Download DAMSELFLIES AND DRAGONFLIES OF SOUTHERN NEW YORK

DAMSELFLIES AND DRAGONFLIES OF SOUTHERN NEW YORK
A Beginner’s Guide
The insect order Odonata is composed of two groups, the Damselflies (Zygoptera) and Dragonflies
(Anisoptera). In North America there are approximately 122 species of damselflies and about 309 species
of dragonflies. Of these, about 55 damselflies and 128 dragonflies occur in southern New York.
Distinguishing damselflies from dragonflies is relatively easy:
Damselflies – Front and hind wings similar in size
and shape; eyes separated by more than their own
width; at rest, wings meeting above the body or
only partly expanded. Generally with weak, fluttery
flight.
Dragonflies – Front and hind wings dissimilar in
size and shape, the hind wing considerably wider at
base than the front wing; eyes meeting middorsally
or not separated by a space greater than their own
width; at rest, wings held horizontally. Generally
strong fliers.
Basic Anatomy
Dragonfly
Damselfly
DAMSELFLIES
Broad-winged Damsels (Calopterygidae)
Wings held together at rest
Wings with black, brown, amber or red markings
Wings broad shaped without narrow stalk at base
8 species (2 genera) in North America
Spreadwings (Lestidae)
Wings spread at rest
Wings clear or only slightly tinted
Wings with narrow stalk at base
Stigma long, length more than twice width
1 species (2 genera) in North America
Pond Damsels (Coenargrionidae)
Wings typically held together at rest
Wings clear or only slightly yinted
Wings with narrow stalk at base
Stigmas short, length about equal to width
96 species (13 genera) in North America
Guide to the Genera of Common Pond Damsels of Southern New York
Pond Damsels are the most numerous and among the most difficult to identify of the Damselflies. The
following key will help identify some of the major groups commonly encountered in our area.
1a. Tibial spines more than 2× the inter spine distance ..............................Dancers (Argia)
1b. Tibial spines less than 2× the inter spine distance ...............................2
2a. Postocular spots absent .........................................................................Aurora Damsel (Chromagrion)
2b. Postocular spots present........................................................................3
3a. Male generally with a pronounced dorsal projection of S10 ................Forktails (Ischnura)
3b. Male generally with dorsal S10 projection ...........................................Bluets (Enallagma)
Bluets with mostly blue abdomen: Familiar, Hagen’s
Bluets with mostly black abdomen: Stream, Skimming, Azure
DRAGONFLIES
Petaltails
Darners
Clubtails
Spiketails
Cruisers
Emeralds
Skimmer
Petaluridae
Aeshnidae
Gomphidae
Cordulegastridae
Macromiidae
Corduliidae
Libellulidae
2 species (1 genus) in North America
39 species (12 genera) in North America
98 species (14 genera) in North America
8 species (1 genus) in North America
9 species (2 genera) in North America
49 species (7 genera) in North America
105 species (26 genera) in North America
REFERENCES
Dunkle, S.W. 2000. Dragonflies through Binoculars. A Field Guide to Dragonflies of North America.
Oxford University Press. 266 pp.
Lam, E. 2004. Damselflies of the Northeast. A guide to the species of eastern Canada and the northeastern
United States. Biodiversity Books. Forest Hills. 96 pp.
Needham, J.G., M.J. Westfall, Jr., and M.L. May. 2000. Dragonflies of North America. Scientific
Publishers, Gainesville, FL. 939 pp.
Nikula, B., J.L. Loose, M.R. Burne. 2003. A Field Guide to the Dragonflies and Damselflies of
Massachusetts. Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife. Natural Heritage & Endangered Species
Program.197 pp.
Nikula, B. and J. Sones. 2002. Stokes Beginner’s Guide to Dragonflies and Damselflies. Little, Brown and
Company, Boston, MA. 159 pp.
Rosche, L. 2002. Dragonflies and Damselflies of Northeast Ohio. Cleveland Museum of Natural History.
94 pp.
Westfall, M.J., Jr. and M.L. May. 1996. Damselflies of North America. Scientific Publishers, Gainesville,
FL. 649 pp.
WEB SITES
J. Bangma (2003) NJODES The Dragonflies and Damselflies of New Jersey (http://www.njodes.com);
S. Walters (2001) The Mulberry Wing, Field Notes of the New York City and North Jersey Butterfly
Clubs and more (http://www.hmana.org/mulberry/).
Connecticut Dragonfly flight periods:
http://collections2.eeb.uconn.edu/collections/insects/dragonpages/ctdragons.htm
Ed Lam’s Damselfly Site: http://homepage.mac.com/edlam/DamselFrame-1.html
Ed Lam’s Dragonfly Site: http://homepage.mac.com/edlam/dragonfly.html
Scan your dragonflies! Digital Dragonflies: http://www.dragonflies.org/
Odonata Information Network: http://www.afn.org/~iori/
Odonata of the United States (with state by state listings, photos, county distributions):
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/distr/insects/dfly/dflyusa.htm
Dragonflies of Central Park, NY: http://homepage.mac.com/edlam/DD_CP.html
Dragonflies of Massachusetts: http://www.odenews.net/masslist.htm
Common Names of North American Dragonflies and Damselflies:
http://www.ups.edu/biology/museum/NAdragons.html
Odonata Biodiversity: http://www.ups.edu/biology/museum/UPSdragonflies.html
Michigan Odonata Survey: http://insects.ummz.lsa.umich.edu/michodo/mos.html
Key to Odonata larvae of Michigan: http://insects.ummz.lsa.umich.edu/michodo/test/HOME.HTM
Ohio Odonata Society: http://mcnet.marietta.edu/~odonata/index.html
Odonate e-mail postings: http://www.birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/SEOD.html
Ode News: http://www.odenews.net/
Dragonfly Primer: http://www.gloriamundipress.com/dragonflies/id39.htm
Anisoptera of North America: http://pick1.pick.uga.edu/cgi-bin/20q?act=x_checklist&list=Anisoptera