Odonata – Dragonflies and Damselflies

Any body of water from small seeps and ponds to major rivers is likely to have odonates (members of the insect Order Odonata) in some abundance.  The larvae, which may live up to two years, are aquatic predators, feeding on small insects in the water.  The adults are among the most interesting, colorful and agile of the flying insect community, feeding on terrestrial insects most of which the catch while in flight.  They can be seen patrolling above the water or nearby and some of them perch regularly on vegetation near bodies of water.  The dragonflies (Suborder Anisoptera) are generally larger and more robust than damselflies (Order Zygoptera).  Adult damselflies are slender and execute a fluttery flight, while the dragonflies are among the fastest flying insects and can be exceedingly difficult to net. 

With a little practice, the more common of these fascinating insects can easily be identified on the wing, a few require binoculars (those capable of focusing a few feet away are best) and some specimens must be netted and examined with a hand-lens or dissection microscope for proper identification. 

The best field guide to start with is Stokes Beginner’s Guide to Dragonflies and Damselflies by Blair Nikula and Jackie Sones with Donald and Lillian Stokes.  It has most of the common species in both groups along with some hints on field identification and differentiation from similar species. 

For this area, an excellent book for the more advanced observer is A Field Guide to the Dragonflies and Damselflies of Massachusetts by Blair Nikula, Jennifer L. Loose and Matthew R. Burne.  (This book is available through the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program.)  

Two other valuable field references you’ll want to have if you get serious about these bugs are Dragonflies Through Binoculars by Sydney W. Dunkle and Damselflies of the Northeast by Ed Lam.  (Ed Lam is an artist and professional illustrator, and his book is worth having for the magnificent illustrations alone.)

Click this link for the Odonates Section of the "Tree of Life" Website for picts and more details of these species... 

The following checklists for Cambria, Somerset and Bedford Counties and for the Dunning Creek Wetlands are works in progress.   They combine historical records and reliable observations from local ode enthusiasts over the areas named.  They will be updated occasionally as new species are identified.   We’ve found many species over the last few years that were never reported from our area.  Searching in new habitats, at odd times of the day and during different seasons will invariably turn up new species.