Survey of adult damselflies and dragonflies (Odonates) in Otsego County Elise Iwanyckyj1 ABSTRACT During the summer of 2017, a survey of adult Odonata in Otsego County was conducted to re-evaluate the diversity of Odonata in Otsego County. This study was aimed to observe any changes that occurred since the New York State Dragonfly and Damselfly Survey (NYSDDS) was conducted in 2007 (Snyder 2008). This report summarizes the survey of adult Odonata in Otsego County during the summer of 2017. During the same summer, a survey of odonatan naiads was conducted by Scott (2018). For the adult survey, a total of four odonatan families were collected and nine genera were found. The most diverse sampling site was Parslow Road, where six genera were found. The Susquehanna River at Compton Bridge was the least diverse site sampled for adult Odonata. INTRODUCTION The Odonata order includes two suborders: Anisoptera (dragonflies) and Zygoptera (damselflies). There are 5,500 species of Odonata described worldwide with 650 species occurring in North America (Tennessen & Westfall 1996). Odonata are considered to be beneficial predators. With their large compound eyes, adults can target a flying insect and capture it with their mouthparts. These mouthparts are equipped to capture prey such as mosquitos and other pests (Tennessen & Westfall 1996). Adult Odonata also benefit from their wing structure. Wing structure is essential for adult Odonata mobility. This feature is important since most adult Odonata spend a majority of their time in flight in search of food, habitat, or mates. Wing venation is also a key character used in identifying major groups of Odonata (Tennessen & Westfall 1996). A previous study conducted in 2007 surveyed species of the Order Odonata at 14 different sampling sites to contribute to the New York State Dragonfly and Damselfly Survey (NYSDDS) (Snyder 2008). To re-evaluate the diversity of Odonata in Otsego County, a new survey was conducted and completed in the summer of 2017. In this survey, some of the sites sampled in the 2007 report were revisited. Also during the summer of 2017, Scott (2018) conducted a survey of Odonatan naiads at the same locations included in this report. 1 Biological Field Station Intern, Summer 2017. METHODS Samples were collected during the summer of 2017, starting on 20 June and ending on 21 July. Sampling typically ranged from morning to early afternoon on warm and sunny days when Odonata species would be more active (New York State Department of Environmental Conservation 2017). Table 1 displays the sites and coordinates of each sampling session. These sites were selected to include sites previously surveyed in Snyder (2008). Other sites were selected to include areas located on Otsego Land Trust Properties. Sampling for adult Odonata occurred near forest edges and clearings, along edges of water, and within vegetated areas. Odonates were collected using methods similar to those used in the 2007 New York State Dragonfly and Damselfly Survey (Snyder 2008). Individuals were collected via aerial nets. Once caught in the aerial net, the ends were twisted to confirm capture of individuals. Individuals were then placed in a collection jar containing ethyl acetate or acetone. Upon return to the Biological Field Station, collection jars were placed in a freezer until the individuals were pinned. Individuals were pinned on wooden spreading boards and allowed to dry for 3-4 days. Once they were dry, individuals were removed from the spreading boards and placed in a collection box containing a moth ball. Individuals were sorted into morphotypes and identified using Tennessen & Westfall (1996) and Borror, Triplehorn, & Johnson (1989). Further identification of dragonflies down to genus and some species was achieved using Needham & Westfall (1955). The individuals were then labeled with tags containing information such as the name and coordinates of each site in which the individual was collected, the date of collection, the name of the collector and the genus and/or species. Table 1. Site locations and descriptions used during the 2017 sampling period. Site Dates Coordinates Description Sample Size SUCO Biological Field 7/21/2017 42°43'06.7" N, Meso-oligotrophic lake; 4 Station, Otsego Lake (St. 74°55'33.1" W sandy, gravel, & mud Rt. 80) bottom; algaed water Parslow Road Otsego 6/21/2017 42°44'15.0" N, Newly renovated wetland 8 Land Trust Property 75°00'39.0" W area. Grass fields and stream bank. Parslow Road Otsego 6/26/2017 42°44'19.3" N, Open grass field and stream 13 Land Trust Property 75°00'39.8" W bank. Tree coverage and heavy vegetation along streams. Big pond, Thayer 7/21/2017 42°47'44.9" N, Clear water with mucky 9 Homestead (St. Rt. 80) 74°54'30.9" W bottom; mixed woods & agriculture fields Thayer Ponds 1 & 2, 7/21/2017 42°47'35.0" N, Clear water with mucky 3 Thayer Homestead 74°54'18.5" W bottom; mixed woods & agriculture fields Compton Bridge Otsego 7/5/2017 42°39'41.7" N, Fast moving water, mucky 3 Land Trust Property 74°57'02.2" W bottom. Vegetation along stream mostly trees. Near grass fields. Wetland adjacent to Moe 6/20/2017 42°43'00.5" N, Shallow depths with mucky 13 Pond, SUCO Biological 74°56'54.2" W bottom; mixed woods and Field Station Upper Site old fields RESULTS A total of four odonatan families were collected and nine genera were found (a total of 55 individuals were collected). The taxa found at each site are listed in Table 2. The most diverse sampling site was Parslow Road, where six genera were found. The Susquehanna River at Compton Bridge was the least diverse site sampled for adult odonates. Very few individuals were seen in this area and only two genera were found. Table 2. Adult Odonata survey results of 6 sites, Otsego County, NY, summer 2017. O-Observed S-Specimen collected Otsego Parslow Big Pond Chain Pond Compton Wetland Family Genus Lake Road Thayer Farm Thayer Farm Bridge at Upper Site Calopterygidae Calopteryx S S Coenagrionidae Argia S S Chromagrion S S Coenagrion S Enallagma S S S S S S Zygoptera Nehalennia S S Lestidae Lestes S Libellulidae S S S S Libellula pulchella luctuosa pulchella Sympetrum S S Anisoptera Leucorrhinia S S Plathemis O S O DISCUSSION The most common dragonfly genera found in this study were Calopteryx and Enallagma. The ebony jewelwings (Calopteryx maculata) were most common at Parslow Road where a wetland restoration project was being implemented. Dragonfly species such as the common twelve-spotted skimmers (Libellula pulchella), widow skimmers (Libellula luctuosa), and a few meadowhawks (Sympetrum sp.) were collected from various sites. Although most identification occurred in the lab under a dissecting scope, some genera/species were observed in the field. Common whitetails (Plathemis lydia) were observed at Parslow Road and the wetland adjacent to Moe Pond but were not collected. Scott (2018) conducted a survey of odonatan naiads found during the same period in which the adult Odonata survey of 2017 occurred. Both surveys found individuals belonging to genera Enallagma, Chromagrion, Lestes, Calopteryx, Sympetrum, Leucorrhinia, and Libellula.. The naiad survey found 10 genera not found in the adult survey. These genera include Amphiagrion, Ischnura, Gomphaeschna, Ophiogomphus, Pachydiplax, Celithemis, Somatochlora, Neurocordulia, Dorocordulia, and Epitheta (Scott 2018). Except for Amphiagrion and Ischnura, these genera are part of the suborder Anisoptera (dragonflies). These genera may have been observed and collected more easily in the naiad study, whereas the collection technique for the adult odonatan study was not as successful. In 2007, Snyder surveyed 14 sites in Otsego County (Snyder 2008). In 2017, surveys of odonatan naiads and adults were conducted using four of the same sites to re-evaluate the area. After reviewing the results of the 2007 NYSDDS, similar observations were found in both the adult and naiad odonatan surveys of 2017. At Thayer ponds 1 & 2, Snyder found an Ishnura species and two Libellula species (Snyder 2008). In the 2017 naiad study, odonates belonging to the genera Ishnura and Libellula were identified as well (Scott 2018). In the adult study, Libellula pulchella was also found at Thayer ponds 1 & 2. Near Moe Pond, both 2007 and 2017 studies found Leucorrhinia sp., Libellula sp. and Plathemis sp. in the adult odonatan surveys (Snyder 2008). At the same location in the naiad study, Celithemis sp. and Libellula sp. were found (Scott 2018). On Otsego Lake, the only genus found in common between the 2007 and 2017 adult and naiad studies was the genus Enallagma (Scott 2018). At the Big Pond on the Thayer Farm, both the 2007 and 2017 study found adult Leucorrhinia sp., Libellula luctuosa, and Plathemis sp. (Snyder 2008). The naiad study also found species belonging to the genus Epitheca (Scott 2018). In the 2017 Odonata adult and naiad studies, we found some new genera that were not observed at the same sites in 2007 (Snyder 2008). At Thayer Ponds 1 & 2, both the naiad and adult surveys found genera Enallagma and Sympetrum in 2017 (Scott 2018). At Moe Pond, the naiad survey found genera such as Lestes, Pachidplax, and Sympetrum (Scott 2018). At the same location, the 2017 adult study found genera Chromagrion and Enallagma— none of these genera were found at the same site in 2007 (Snyder 2008). On Otsego Lake, both the naiad and adult surveys of 2017 found species belonging to Enallagma (Scott 2018). At this location, the naiad and adult surveys of 2017 observed different genera as well. Individuals belonging to the genus Gomphaeschna were found in the naiad study, whereas the adult study did not see this genus (Scott 2018). Instead, adults in genera Argia and Nehalennia were observed on Otsego Lake in 2017.