Aurora Damselfly
Dragonflies and damselflies are being seen again and Sean couldn’t be happier! One of his favorite common species is the Aurora Damselfly (Chromagrion conditum). The yellow spot that on this male gives away it’s identification. Photographed by RTPI Affiliate Sean Graesser for the Meet Your Neighbours global biodiversity project in Connecticut for the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History.
Read MoreHarlequin Darner
I was very jealous of Twan once I saw this! He took a quick photo of a Harlequin Darner (Gomphaeschna furcillata) that was visiting his yard earlier this week, a beautiful, friendly and often interactive dragonfly species that can be found in the early spring in a variety of wooded, and of course wet, habitats. Harlequin Darners are known to land on you if you are standing in the woodlands, avoiding your net and then deciding your hat or the leg of your pants is a good place to hang out. They have landed on my head, my arm, my chest, my leg, my foot…and I want to have one find me soon!...
Read MoreCommon Green Darners still moving
After a scorching day on Tuesday (OK, in relative mid-October temperature terms) with highs into the 80s in Western New York it is a good time to remember there are still some dragonflies migrating through our region and they are active on such cooperative days. Common Green Darners (Anax junius) are on the move and may represent some of the last green you see this year…or maybe not if they are resting or warming in pine trees like this one. What a summer feel!
Read MoreMeadowhawks abound
How many meadowhawks are still massing in or migrating through your yard? I spotted this one trying to make itself scarce while hunting for a meal earlier. The dragonflies will not like this cold snap in the north! They too know the calendar still says summer and hope it will never end.
Read MoreFawn Darner (Boyeria vinosa)
Around this time last year we saw hundreds and hundreds of Fawn Darners (Boyeria vinosa) in the waterways of Allegheny National Forest. Watching them inquisitively flying around you in such numbers is very cool.
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