THE DRAGONFLIES AND DAMSELFLIES (ODONATA) OF THE HOLDEN ARBORETUM, LAKE AND GEAUGA COUNTIES, OHIO1 T. E. PERRY Memorial School, Mentor, Ohio 44060 PERRY, T. EDWARD, The dragonflies and retum's streams arise from springs in up- damselflies (Odonata) of the Holden Arbo- retum, Lake and Geauga Counties, Ohio. land areas and course rapidly through Ohio J. Sci. 75(1): 14, 1975. rugged, forested terrain over rock, sand, Thirty species of dragonflies (Anisoptera) and gravel bottoms. and twenty species of damselflies (Zygop- The primary aim of this study was to tera) were taken at the Holden Arboretum, Lake and Geauga Counties, Ohio, from discover which species of adult dragon- 1963 through 1973. One additional species flies and damselflies were present within of dragonfly was sighted. Forty-eight of the arboretum's boundaries and which of the arboretum's odonates frequent stand- the various habitats were occupied by ing water habitats; only three were taken exclusively at stream sites. Certain spe- these species. Secondly, I was interested cies were also commonly associated with new pond habitats. Notes on the abun- dance and seasonal distribution for each species are given. LAKE ERIE The Holden Arboretum's 2364 acres lie astride the county line between Lake and Geauga Counties in Northeastern Ohio. Lake County lies to the north, Geauga to the south of this boundary (fig. 1). Not all arboretum land is con- LAKE COUNTY | tiguous, but lies within a radius of 2.5 miles from an approximate geographic center. Arboretum land is gently rolling to precipitously hilly; elevations range HOLDEN' ARBORETUM from 750 to a few feet over 1200. About 60% of the arboretum is forested, 40% relatively open. The Chagrin River's GEAUGA COUNTY eastern branch drains the entire area. Holden's soils are mostly clay in the up- lands, sand and gravel in valleys and stream beds. Underlying rocks are Cleve- FIGURE 1. Map of Lake and Geauga Counties, land and Chagrin shales. Glaciers once Ohio, showing location of Holden covered the entire region. Arboretum. A variety of lakes and ponds, all man- in the comparative numbers of the vari- made, punctuate the landscape. The ous species present, along with their largest standing water body covers about seasonal distributions. Figure 2 shows six acres, the smallest is a temporary pond major collecting sites at Holden. fifteen by thirty feet. These lakes and Methods of study were quite elemen- ponds are in various stages of succession; tary. Nets, modified slightly with longer some contain little open water, others are than usual handles, cyanide jars, and almost completely open. Several unique field notebook were the major tools. opportunities were presented to study the Specimens were classified as soon after effects of pond drainage and plant re- capture as feasible because of the rapid moval on odonate populations; a new fading of odonate colors, coloration being pond was also created during the study. so essential to dragonfly taxonomy. Streams were also explored. The arbo- Keys from books by Garman (1917), Manuscript received November 7, 1973 Needham and Heywood (1929), and (73-75). Needham and Westfall (1955) were used No. 1 HOLDEN ARBORETUM ODONATES 15 EAST BRANCH, CHAGBIN RIVER the relative abundance of each species. North Numbers of odonates listed as common are thirty-four, three were occasional, and fourteen rare. During the summer of 1970 a new pond was dug. The following summer Heath Pond, one of the established water bodies, was drained, old vegetation removed, and re-dug. Subsequent precipitation completely filled these ponds by the \ spring of 1972. An excellent opportunity to study odonate populations in the in- cipient stages of aquatic succession was thus given. Consistently associated with LAKE COUNT! new pond habitats were six dragonflies: Aeshna mutata, Anax junius, Epicordulia princeps, Gomphus exilis, Gomphus villo- FIGURE 2. Map of Holden Arboretum, Lake and Geauga Counties, Ohio, show- sipes. Of the damselflies, eight were ing locations of major odonate col- taken consistently at new pond situations: lecting sites (darkened). Enallagma antennatum, Enallagma asper- sum, Enallagma civile, Enallagma sig- to classify specimens, as were descrip- natum, Ischnura posita, Ischnura verti- tions from Kellicott (1899). Several calis, Lestes eurinus, and Lestes rectan- questionable materials were sent to Dr. gularis. Odonates appearing just once D. J. Borror of The Ohio State University at new pond sites were considered ques- for confirmation. tionable : Erythemis simplicicollis, Leucor- Adult dragonflies and damselflies were rhinia intacta, Libellula luctuosa, Libel- taken throughout the flying season dur- lula pulchella, Pachydiplax longipennis, ing the years 1963 through 1973. Perithemis tenera, Tetragoneuria cynosura, Fifty different species of odonates, in- Enallagma cyathigerum, and Enallagma cluding thirty dragonflies and twenty ebrium. The continuing presence of damselflies, were taken at Holden Arbo- damselflies of the genera Enallagma and retum from 1963 through 1973. One Ischnura was interesting to note in these species of dragonfly, Anax longipes, was "pioneer' situations with minimal plant sighted but not taken. Of these fifty- growth providing cover for both adults one species, forty-eight were collected at and nymphs. The presence of robust, pond and lake habitats, but not exclu- aggressive darners and gomphines was sively. Five of the forty-eight were not surprising however. taken once at lotic sites: Pachydiplax Seasonal data are given in the an- longipennis, Plathemis lydia, Sympetrum notated list of species. The collecting rubicundulum, Enallagma signatum, and season lasted from April through early Lestes rectangularis. Only three odo- November. First and last dates of cap- nates were taken exclusively at the arbo- ture (or sighting, in the cases of a few retum's streams: Boyeria species, Cordule- of the recognizable species on the wing), gaster maculata, and Calopteryx maculata. are recorded. Population peaks are also Criteria for subsuming certain species given as noted in the field. Seasonal as "common," "occasional," and "rare" data were compiled from the entire dura- are arbitrary but seemed to apply. If, tion of the study rather than from any during one collecting season, from four one season, except where only one indi- to ten or twelve individuals of a given vidual of a rare species was taken. species were sighted or taken, the label An annotated list of all species of "occasional" seemed appropriate. "Com- dragonflies and damselflies taken at mon" meant well over this number, Holden Arboretum from 1963 through "rare" applied to three or less indivi- 1973 follows. The list contains observa- duals taken during any one season. The tions made in the field on some of the annotated list contains information on habits of these insects. Also included 16 T. E. PERRY Vol. 75 are comments on habitats and distribu- Gulch. Adults flew low over rock-bound pools in the gorge during mid-summer. tions. Borror's (1937) number precedes Melissa Perry and I took nymphs at Pier- the species name. Listing is alphabetic son's Creek under the rocks of rapids. according to genera, after the appropriate The immaturity of these nymphs pre- suborder. cluded a more definitive classification. No adults of Boyeria have to date been ANNOTATED LIST OP SPECIES taken. 55 Celithemis elisa (Hagen). An attractive, Anisoptera common species taken mid-June through 37 Aeshna mutata Hagen. This handsome mid-August; has an affinity for vegetation darner was not taken at the arboretum emergent from standing water and dry until 1972, when it appeared in occasional land. Makes occasional sallies over open numbers. In 1973 it became very com- waters. Taken from 30 May through 18 mon. Appears to be an early summer August, with a population peak noted species occurring mid-June to early July mid-July. at both new and established ponds and 56 Celithemis eponina (Drury). An attrac- lakes (12 June through 5 July with a mid- tive, rare species taken twice at Holden, June population peak). once on 26 June 1957, and on 15 July 1965 — Aeshna tuber culifera Walker. Restifo at Corning Lake by Kathy Zamec. (1972) took this darner at the arboretum 42 Cordulegaster maculata Selys. Karen Jack- on 18 September 1971 and established a son took one male of this attractive but state record for the species. We took unobtrusive species at Pierson's Creek on this essentially northern species in occa- 27 May 1965. It was flying downstream sional numbers in 1970 as early as 15 in late afternoon. August and as late as 4 October in 1972. 49 Epicordulia princeps (Hagen). Flies well It was flying with Aeshna umbrosa and out from the shores of both established Aeshna verticalis on 3 and 4 October 1972 and new lakes and ponds. It is more read- at heights of from one to about twenty ily taken over land, where it makes oc- feet over an open field near a pond. Most casional sallies, but must be taken on the of these darners had worn, ragged wings. wing as it seldom rests. Active through- 38 Aeshna umbrosa Walker. This common out most of the summer. Common; from late summer, early fall darner was ob- 7 June through 6 September. served flying at twilight and taken 20 August 1972. Seasonal range: 20 August 79 Erythemis simplicicollis (Say). Darts rap- through 3 October. idly from perch to perch along the edges of weedy ponds throughout most of the 39 Aeshna verticalis Hagen. A single male summer. Common; 14 June through 18 was taken 4 October 1972, flying with September; one population peak noted 28 Aeshna tuber culif era and Aeshna umbrosa. July. 31 Anaxjunius (Drury). The familiar, ubiq- 9 Gomphus exilis Selys. Usually perches on uitous green darner is one of the first or very near the ground; found along the dragonflies to appear (April) and last to shores of both new and established ponds disappear (October-November) at the from 30 May through 1 July.