My Photo Life: More Odonates

Another post about insects. Most of the readers of my blog are birders and some may even find insects revolting. However the interesting bird photos this month have been sparse and as I feel the need to post something I have to go with what I have.

Last year in Presqu'ile I met a group of folks from Kingston who were traveling around looking for Odonates and Butterflies. The order Odonata includes Dragonflies and Damselflies. These were all experienced and dedicated birders who decided that when the birds are sparse, they unapologetically switch to something else. Odonates have a lot of the characteristics of birds that make observing them amenable to a birder.

There are 350 species of Odonates classified in Eastern North America. These vary considerably in appearance and behavior and occupy almost every ecological niche.

There are perchers and fliers. Perchers hawk for insects like a flycatcher coming back to a perch after each excursion. Fliers hunt on the wing like swallows.

Some fliers occupy the tree tops and are rarely seen and photographed by amateurs. Some Dragonflies prefer stagnant ponds and marshes while others can be seen only at the edges of clear, fast flowing streams.

Just like birds, the variety is endless and can certainly provide sufficient material and interest for a full fledged hobby. My photos, however are all taken randomly as a by product of birding.

These are not all of the Odinates that I have pictures of, just some of the more interesting.

I have made an attempt of identification and I may easily be wrong. Please add a comment if you can help me improve my identification.

Dragonflies

A couple of Pennants

Haloween Pennant

Calico Pennant

Some of the large skimmers that one sees cruising and defending territory at the edges of ponds.

12 Spotted Skimmer

Widow Skimmer

Dot - tailed Whiteface Skimmer

Immature male Common Whitetail Skimmer

Mature male Common Whitetail Skimmer

Four Spotted Skimmer

Crimson Ringed Whiteface

Possible Male Cherry-faced Meadowhawk Dragonfly

Possible Female Cherry Faced Meadowhawk

Sometimes dragonflies take on a baby blue colour which is known a prunantion .... like the fuzz on plums.

Male Eastern Pondhawk

Female Eastern Pondhawk

Corporals get their name from the two stripes on the Thorax.

Chalk Fronted Corporal

The next one is unidentified. It looks like a 4 spotted skimmer except for the white face. Do hybrids occur?

Damselflies.

Damselflies are much smaller and more delicate than Dragonflies.

The most common difference is often cited as the way that the wings are folded when resting. Dragonflies hold their wings perpendicular while Damselflies fold their wings back parallel to their bodies. That is mostly, but not always, true as a group of Damselflies called 'spreadwings' fold their wings at an angle of approximately 45 degrees.

Some other differences:

Damselflies tend to stick 'within' the vegetation while Draonflies fly more openly.
The shape of the head and position of the compound eyes is different with Damselfly eyes being further apart.
Damselflies are more slender than Dragonflies in general. (although there are some species of Dragonflies that are quite slender).

The most common Damselfly is the Northeren Bluet.