Dragonflies

Coopville has a lot of theses in the Summer - Charlie likes them!

Dragonflies in Sussex County, New Jersey


Sussex County, New Jersey is home to more species of dragonflies than any other county in North America. 
 If you've ever wondered about those flying wonders zipping across your pond or stream and doing amazing aerobatics, check out this article about dragons and damsels!



Did you ever notice those large insects zipping over streams and ponds all summer long, skimming the water, then shooting about in zig zag patterns that make your head spin watching them? Dragonflies and damselflies, collectively belonging to the taxonomic order Odonata, are named for their significant biting mouthparts and predatory nature. Not to worry - they don't bite or sting people! Amazing is the fact that there are more species of dragonflies in Sussex County, New Jersey (145 - out of a possible 182 in NJ) than any other county in the United States. Dragonflies, by definition, are stout and large bodied with round heads and eyes covering much of the top and sides of the head. The forewings and hind wings are different shapes and are held straight out to the sides while resting. They are strong fliers. Damselflies, on the other hand, are more delicate and small bodied. Their abdomen is narrow, their head is wider than long and the eyes are separated by more than their own width. Distinctive from dragonflies, damselfly forewings and hind wings are similar in shape and held either pressed above the body or are only partially open at rest. For the most part, they are much weaker fliers.  In New Jersey, the season for dragonflies and damselflies runs from April through October although the best month for spotting the most species would be June. This coincides with the photoperiod - length of daylight - increasing and moderating temperatures.

These miniature predators actually start their life span as larvae and may spend one or more years under water! Once they surface, they go through a molt in the morning hours which leave them vulnerable to be taken by other predators. Later in the day, their body parts and wings are dry and they're ready to start their adult flying life. As adults, their life cycle is anywhere from several weeks to months. Food preferences range from insects, mosquitoes, butterflies and other dragonflies - they are non-discriminatory on this point. Preparing for the next generation, the adults will lay their eggs on or in plant stems located in ponds and streams, or sometimes in the sediment. The best places to find dragonflies and damselflies are usually in clear, clean water - this can be a swiftly moving stream or a pond or lake. However, forested areas with associated stream complexes may offer up a smaller percentage of species. Another good location to watch them is in farm fields and open areas that have an abundance of insects.

So who is looking at dragonflies and damselflies? It appears that this is the "new birding". Many tried and true birders, in their quest for knowledge and new things to look at while enjoying the outdoors, have included butterflies and dragonflies on their "to do" list. Tom Halliwell, past president of the New Jersey chapter of NABA (North American Butterfly Association), became intrigued with dragonflies about five years ago after meeting and sharing lots of field time with odonate expert Allen Barlow. A long time birder turned butterflier, Tom was fascinated with these colorful, quick moving fliers. They presented "a new challenge" stated Tom. "It seemed like a natural progression since I enjoy all aspects of the natural world. Their predatory behavior is extremely interesting." Other birders, turned dragonfliers, include George Nixon, who, under Tom's expertise, has become a serious student of Odonata. He has formed a group, JOE (for Jersey Odonate Enthusiasts) whose sole purpose is to conduct field trips in New Jersey to seek out all species of dragons and damsels. A major activity for JOE will be to conduct surveys within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and various NJ Nature Conservancy preserves.  To find out about upcoming field trips (in season), go to www.njodes.com and link to JOE from here.  The NJOdes website provides educational material with species descriptions and photographs, flight periods and checklists.
Now that we're intrigued, how do we get started identifying dragonflies? Close focus binoculars are the first piece of equipment necessary - they should preferably focus down to 5 to 7 feet. A digital camera with close focus capability helps when referring back to species seen that day in the field. Next, a 10x loupe or magnifying glass is helpful in making distinctions between closely related species. There are now many field guides available, including the Stokes Guide to Dragonflies and Damselflies, Damselflies of the Northeast by Ed Lam and the Field Guide to Dragonflies and Damselflies of Massachusetts by Nikula, Loose and Burne (applicable for NJ) and Dragonflies Through Binoculars by Sid Dunkle.
With binoculars and field guides in hand, there's still time this season to take a hike and watch these winged wonders. Additionally, there are groups out there that conduct field trips to identify birds and butterflies. Check websites for www.naba.org for butterfly trips and www.sussexcountybirdclub.org for birding trips. Hope to see you out and about in Sussex County! Stay tuned for more articles on birds, butterflies, open space and farms in our county.


Source of above article: http://www.sussex.nj.us/Cit-e-Access/news/index.cfm?NID=9087&TID=7

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