Common Green Darner (Anax junius) dragonfly nymph
Extraterrestrial? No, and at this point not even terrestrial – this dragonfly nymph looks to be a Common Green Darner (Anax junius) which we found during the RTPI/SUNY College Lodge BioBlitz.
Read MoreHalloween Pennant (Celithemis eponina)
After a lot of cool weather with lows into the 40s at night at times and yet more rain here in the Chautauqua-Allegheny region we seem to be between populations for a lot of insects. The calendar is also shifting the species in our yards. This current warm-up should allow another big emergence soon. Get out there and find some stunning sights like this Halloween Pennant (Celithemis eponina).
Read MoreNeedham’s Skimmer (Libellula needhami)
The Needham’s Skimmer (Libellula needhami) is an uncommon coastal dragonfly in Connecticut and a stunning sight on sultry summer days.
Read MoreJune temperatures and precipitation
Having spent time in New York, Pennsylvania and Connecticut in different parts of June I heard a variety of classifications about the late spring and early summer temperature and precipitation conditions. The Northeast region had varied weather and even more mixed opinions on what it felt like outside during the month. To those back home in Connecticut the weather had been dry and quite cool. This was a “classic” spring, even to people in their 20s, without heat waves, incessant air quality alerts and air conditioning running nonstop. Folks in Western New York and Northwestern...
Read MoreDragonflies of Pennsylvania
At this time on warm or hot, sunny days it is a good bet you will find me spending at least an hour or two conducting dragonfly and damselfly surveys. More species are emerging as the summer begins and it is the prime time to find both great diversity and tremendous numbers of odonates at ponds, streams, rivers, swamps, bogs – nearly anywhere with an abundance of water. Last weekend I visited Akeley Swamp just over the Pennsylvania border to see what it held in its Conewango Creek-fed wetlands. I was overwhelmed with 30 species including several that were a first for the year for me....
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