The Haliburton Highlands Land Trust Volunteer Monitoring of Dahl Forest Dragonfly Idenficaon Guide 2 Darners (Aeshnidae) Species in the Aeshnidae family are commonly known as darners. They have a global distribuon and get their name from their needle-like shape. Darners are larger than other families of dragonflies and are characterized by their brilliant blue, green and brown colours. They have large eyes, a robust thorax, and usually a long, slim abdomen. Darners are high flyers and have been known to make startling, rustling sounds with their wings.1 The darner life cycle of usually takes between two to four years to complete. Metamorphosis emergence is believed to be influenced by air and water temperature cycles.2 Nymphs are characterisc climbers. They do not burrow or wallow in the mud, but instead climb on stems, stumps, and on other submerged rough surfaces. The nymphs are bare skinned, with thin legs and are very acve. They are known to be the fiercest of fresh water predators, even to the point of eang other nymphs of the same species.1 Black-pped Darner (Aeshna tuberculifera) Habitat Ponds, especially bog ponds Total Body ♂ 72-74 ♀ 71-78 Length Abdomen ♂ 47.5-52.5♀ 45-54.5 (mm) Hind Wing ♂ 45.5-49 ♀ 44-50.5 -Broad, straight lateral thoracic stripes Adults -Green-blue dorsal and lateral stripes -No dots between thoracic stripes Flying Dates July 5-September 306 3 Canada Darner (Aeshna canadensis) Habitat Quiet marshy or bog-margined lakes, ponds or sluggish streams Total Body ♂ 64-72 ♀ 66-73 Length Abdomen ♂ 46-51.5 ♀ 45-49 (mm) Hind Wing ♂ 43-46.5 ♀ 42.5-47.3 -Blue or green, deeply notched thoracic stripes Adults -Pale blue or greenish face -Female colouraon yellow to greenish Flying Dates June 21-September 276, 7 Broad-winged Damselflies (Calopterygidae) Species within the Calopterygidae family exhibit a metallic coloraon.3 They are found along the banks of permanent streams. Members in this family are commonly found in areas that contain a high level of vegetaon and debris. The males are known to be territorial and become aggressive during mang season. This characterisc results in the males chasing and aacking other males that intrude into the mang area. The territorial area is usually a 2-meter area located along the water. A mature male within this family can occupy a territory for between 1-8 days, while waing for females to approach the area.2 4 Ebony Jewelwing (Calopteryx maculata) Streams and rivers, including streams with intermient rapids and emergent Habitat vegetaon Total Body ♂ 38-56 ♀ 38-56 Length Abdomen ♂ & ♀ Unknown (mm) Hind Wing ♂ &♀ Unknown -Green damselfly has dark colored wings Adults -Females have small white spots near ps of wings (sgmas) Flying Dates May-August6, 7 River Jewelwing (Calopteryx aequabilis) Habitat Small to medium streams and rivers, especially along swi riffles Total Body ♂ >45 ♀ >45 Length Abdomen ♂ & ♀ Unknown (mm) Hind Wing ♂ & ♀ Unknown -Dark bands at the ps of the wings -Metallic green bodies and colored wings -Males have blue reflecons in the metallic green Adults -Males have clear wings with black ps -Females usually have dark brown wing ps, but the wing bases have yellow- brown shading and anterior wing margins are a contrasng bright white Flying Dates Late May-July5, 6 5 Narrow-winged Damselflies (Coenagrionidae) Coenagrionidae have a range of coloraon paerns that can include: red, green, blue, purple, orange, or yellow. This family exhibits narrow, transparent wings that are held vercally above the body during resng periods. They are widely distributed throughout North America inhabing lenc habitats. Various species within the Coenagrionidae family can be observed along banks and in riffles of streams. Coenagrionidae species are usually climbers that ulize branches, stems, and rocks to rest while locang prey. Coenagrionidae have been associated with natural water condions and have a low polluon tolerance. This characterisc suggests Coenagrionidae presence is a great indicator for bodies of water that have a reduced influence by anthropogenic impact and external disturbance.2 The nymphs of this family inhabit permanent ponds with vegetave debris. They can also be found in, swamps, marshes, and lioral lakes, which provide an ideal habitat for this nymph stage of this family.2 Aurora Damsel (Chromagrion conditum) Habitat Shady spring-fed brooks and pools Total Body ♂ 33-35 ♀ 32-38 Length Abdomen ♂ 27-29 ♀ 25.5-31 (mm) Hind Wing ♂ 20-23 ♀ 20.5-26 -Black and blue damselfly disnguished by the bright yellow marks on the lower sides of thorax -Wings are partly spread when perched, which is a disnct characterisc from Adults other damselflies in this family -Female's paern is similar to the male's, but light brown to gray compared to blue in the male Flying Dates June 7-August 46, 7 6 Powdered Dancer (Argia moesta) Habitat Rocky rivers and lakes with rocky shores Total Body ♂ 37-42 ♀ 37-42 Length Abdomen ♂ & ♀ Unknown (mm) Hind Wing ♂ & ♀ Unknown -Male has a chalky white thorax with dark stripes that blur with age - Abdomen is blackish with a pale gray p - Eyes are dark Adults -Female has blue and brown forms: blue form female has a dark p instead of bright blue p of the abdomen; brown form female is lighter colored in some areas Flying Dates June-August6, 7 Sedge Sprite (Nehalennia irene) Habitat -Sll marshy or boggy waters Total Body ♂ 26-27 ♀ 25-28 Length Abdomen ♂ 21.5-28 ♀ 21.5 (mm) Hind Wing ♂ 14-15 ♀ 15-17 -Small size and metallic green thorax without stripes -Male has a bright metallic green thorax with yellowish-green to blue sides -Abdomen is mostly dark iridescent green except for a blue p. Adults -Female is similar to the male, but with yellowish thoracic sides -Abdomen is dark green with the very p pale -Legs are slender -Clear wings are moderately long and narrow Flying End of May-August 286, 7 Dates 7 Stream Bluet (Enallagma exsulans) Habitat Streams and lake shores Total Body ♂ 30.5-37.5 ♀ 31-35 Length Abdomen ♂ 24-30.5 ♀ 25-29 (mm) Hind Wing ♂ 16.5-20.5 ♀ 19.5-21.5 -Light blue to yellow-green Adults -Narrow blue rings and blue p -Marked with dark brown and black Flying Dates June 7-September 196 Spiketails (Cordulegastridae) Cordulegastridae species are known to be burrowers and sprawlers. As they burrow deep into the substrate, they just keep their head exposed. Spiketails prefer clean sand and silt substrates within smaller loc streams. They are believed to possess a strengthened ability to adapt to new environments. Most species within this family have life cycles lasng 3-5 years. As opportunisc feeders, Cordulegastridae are known to consume all types of prey within their reach, including smaller larvae within the same species. Spiketails are ambush predators, as they capture their prey by extending their labium.2 Nymphs are usually restricted to so beds of muck and silt in flowing waters of woodland streams. Nymphs lie buried in the so mud up to the ps of their high-peaked eyes, with a sensive antennae laid out on surface waing to sense contact with passing prey.1 8 Arrowhead Spiketail (Cordulegaster oblique) Habitat Small rapid streams Total Body ♂ 68-72 ♀ 75 Length Abdomen ♂ 51-53 ♀ 54 (mm) Hind Wing ♂ 42-44 ♀ 47 -Dorsal arrowhead markings on slender body Adults -Eyes are green -Female is similar in appearance to the male -Relavely unknown Flying Dates -Specimens retrieved May 24-July 96, 7 Twin-spoed Spiketail (Cordulegaster maculata) Habitat Rapid streams in woods Total Body ♂ 65-73 ♀ 68-70 Length Abdomen ♂ 47-53 ♀ 52-55 (mm) Hind Wing ♂ 38-40 ♀ 41.5-45 -Yellow abdominal spots in narrow separated pairs Adults -Green eyes -Yellow, bluntly ended, sub-parallel lines on thorax Flying Dates -End of May-Mid-July6 9 Emeralds (Corduliidae) Corduliidae adults are characteriscally strong flyers. Some of the species within this family are notably large with brilliant metallic coloraons.1 Corduliidae have life cycles that average between 2-4 years in the northern hemisphere with climate having a strong influence on the life span. Their larval distribuon is usually disconnuous and grouped, which will occur in close proximity to the shoreline in shallow water. Adults are most commonly acve during midday. Species in this family are carnivorous predators. Larvae will inially eat small protozoans and similar-sized metazoans, before eang larger prey such as microcrustacea as their mouthparts gradually connue to morph.2 Larvae emergence of some species is commonly observed to be synchronized, which leads to large swarms aer emergence.2 Nymphs are usually sprawlers on the boom, but several species have been known to be climbers in the presence of boom trash and waterweeds.1 Larvae in their resng state usually burrow into detritus deposits in streams.2 The species within this family that lie on the silted boom are generally hairy. This is contrasted by the climbers which are oen paerned in green and brown paerns.1 Clamp-pped Emerald (Somatochlora tenebrosa) Habitat Small forest streams Total Body ♂ 48-55 ♀ 51-64 Length Abdomen ♂ 32.5-38 ♀ 38-45.5 (mm) Hind Wing ♂ 34-38 ♀ 35.5-40.5 -Dark brown, with pale markings on thorax and abdomen -Unique circular gap of appendages from side view Adults -Two yellow, lateral stripes on thorax -Brilliant green eyes Flying Dates July 1-September 96, 7 10 Prince Baskeail (Epitheca princeps) Habitat Lakes and rivers in quiet waters Total Body ♂ 59-61.5 ♀ 63-68 Length Abdomen ♂ 39-42 ♀ 42-48 (mm) Hind Wing ♂ 40-42 ♀ 40.5-48 -Large brownish dragonfly has disncve markings on the wings - Markings Adults on the wings, it may be confused with the Twelve-Spoed