New Brunswick. On July 18 2004 males of S. minor were patrolling this little stream. The species is found on larger Photo 15: East Branch Union River, Highway 179, Hancock streams as well, with firmer substrate. County, Maine. This is one of the few locations in Acadia in which yamaskanensis adults have been encountered in Photo 7: Fen ponds in “Radio Tower Bog,” Cape Breton abundance. The males patrol at speed along the shores of the Highlands National Park, Inverness County, Nova Scotia. On fast run below the rapids visible in the picture, the females July 16 1998, S. septentrionalis males were territorial at these oviposit at high speed up the center of the run and off over the ponds, and females were ovipositing among the sparse stillwater. Phillip deMaynadier caught one obsoleta among the emergent plants in their center. yamaskanensis about mid-way along the run; I suspect it was moving from one stillwater to the next, rather than being Photo 8: Stream through Hooper Heath, Hancock County, territorial at the fast waters. 44°44'55.38"N, 68°19'17.83"W. Maine. Larvae of S. tenebrosa were collected from the floating Sphagnum and bottom of this slow stream, although adults have not been encountered there. Photo 9: Mushamush Fen, Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia. This photo was taken earlier in the year than S. walshii flies, the paths are almost invisible beneath the grasses later on. Females

Number 9 • Spring 2007 T HE BOGHAUNTER Page 9 Somatochlora and Neurocordulia Habitat Photographs

Photo 1 – Somatochlora albicincta Photo 4 – Somatochlora franklini

Photo 2 – Somatochlora brevicincta Photo 5 – Somatochlora incurvata

Photo 3 – Somatochlora cingulata

Page 10 T HE BOGHAUNTER Number 9 • Spring 2007 Photo 6 – Somatochlora minor Photo 7 – Somatochlora septentrionalis

Photo 8 – Somatochlora tenebrosa

Photo 9 – Somatochlora walshii

Photo 10 – Neurocordulia michaeli Photo 11 – Neurocordulia michaeli

Number 9 • Spring 2007 T HE BOGHAUNTER Page 11 Photo 12 – Michael Brunelle Photo 14 – Neurocordulia michaeli

Photo 13 – Neurocordulia michaeli Photo 15 – Neurocordulia yamaskanensis

Page 12 T HE BOGHAUNTER Number 9 • Spring 2007 THE BOGHAUNTER 113 Bartlett Road Plainfield, VT 05667 © Bryan Pfeiffer