2013 Dragonfly Society of the Americas (DSA) June 21 - June 23

The 2013 Northeast regional meeting will be held in Griswold, Connecticut , from Friday, 21 June to Sunday, 23 June. The close proximity to Rhode Island will provide participants the opportunity to visit a wide variety of habitats in both states, including large rivers, forested streams, marshes, coastal plain ponds, and wooded clearings. This is a peak time in the region for many odonate species, and we anticipate a number of new records will be added to the state's database.
 

 Accomodations

Meeting headquarters will be at the AmericInn (860-376-3200) in Griswold, CT where we have reserved a block of 30 rooms which will be held until 20 May. Conveniently located off Interstate I-395 at Exit 85, the AmericInn has given us a discounted rate of $79.90 + tax (2 Queen beds non smoking). When you reserve your room, mention that you are attending the Northeast Regional Meeting of the DSA to get this rate. The hotel offers wifi and a continental breakfast. There are a limited number of rooms with a microwave and refrigerator that are available on a first come basis. Please make your reservations as early as possible. Other hotels in the area include the Quality Inn (860-564-4021) and Holiday Inn Express (860-564-1010) in Plainfield, CT (I-395 exit 87). Camping is available at nearby Hopeville State Park (860-376-0313), Countryside (860-376-0029), Ross Hill (860-376-9606) and Deer Haven (860-376-1081) campgrounds. There are several restaurants in the area, and a Home Depot and Walmart for anyone needing acetone or other supplies.
 

Flying

For those flying into the region, Griswold is approximately 38 mi. SW from the TF Green Airport (PVD - Warwick, RI) and 58 mi. SE from Bradley International Airport (BDL-Windsor Locks, CT). Rental cars are available at both airports.
 

Arriving 

Attendees should plan to arrive on Thursday evening, 20 June to take advantage of trips starting from the parking lot of the AmericInn on Friday 21 June at 8:30 AM. 

Field Trip Locations

Field excursions on Friday and Saturday will occur in both Rhode Island and Connecticut. In Rhode Island, Arcadia Management Area and the Great Swamp Management Area provide excellent access to forested streams, swamps, ponds, bogs, and fens with good potential to produce Pine Barrens Bluet (Enallagma recurvatum), Attenuated Bluet (Enallagma daeckii), two species of Ophiogomphus (aspersus and mainensis), Taper-tailed Darner (Gomphaeschna antilope), Coppery Emerald (Somatochlora georgiana) and three species of Spiketails, (Cordulegaster diastatops, maculata, and obliqua). A fourth Spiketail, Cordulegaster erronea, has not been found in Rhode Island to date, but is present in nearby Connecticut and thus a target for survey in Rhode Island.
 

We will also explore several undersurveyed sites in eastern CT, including the Quinnebaug, Schetucket, and Pachaug Rivers (bring canoes/kayaks), and various wetland habitats in Pachaug State Forest (Voluntown). Target species include Gomphus abbreviatus (Spine-crowned Clubtail), G. adelphus (Moustached Clubtail), and three species of Ophiogomphus (O. aspersus, O. mainensis, & O. rupinsulensis). Approx. 30 miles to the west is the Connecticut River, which should provide opportunities for finding two elusive clubtails - Gomphus fraternus (Midland Clubtail) and Gomphus vastus (Cobra Clubtail). An early evening hunt for two species of Shadowdragons (Neurocordulia. obsoleta & N. yamaskanensis) will provide good sport for those willing to test their netting skills. Maps, site directions, county lists, and collecting permits will be provided at the meeting.
 

Other target species in both Connecticut and Rhode Island include Enallagma laterale (New England Bluet), E. minusculum (Little Bluet), E. pictum (Scarlet Bluet), Nasiaeschna pentacantha (Cyrano Darner), Rhionaeschna mutata (Spatterdock Darner), Celithemis fasciata (Banded Pennant) and C. martha (Martha's Pennant), among others.
 

Contact for more info

If you have any questions, please contact Ginger Brown <vbrown@fullchannel.net> or Mike Thomas <mikethomas206@comcast.net> at the email addresses listed above. Also, please let us know if you are planning to attend and when.

REBIRTH OF A VERNAL POND

 DEC Wildlife Preserve, Calverton, NY

This year the Otis Pike Preserve in Calverton, has made a great come-back from a few years ago when this vernal pond area was completely destroyed by inconsiderate people and their dogs, horse back and quad riders. This is an environmentally sensitive area with signs posted. This is also the breeding grounds of the Endangered Tiger Salamander. The DEC kept this area closed to the public this year and I have noticed greater species numbers in odonates, cicada killers and frogs. 

I have been surveying this area since 2005 and so have a lot of documentation on species and habit. In the past, people coming to this small DEC park brought dogs here to do field trials but were not allowed but did it anyway. The dogs constantly running through the vernal ponds to fetch objects for their owners were trampling the bluets and forktails on the shore, crushed all the emergent vegetation into the water or ground and destroyed all the Cicada Killer burrows by running back and forth over them.

Below are some documentation photos I took in 2010 and a few days ago to submit to the DEC for them to keep on file in case the Hunting Group asks for permission again to hold field trials in this preserve.

I have yet to see the return of the Sweetflag Spreadwing (Lestes forcipatus) since last year. The female of this species uses the emergent vegetation or reeds to lay her eggs. Her specialized ovapositer creates a slit in the reeds and she lays her eggs inside the plant. At the time when I noticed all the emergent vegetation destroyed this was the first species I thought about because I was not sure if it had an alternative egg laying method. 

In addition to all the habitat destruction all the hunters that did field trials here with their dogs fired off a lot of rounds to train the dogs. And in so doing, they left large numbers of the shell casings all over the preserve and in the water and made no effort to clean them up. 

This is what the Spreadwings and other Dragonflies were left with to lay eggs or emerge from the water.

Surprisingly Citrine Forktails (Ischnura hastata) were in greater numbers then I had ever seen before. Usually I am lucky if I saw one but now I saw about thirty.

Martha's Pennant (Celithemis martha)

Calico Pennant (Celithemis elisa)

So far this year I am seeing more of a variety of species and in greater numbers. Maybe because this area, that is usually open to the public after Tiger Salamander breeding season, this year has not been reopened. People were bringing their dogs in the preserve to train on their own after the gates were opened. Rangers were frequently chasing people out of the preserve that had dogs with them. 

I am hoping to see more Lestes this year, especially the Sweetflag Spreadwing (Lestes forcipatus). I am already seeing a greater number of five species of frogs, dragonflies, damselflies, very large numbers of Cicada Killers, birds and even Muskrats, which I had never seen before at this preserve!

New York Dragonfly and Damselfly Survey

Calverton Ponds - Suffolk County, Long Island

Atlantic Bluet (Enallagma doubledayi)

Martha's Pennant (Celithemis martha)

Long Island Odonate Site Survey - July 18, 20012

Calverton Ponds, Calverton, New York

Water was low on this day and sky overcaste but there was still much Odonate activity. Along with the following odonates seen there were also the Green Darner (Anax junius) and the Comet Darner (Anax longipes). Azure bluets (Enallagma aspersum) were most abundant with approximate 5o seen. This year I found a blue form female Citrine Forktail (Ischnura hastata) for the first time with several males.

Calico Pennant ( Celithemis elisa)

Azure Bluet (Enallagma aspersum)

Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis) female

Atlantic Bluet (Enallagma doubledayi)

Atlantic Bluet (Enallagma doubledayi)

Citrine Forktail  (Ischnura hastata)

Citrine Forktail  (Ischnura hastata) Blue form female

Site Photo

Site Photo

Annual Dragonfly Day for Families and Nature Lovers

On Saturday, July 14, 2012, the North Fork Audubon Society held its Annual Dragonfly Day at Skipper Horten Wentworth Park, next to the visitor's center, in Greenport, NY. 

Adults and children of all ages enjoy this yearly event. Every year there are new faces and old. Some people attending year after year! This event is very popular with young children, teenagers as well as adults. Everyone gets out there to try their hand at catching those fast and elusive dragonflies and in the process learns about this popular and beneficial odonate!

Diana Van Buren, president of North Fork Audubon Society, on right

No Dragonflies or Children were harmed during this program. All Dragonflies and Children were released unharmed following the event! :-)

Comet Darner (Anax longipes)

Male and Female Comet Darners (Anax longipes)

Comet Darner - female ovapositing

Comet Darner - male

Dragonfly Program

 South Fork History Museum and Nature Center Dragonfly Program

Did a Dragonfly and Damselfly 101 program at SoFo for some adults and children  interested in learning more about these fascination insects!