ontarioinsects.org · Ontario Odonata, vol. 7 2007 iii CONTENTS First observations on larvae of...

ONTARIO ODONATA

VOLUME 7

(including observations for the year 2005)

Edited and compiled by

Paul M. Catling, Colin D. Jones and Paul Pratt

Published by THE TORONTO ENTOMOLOGISTS’ ASSOCIATION, Toronto, Canada

ISBN # 0921631-31-6

ONTARIO ODONATA

VOLUME 7

(including observations for the year 2005)

Edited and compiled by

Paul M. Catling, Colin D. Jones and Paul Pratt

Publication Date: November 2007

Published by THE TORONTO ENTOMOLOGISTS’ ASSOCIATION

TORONTO, CANADA

Production by Paul Catling and Colin Jones

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ONTARIO ODONATA

Published annually by the TorontoEntomologists’ Association.

Ontario Odonata - Volume 7Publication date: November 2007ISBN 0921631-31-6Copyright © T.E.A. for AuthorsAll rights reserved. No part of this publicationmay be reproduced or used without writtenpermission.

To purchase copies contact Chris Rickard([email protected]) or the T.E.A. ([email protected]). By mail: T.E.A., 18 McDonald St.W., Listowel, ON N4W 1K4

Information for contributors (articles, notes,and records) to Ontario Odonata may be foundat the end of a current volume. Communications concerning contributionsshould be directed to an editor or regionalcompiler:

Paul Catling, editor and provincial andcentral and eastern Ontario compiler:Biodiversity, Environmental Health,Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, SaundersBldg., Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa,Ontario K1A 0C6. work: 613-759-1373,email: [email protected]

Colin D. Jones, editor and northern Ontariocompiler: Box 182, Lakefield, Ontario K0L2H0. work: 705-755-2166, home: 705-652-5004, email: [email protected]@ontario.ca

Paul Pratt, editor and southwestern Ontariocompiler: 7100 Matchette Rd., LaSalle,Ontario N9J 2S3. Tel. 519-966-5852, email:[email protected]

Cover: A male River Jewelwing, Calopteryxaequabilis Say, photographed by Bev Wigney ofOsgoode. Photo taken on July 27, 2004, at themouth of Kings Creek, a clear stream overlimestone, just upstream of the confluence withthe Jock River, Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton (45.2607/N, -75.7356/W). Photo takenusing a Nikon CP4500. More of Bev’s dragonflyphots can be seen at http://magickcanoe.com

mailto:[email protected]:[email protected])mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]

Ontario Odonata, vol. 7 2007

iii

CONTENTS

First observations on larvae of Epiaeschna heros (Odonata: Aeshnidae) in Quebec, Canada.RAYMOND HUTCHINSON and BENOÎT MÉNARD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Great Lakes Odonata Meeting 2005 - A Huge Success BILL MORGENSTERN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Spatterdock Darner (Rhionaeschna mutata) in OntarioMICHAEL J. OLDHAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Observations on local field trips (Arnprior area) - Annual Meeting of the Dragonfly Society of theAmericas, 2005

PAUL M. CATLING, BRENDA KOSTIUK, CHRISTINA LEWIS and BOB BRACKEN . . 16

Observations on “northern” field trips (upper Ottawa Valley) - Annual Meeting of the Dragonfly Societyof the Americas, 2005

COLIN D. JONES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Post Conference Field Trip - Annual Meeting of the Dragonfly Society of the Americas, 2005PAUL M. CATLING and BRENDA KOSTIUK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Odonata of Halton regionCARL ROTHFELS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

The Comet Darner (Anax longipes: Aeshnidae): possibly breeding in CanadaCARL ROTHFELS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

A dense darner swarn in Algonquin Provincial ParkCARL ROTHFELS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Three years of the Hamilton Odonate CountCARL ROTHFELS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

NOTESGomphus ventricosus in Ontario - COLIN D. JONES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49Why are dragonflies important? - PAUL M. CATLING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49Williamsonia fletcheri, new to Grenville - JOYCE COOK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50Accessability of electronic Odonata databases related to ONTARIO ODONATA publications

PAUL M. CATLING, COLIN D. JONES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

INTRODUCTION TO THE YEAR 2005 ONTARIO ODONATA SUMMARYPAUL M. CATLING, COLIN D. JONES and PAUL PRATT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

OBSERVATIONS OF ODONATA IN ONTARIO DURING 2005 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

CORRECTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209ONTARIO ODONATA PROJECTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209NEWS AND COMMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209NOTICE TO CONTRIBUTORS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211ACCOMPLISHMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222INDEX TO SPECIES IN THE YEAR 2005 SUMMARY TABLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223


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First observations on larvae ofEpiaeschna heros (Odonata:Aeshnidae) in Quebec, Canada

Raymond Hutchinson1 and Benoît Ménard2

112, chemin de la Savane, apt. 12, Gatineau(Quebec) J8T 1P7 [email protected], rue Smith, Gatineau (Quebec) J8T [email protected]

Abstract: Discovery of the first larvae ofEpiaeschna heros in Quebec prompted ninevisits to the habitat between May 29 and November 5, 2005, so that it could be described.The small, dark swamp where the larvae werefound was dominated by Black Ash (Fraxinusnigra). It is located within 183 m of LacBeauchamp (45.4923 /N, -75.6235 /W) inGatineau, Quebec. The swamp was devoid ofwater for over two months in the middle of theOdonata flight season. Four relatively largelarvae of Epiaeschna heros were found and twowere reared in an aquarium to adulthood.Furthermore, 20 exuviae were collected, as wellas one molt. Fourteen other species of Odonata(exuviae, larvae or adults) were collected in theswamp or in the immediate vicinity. Futurestudies will determine which of these speciesare resident in the swamp and which areaccidental or occasional visitors.

Résumé : La découverte des premières larvesd'Epiaeschna heros au Québec a incité lesauteurs à visité l'habitat, un marécage, à neufreprises entre le 29 mai et le 5 novembre 2005dans le but de le décrire. Le frêne noir (Fraxinusnigra) constituait le principal élément végétaldu marécage sombre, de faible dimension, oùvivaient les larves. Le milieu se trouve àenviron 183 mètres du lac Beauchamp , àGatineau, Québec (45.4923 /N, -75.6235 /O).Le marécage fut asséché pendant plus de deux

Figure 1. Recently emerged male of Epiaeschnaheros, the larva collected from a swamp in LacBeauchamp Park in Gatineau, Quebec.

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mois au milieu de la saison de vol des odonates.Les auteurs y ont trouvé quatre larvesd'Epiaeschna heros de grande taille dont deuxfurent maintenues en aquarium jusqu'àl'émergence. En outre, vingt exuvies furentrécoltées, de même qu'une mue. Ils ont, de plus,cueilli des exuvies, des larves ou des adultes dequatorze autres espèces d'odonates dans lemarécage ou à proximité de celui-ci. Desrecherches futures établiront lesquelles de cesespèces sont des résidants du marécage etlesquelles dont des visiteures accidentelles ouoccasionnelles.

IntroductionPilon and Lagacé (1998) reported thatEpiaeschna heros has been found in 10localities in the cold-temperate zone of theprovince of Quebec. The localities are situatedin the southwest deciduous triangle betweenGatineau and Montreal, including the EasternTownships, south of this metropolitan city.Their record of this aeschnid for Port-au-Saumon is improbable. These ten records arebased on adult specimens. To our knowledge,no larva is specifically recorded for the provinceand none have been seen in the Canadian


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National Collection of Insects, Arachnids andNematodes (CNC) of Agriculture Canada or inthe Ouellet-Robert Insect Collection of theUniversity of Montreal. Larval specimens,identified or unidentified, may reside in aninstitution in the Eastern Townships, but itseems unlikely.

The habitats indicated by Pilon and Lagacé(1998) are only described generally as ponds(étangs, mares) and more precision is warrantedbased on the recent discovery of larvae. Walker(1958) cites “shady ponds and ditches borderingwoods or draining marshes”. Dunkle ( 2000)mentions “shady woodland ponds and slowstreams, including swamps and temporary_______________________________________

Figure 2. Recently emerged female ofEpiaeschna heros, the larva collected from aswamp in Lac Beauchamp Park in Gatineau,Quebec.

Figure 3. Exuvium of Epiaeschna heros on a leaflet

of Black Ash photographed in the swamp in Lac

Beauchamp Park in Gatineau, Quebec.

_______________________________________

ponds.” This last citation of habitats is closer toour site.

The year 2005 was a banner year for us. We had the opportunity of studying a population ofEpiaeschna heros at a small, dark forest swampfrom May to November. The habitat (Figure 4)is situated in Lake Beauchamp Municipal Parkwithin approximately 180 m of Lac Beauchamp(45.4923 /N, -75.6235 /W) in Gatineau, Quebecin the eastern part of the city of Gatineau. Thishabitat did not seem very promising for


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Figure 4. Swamp habitat of larvae of Epiaeschna heros in Lac Beauchamp Park in Gatineau, Quebec.Here the swamp is shown in August when it was completely without water but the organic substrateremained damp. ____________________________________________________________________________________

Odonata at first sight. The number of speciesduring a single visit was not impressive.However, patience was rewarded and ourdifferent trips to the site over the seven monthperiod opened up a new vista of knowledgeconcerning Canada’s largest species ofdragonfly.

We visited the site nine times. Below are thedetails of each field trip at this habitat which wecan describe as follows: a small, dark, treedswamp, the dominant tree being Black Ash(Fraxinus nigra) of all sizes. When water was

present in the spring and later in autumn, thedominant aquatic plant was the europeanfrogbit, Hydrocharis morsus-ranae, floatingover water, with a number of American water-plantain, Alisma plantago-aquatica. When theswamp had lost its water, we noticed the largenumber of water-hemlock plants, Cicutamaculata, in full bloom. In this habitat, wemade a number of observations and collectionswhich we shall now detail below.

May 29 and June 5 field tripsWe collected three fair size larvae of


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Epiaeschna heros, two of which were reared toadulthood in Benoît’s home (a male and afemale, Figures 1 and 2). The other specimen iskept in alcohol. The swamp was at most fifteeninches deep. Benoît kept the two larvae in anaquarium at home and fed them with Asellidcrustaceans, Lestes disjunctus and Sympetrumsp. larvae from small to large size. These items,collected every 10 days from Lake Beauchamp,were fed to the larvae until emergence.

In the spring, the swamp was replete withcrustaceans of the family Asellidae. One larvaof Somatochlora williamsoni (Odonata:Corduliidae) and a few larvae of Libellula(Odonata: Libellulidae) (probablyquadrimaculata) were also observed, somecollected. A sizeable population of the fishingspider, Dolomedes triton (Araneae: Pisauridae)was also observed and specimens collected.Small spiders of the genus Pirata (Araneae:Lycosidae) were caught in our nets andreleased. Among other abundant invertebratespresent, we may mention gasteropod molluscs,large Dytiscus sp. (Coleoptera : Dytiscidae)larvae, a few large size adult hydrophilids,Hydrochara sp. (Coleoptera : Hydrophilidae)and three male Belostoma flumineum(Hemiptera : Belostomatidae) carrying eggs.

Among interesting observations made involvingthe two larvae in the aquarium, the followingare worthy of mention : they would refuse toattack tadpoles offered as food. Moreover, theytended to remain hidden under blackish bark inthe aquarium. A week before emergence, theyalternated coming out of water, then going backin. The behavior of the two Epiaeschna larvaeappeared sluggish when compared with Aeshnalarvae. They liked to cling to floating bark.Feces were rather longish, resembling blacktubes. The pursuit of prey somewhat resembledAeshna behavior. On July 26, the femaleemerged, followed by the male on August 5.Only one molt was preserved. According toBenoît, these larvae when manipulated, thenreleased in water, play dead and go to the

Figure 5. Exuvium of Epiaeschna heros on a leaflet

held in the hand photographed at the swamp in Lac

Beauchamp Park, Gatineau, Quebec. The hand

provides an indication of the relatively large size of

the exuvium.

__________________________________________

bottom of the water, contrary to Aeshna nymphs

which remain very active after release.

August 18, 2005 field tripOn this summer day, the dark and sombreswamp was devoid of water due to evaporation


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and lack of rain. The different species of plantscame into sharp focus, a population of BlackAsh, growing in the swamp, the impressiveflowering of Cicuta (Umbelliferae), coveringabout one-third of the swamp, also the presenceof water-plantain, Alisma plantago-aquatica.

The aquatic plant, Hydrocharis morsus-ranae(european frogbit) covering a good part of thewater surface in the spring and early summer ismuch less noticeable and rests at the bottom.The naturalist sees an accumulation of blackand brownish dead leaves covering a fairly deepmass of mud, some dried, some damp, with asplattering of moss in various parts of thehumid, almost dried swamp and, here and there,incrustations of algae.

This was a very special day for us, since wecollected 14 exuviae of Epiaeschna heros.Three specimens were found among the deadleaves on the bottom of the swamp. Wetrampled inadvertently on one or two. Oneexuvium was fetched on a leaflet of a leaf ofBlack Ash at a height of about fourteen feet.Another specimen was clinging to a small deadbranch which was part of a trap, the use ofwhich we could not decipher, at a height of onefoot. The remaining exuviae were discovered ontrees, mostly Black Ash, on leaflets of leaves ofthis tree. In one case, the exuvium was lodged atthe meeting point of two branches of Fraxinusnigra. On this day, exuviae of the followingspecies were collected: Anax junius (Odonata:Aeshnidae), one male, one female (on treetrunks like some E. heros exuviae), Aeshnacanadensis (Odonata: Aeshnidae) one female,Sympetrum obtrusum, one specimen on a treetrunk (bark), the same with a larval skin ofSympetrum vicinum (Odonata: Libellulidae).

Next field trip, August 21 2005On this day, we collected two more Epiaeschnaheros skins; one with head and thorax only. Thefollowing species were flying around the swampand over : Aeshna constricta (Odonata :Aeshnidae), 3-4, including a male and female in

tandem and mating on a tree trunk, next to theswamp, Aeshna eremita, one male, one female,Aeshna canadensis, a couple of individualsflying in and out of the swamp, Sympetrumvicinum and Sympetrum internum, a number ofspecimens flying in the swamp, some intandem, some females attempting to lay eggs onthe damp mud of the swamp. Many aggressiveencounters of male Sympetrum were observed.

September 2, 9 and 10, 2005 field tripsOn the first date, four more Epiaeschna herosexuviae were found (two males and one female)at a height of one to six feet on leaflets of leavesof Black Ash and one on the bottom of theswamp. One almost mature larva of Libellulaquadrimaculata was active, but sluggish, undera wet log in the swamp. On September 9, twotiny larvae, which we believe to be E. heros,were found under wet moss while the swampwas devoid of water. Paul Catling retrievedthese two specimens. They did not show clearlydiagnostic characters of ridge on the back ofsegment 7-9 and complete spination on the sidesof abdominal segment 5. On the other hand,general appearance of habitus and characters oflabium suggest probability of Epiaeschna heros.A series of molts from the swamp would help inascertaining correct identification. Many adultSympetrum were flying over mud and deadleaves in the waterless swamp. Finally, onSeptember 10, a remnant of Aeshna constrictalarval skin, a female, was picked up from thebottom of the dried swamp recognizable by theextreme length of her ovipositor. ThreeHydrometra martini (Hemiptera : ) specimenswere discovered among the Hydrocharis massresting on the bottom of the swamp. On thisday, we found no trace of Epiaeschna heros,even though we visited three other almost dryswampy areas nearby in Lake BeauchampMunicipal Park.

October 22, 2005 field tripAfter more than two months without seeingwater in the swamp during our field-trips (18August to October 22), the habitat was now


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about one foot deep (compared with about 15inches in the spring). During this outing, a mid-size larva of Epiaeschna heros was collectedand four larvules that we believe could belongto the species. These specimens were carefullyexamined under the binocular microscope. Eightother small aeschnid larvae retrieved wereidentified as Aeshna canadensis. Surprisingly,an almost mature Libellula quadrimaculata and Epitheca canis were netted. All these larvaewere active in the water. Among the smallinvertebrates that could perhaps serve as foodfor the larvae, we must mention the crustaceansAsellidae in large numbers, also representativesof the family Corixidae (Hemiptera), a fewmoving in our nets, and probably Hyalellaazteca, an amphipod Crustacean, only the oddspecimen seen. Among potential predators ofsmall Odonata larvae, we found a few immatureactive spiders of the genus Dolomedes(Pisauridae) and a few Notonecta (Hemiptera :Notonectidae).

November 5, 2005 field tripOn this final visit to the swamp for 2005, thetiny asellid crustaceans were still very abundantin the one-foot deep water. A Corixid bug wasseen in our nets, once in a while; and large andsmall Notonectidae were still very active; someTrichoptera and Neuroptera (Nigronia?) larvaewere also noted. As far as Odonata larvae areconcerned, four tiny larvae of probablyEpiaeschna heros were taken by Benoît with theintention of rearing them in his home. Iidentified a larvule as Aeshna canadensis.Benoît noted that small copepodid and daphnidorganisms were swimming in his pail where thelive odonata larvules were put to take home andattempt to rear.

FUTURE RESEARCHTo better understand the habitat, the task athand is now to ascertain which of these 15species (Table 1), are residents of the swamprather than occasional visitors from surroundinghabitats. To that end in future years, we must,for each species, collect the

Table 1. List of Odonata linked to LakeBeauchamp Municipal Park dark forest swampin Gatineau (Quebec). A = adults, E = exuviae,L = larvae. Numbers of each observed in 2005are indicated in front of the letter.

1. Lestes disjunctus 90+A, 5-10L2. Lestes congener 20+A, 2L3. Nehalennia irene 40+A4. Anax junius, 8+A, 2E5. Epiaeschna heros, 2A, 25E, 5L 6. Aeshna canadensis, 40A, 10L7. Aeshna constricta, 4A, 1E8. Aeshna eremita, 5A9. Epitheca canis, 9A, 1L10. Libellula quadrimaculata, 1E, 1L11. Somatochlora williamsoni 1E, 2L12. Sympetrum internum, 50+A13. Sympetrum obtrusum, 50+A14. Sympetrum vicinum, 10+A15. Enallagma sp. 1A (photograph)

larvae (different stages), the larval skins, theovipositing female (identified in the hand, thenreleased, or collected) and carefully observe theactivity of adults over and around the swamp.From sightings of adults of the different speciesat a site, we cannot infer that they are permanentresidents of the habitat. Furthermore,oviposition alone does not guarantee that theeggs will give larvae that will develop andsurvive in a given habitat (Corbet 1999). Wewill complete the list of Odonata species in thefollowing years Also, inventory of otherinvertebrates in the swamp, accompanying E.heros larvae, will give an indication of what thelarvae prey upon. The two in Benoît’s aquariumhave preyed on Asellid crustaceans, corixids,and Lestes as well as Sympetrum larvae. Theirregimen can be completed by odonata larvae ofappropriate size collected from other habitats, aswe have discovered.

Corbet (1999) cites two Japanese papers byArai (1984, 1990) on dragonflies living in


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swampy areas that endure drought as animportant part of their yearly cycle that canserve as models for our research. This authorhas found that over twenty species of JapaneseOdonata live through their yearly cycles inswampy habitats subjected to disappearance ofwater for extended periods each year (fourmonths). We hope that the year 2006 and evenlater will afford us the opportunity of furtheringresearch on different aspects of the life andsurvival of Epiaeschna heros in the drought-prone environment of the dark swamp of LakeBeauchamp Municipal Park.

Figure 6. Ovipositor of the reared femaleEpiaeschna heros collected in the swamp in LacBeauchamp Park in Gatineau, Quebec.

IdentificationThe exuviae of Epiaeshna heros are not difficultto identify as a result their large size andpresence of a dorsal ridge or keel on the last fewabdominal segments (Figure 5). In addition thelateral spines are short and stubby. In femaleexuviae the length of the ovipositor relative tothe length of its abdominal segment and therobust form of the ovipositor are also usefulcharacteristics (Figure 6). The shape of thelabium (figure 7) can be of some value inidentification.

Figure 7. Underside of the labium of a rearedlarva of Epiaeschna heros collected in theswamp, Lac Beauchamp Park, Gatineau, Que.

REFERENCESArai, Y. 1984. Notes on the survival ofdragonflies in dried-up swamps. Tombo. 27: 32-34.

Arai, Y. 1990. Nine years observations of thedragonfly fauna at a swampy field in Chichibu.Tombo. 33: 51-53.

Corbet, P.S. 1999. Dragonflies : Behavior andEcology of Odonata. Ithaca, Cornell UniversityPress. 829 pp.

Dunkle, S. 2000. Dragonflies throughbinoculars. A field guide to the dragonflies ofNorth America. Oxford Univ. Press. 266 pp.

Pilon, J.-G. & D. Lagacé. 1998. Les odonates duQuébec. Entomofaune du Québec (EQ) Inc.Chicoutimi, Québec. 367 pp.

Walker, E. M.. 1958. The Odonata of Canadaand Alaska. Volume II. The Anisoptera, threefamilies. Univ. of Toronto Press, Toronto. 307pp.


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Great Lakes Odonata Meeting2005 - A Huge Success

Bill Morgenstern

430 Second Street East Fort Frances, Ontario P9A [email protected]

Close to fifty dragonfly enthusiasts gathered onJuly 15th to listen to several speakers kick offthe Great Lakes Odonata Meeting (GLOM)2005 in Fort Frances, Ontario. After welcomingthe participants from as far away as Californiaand as young as 6 year old (Noah Berg ofWisconsin), meeting organizer, BillMorgenstern, introduced Darren Elder, abiologist with the Ontario Ministry of NaturalResources in Ignace, who presented anintroduction to the odonates of NorthwesternOntario and the Rainy River District. Elderemphasized the diversity of species in thedistrict is caused by a diversity of habitats,ranging from boreal forest to prairie fringe, withwetlands present in large numbers.

Next, the group heard about a bio databasebeing designed and implemented by SteveKingston of Ontario Parks in Thunder Bay.After a small mix and mingle social andopportunity to peruse and purchase Bob DuBois'new book, Damselflies of the North Woods, theparticipants split off into field trip groups of12-14 to view route maps and plan theirstrategies for Saturday field trips across thecentral portion of the Rainy River District.

Saturday dawned with clear blue skies and thepromise of increasing temperatures for a day inthe field searching for dragons and damsels.Three groups spread across the district led byColin Jones (Lakefield, Ontario), MarjorieHughes (Winnipeg, Manitoba), Darren Elder(Ignace, Ontario) and Kurt Mead (Finland,Minnesota). At the end of the day 48 odonatespecies were counted including nine damsel and

Figure 1. A male Plains Emerald (Somatochloraensigera) from the site north of Pinewood,Rainy River District. Photo: C.D. Jones

39 dragonfly species. Most notable were newdistrict records of Somatochlora ensigera(Plains Emerald) and Somatochlora minor(Ocellated Emerald). It really turned out to bean “Emerald Day” with Somatochlorawilliamsoni (Williamson's Emerald),Somatochlora walshii (Brush-tipped Emerald),Somatochlora forcipata (Forcipate Emerald),Somatochlora franklini (Delicate Emerald) andDorocordulia libera (Racket-tailed Emerald)added to the day's count.

Saturday evening GLOM participants enjoyed afine traditional Ojibwe meal of walleye fillets,wildrice and bannock prepared and served atKay-Nah-Chi-Wah-Nung Historical Centrealong the banks of Rainy River near Stratton,Ontario. After the meal, Colin Jones of theOntario Natural Heritage Information Centre(NHIC) in Peterborough spoke to the groupabout the rare odonates of Ontario, some of thereasons why they are rare and how the NHICmaintains data on the occurrences of thesespecies in support of conservation. Jones alsospoke about the Ontario Odonata Atlas andannual summary (published as “OntarioOdonata” by the Toronto Entomologists


9

Association) and encouraged participants tobecome annual contributors to the summary anddatabase.

Emo's Lions Park along the bank of the RainyRiver was the scene of Sunday's DragonflyCommunity Day. Here local residents met KurtMead and learned the basics about dragonflies,enjoyed looking under the microscope withMarjorie Hughes, watched an Elusive Clubtail(Stylurus notatus) emerge from its larval stageunder the protective supervision of Colin Jonesand Darren Elder and enjoyed making dragonflyart provided by Pam Hawley and the FortFrances Museum. Young and old alike pickedup a net and experienced catch and releasealong the river bank. It was at this point that 10year old Adam Van Ael captured the yetunrecorded Enallagma clausum (Alkali Bluet)and the district had another new record.

Early Sunday morning Colin Jones, DarrenElder and Don Sutherland visited a promisingsite north of Pinewood, Ontario and came backwith another new district record, Cordulegasterobliqua (Arrowhead Spiketail). This beautifuldragon drew lots of interest when it wasdisplayed at the community day. Later in theday, GLOM participants took a short field tripnorth of Stratton, Ontario and enjoyed an hourled by Darren Elder chasing a variety ofSomatochlora species around an open hayfieldat the forest's edge. Colin Jones tickled severalpeople in the group with his speedy net work ashe lured a cruising Brush-tipped Emerald inwith a small tossed pebble. Colin was lighteningfast, the emerald was not.

Sunday evening the group enjoyed another finemeal, this time at the Barwick Community Hall.After supper they heard Marjorie Hughes speakon the dragonflies of Manitoba including workon Gomphus fraternus manitobanus, a uniqueManitoba subspecies of the Midland Clubtail.

Monday the weather turned and so did most ofthe out-of-town participants that had to head

home. Those that did stay searched undercloudy skies with blustery winds for whateverbrave dragonfly might be out. Finally the smallgroup found a spot out of the wind with avariety of Sympetrum (Meadowhawk) speciesand watched as Noah Berg climbed into his netto pick them out. This six year old just neverstops. Oh to be young again!

At the end of the day, GLOM 2005 counted 50odonate species during field trips, including onenew damselfly record and four new dragonflyrecords for the Rainy River District. The eventwas a huge success with a significant number ofnew people introduced to the enjoyment ofodonates. Requests for nets and field guides arestill being received. Participants went homefeeling satisfied with their experience and are inthe field on their home turf. The local planningcommittee worked hard and plans for GLOM2006, to be held in Wisconsin, are in the works.

Thanks to all the participants that came to theRainy River District to make GLOM 2005 thesuccess that it was. Thanks also to our speakersand group leaders that came from Ontario,Manitoba and Minnesota to help out. Andthanks to the local planning committee thatspent countless hours to ensure that GLOM2005 was a rewarding event.

Figure 2. The western field trip group at GrassyRiver. Photo: Kurt Mead.


10

Spatterdock Darner(Rhionaeschna mutata) in Ontario

Michael J. Oldham

Ontario Natural Heritage Information Centre (NHIC)

Biodiversity Section, Fish & Wildlife Branch

Ministry of Natural Resources

300 Water Street, 2nd Floor, North Tower

P.O. Box 7000, Peterborough, Ontario K9J 8M5,

Canada

[email protected]

Abstract

Spatterdock Darner (Rhionaeschna mutata) is

reported for the first time at Long Point National

Wildlife Area on the north shore of Lake Erie, based

on a specimen collected in 2005. Previous Ontario

records are discussed and information on the

identification, taxonomy, habitat, distribution, and

status of the species is provided.

The Spatterdock Darner (Rhionaeschna [formerly

Aeshna] mutata) is one of Ontario and Canada’s

rarest dragonflies. At the time of Walker’s 1912

monograph on North American Aeshna, it was

known only from Indiana, Ohio, Massachusetts, and

Pennsylvania. W alker (1941) cites only a single

Canadian specimen of Spatterdock Darner, taken

near Glen Morris, Brant County, Ontario, on 26 June

1939. However he also notes that the species was

seen the following day a few miles north and east in

adjacent Waterloo County, and speculates that the

species is “apparently resident in this part of the

province and doubtless occurring elsewhere in

southern Ontario”. Walker (1958) mentions having

a brief glimpse on one or two occasions of a blue-

eyed Aeshna in the vicinity of Toronto before the

usual Aeshna season and having little doubt that they

were Spatterdock Darners. Catling and Brownell

(2000) indicate that there are four Ontario locations

and map the species from only one other county,

Essex. There have been no records reported to

“Ontario Odonata” between 1999 and 2004, the first

six years of the Ontario Odonata Survey, a period

when 32,337 Odonata records from the province

were contributed (Catling, Jones and Pratt 2000,

2001, 2002, 2004a, 2004b, 2005).

The seven Essex County records contained in the

Ontario Odonata Database (2006) were all

observations by Paul Pratt and are from three

protected areas: Point Pelee National Park, and Fish

Point and Lighthouse Point Provincial Nature

Reserves on Pelee Island. Observations were made

between 1986 and 1998 between the dates of 20

May (1995) and 28 June (1987). The maximum

number observed on any one date was 12 at Point

Pelee on 13 June 1988 (Ontario Odonata Database

2006), suggesting an established local population.

On 31 May 2005 I collected a single male

Spatterdock Darner (Figure 1) near Gravelly Bay,

Long Point, Norfolk County (42.540 North, 80.130

West), while conducting rare plant surveys in Long

Point National Wildlife Area (Oldham and Reznicek

2006). A second individual was seen nearby. The

individual collected was teneral, suggesting it had

recently emerged from the interdunal pond adjacent

to which it was collected. There are no previous

records of the species from Long Point (Falls 1995)

or Norfolk County (Ontario Odonata Atlas 2005).

The specimen is deposited in the collection of the

Natural Heritage Information Centre, Peterborough,

Ontario.

In addition to being a very rare insect in Ontario, the

Spatterdock Darner is of conservation concern

throughout much of its range. NatureServe and the

Ontario Natural Heritage Information Centre

respectively rank the species G4 globally and S1

provincially (Oldham, Sutherland and Holder 2000;

NatureServe 2005). No jurisdictions rank the

species S4 (apparently secure) or S5 (demonstrably

secure) and all states where the species is ranked, it

is considered to be of conservation concern:

Connecticut (S2), Illinois (S2), Indiana (S1S2), Iowa

(S1), Kentucky (S1S2), Maine (SNA), Maryland

(S1), Massachusetts (S3), M ichigan (SNR), Missouri

(SNR), New Hampshire (S1), New Jersey (S1S2),

New York (S2), Ohio (SNR), Pennsylvania (S1),

Rhode Island (S1?), Tennessee (S3S4), Vermont

(SNR), Virginia (S2), West Virginia (S1), and

Wisconsin (S1) (NatureServe 2005). [Note that SNA

suggests that the species is vagrant or accidental, and

SNR means that the species has not yet been ranked;

see Oldham, Sutherland and Holder (2000) or

NatureServe (2005) for additional information on


11

Figure 1. Male Spatterdock Darner captured at Long

Point on 31 May 2005.

_______________________________________

subnational conservation status ranks or S-ranks.]

Wagner and Thomas (2006) suggest that

Spatterdock Darner may be increasing in

Connecticut, since it is being found at previously

surveyed sites where it was not seen historically. In

other areas where there is an increase in the number

of recent records, e.g. Massachusetts (Natural

Heritage and Endangered Species Program 2003)

and Rhode Island (Brown 2005), this is probably due

to increased interest in dragonflies and greater

search effort.

Spatterdock Darner has a fairly small global

distribution, being restricted to northeastern North

America (Donnelly 2004). In Canada, apart from a

recent Nova Scotia record (Cook and Bridgehouse

2005), Spatterdock Darner is known only from

southern Ontario. The Nova Scotia record may be

based on a wind-blown vagrant, since it is well north

and east of the nearest record in southern Maine

(Brunelle 1999). However Cook and Bridgehouse

(2005) suggest that it could also be an established

resident since the specimen was very fresh without

any tattering of the wings and appropriate habitat

was nearby. Spatterdock Darner is a candidate for

status assessment by the Committee on the Status of

Endangered W ildlife in Canada (COSEWIC).

The Spatterdock Darner is traditionally placed in the

genus Aeshna (or Aeschna) (Walker 1912), however

recent phylogenetic studies of the family Aeshnidae

have suggested that the genus Aeshna is not

monophyletic (von Ellenrieder 2002, 2003). Von

Ellenrieder (2003) placed 39 mostly neotropical

species formerly assigned to Aeshna, including A.

mutata , in the genus Rhionaeschna. This

nomenclature has been adopted for the most recent

checklists of North American, Canada, and Ontario

Odonata (Dragonfly Society of the Americas 1998;

Catling, Cannings and Brunelle 2005; Catling 2002).

There are no other Ontario species in the genus

Rhionaeschna; the closely related Blue-eyed Darner,

R. multicolor (Williamson 1908; Walker 1912)

occurs in western Canada. Some authors have called

the Spatterdock Darner the Spring Blue Darner (e.g.

Genoways and Brenner 1985; Carpenter 1991).

Members of the genus Aeshna typically fly in mid to

late summer. Catling and Brownell (2000) give the

earliest flight date for any Aeshna in Ontario

(excluding A. mutata) as 11 June (A. eremita). The

Ontario flight period for Spatterdock Darner given

by Catling and Brownell (2000) is 20 May to 28

June, while in Ohio the flight period is from 24 May

to 6 September (Glotzhober and McShaffrey 2002).

The recent Nova Scotia record was on the

exceptionally late date of 13 September (Cook and

Bridgehouse 2005). In Michigan it has been

recorded as early as 17 May (Walker 1958;

Needham, Westfall and May 2000). In

Pennsylvania, Beatty and Beatty (1969) reported that

the species has usually disappeared by mid-July.

The possibility of Spatterdock Darner should be

considered for any aeshnid dragonfly flying in late

May or early June in southern Ontario especially

around ponds. It should not be confused with the

early-flying Springtime Darner (Basiaeschna janata)

which inhabits streams with riffles and wave-washed

lakeshores.

The conspicuous blue eyes (dark in immatures) help

distinguish Spatterdock Darner from other Ontario

Aeshnidae. Male Spatterdock Darners have a brown

thorax with blue dorsal stripes and two relatively

thin and straight, blue lateral stripes; the abdomen is

brown with blue markings on all segments. Females

are similar but with duller thoracic markings

(Nikula, Loose and Burne 2003). Structurally the

male superior appendages, which are down-curved

at the tip and have a subapical inferior spine, are

distinctive (W illiamson 1908; Beatty and Beatty

1969; Catling and Brownell 2000; Needham,

Westfall and May 2000). The larvae of this species

are described by Walker (1958).


12

Spatterdock Darners have been reported from

vegetated ponds and pools often in or near wooded

areas (Curry 2001), open marshes and bogs, often

with Spatterdock (Nuphar variegatum) (Nikula,

Loose and Burne 2003). It is also reported from

ephemeral fishless woodland ponds (vernal pools)

(Colburn 2004). Genoways and Brenner (1995)

describe the habitat as relatively shallow lentic

habitats, ranging in type from woodland swamps and

bog-margined permanent and temporary ponds to

glaciated, moderate-sized or larger lakes. The Long

Point peninsula has a variety of wetland habitats

(Reznicek and Catling 1989) similar to those

favoured by Spatterdock Darner. Spatterdock

(Nuphar species) and white waterlilies (Nymphaea

species) are often conspicuous elements of the

aquatic vegetation at Spatterdock Darner sites

(Genoways and Brenner 1995). Females oviposit on

Spatterdock stems and males patrol areas along the

shore where these plants occur (Beatty and Beatty

1969; Curry 2001). Oviposition has also been

reported on Watershield (Brasenia schreberi), Rice

Cut-grass (Leersia oryzoides), other aquatic plants,

and in shoreline mud (Gennoways and Brenner

1995; Dunkle 2000; Nikula, Loose and Burne 2003).

Nymphs complete development within Spatterdock

beds and transform to the adult stage on emergent

Spatterdock or sedge (Cyperaceae) leaves

(Genoways and Brenner 1995). At Long Point, two

males were observed patrolling the edges of a

shallow wetland containing Spatterdock (Figure 2).

Except for individual vagrants, adults do not wander

widely from breeding sites (Genoways and Brenner

1995).

The discovery of Spatterdock Darner at Long Point

adds to the long list of rare plants and animals

known from this highly significant natural area

(McCracken, Bradstreet, and Holroyd 1981;

Reznicek and Catling 1989).

Acknowledgements

Colin Jones provided access to the Ontario Odonata

Database. Paul Catling provided useful comments

on a draft of the article. Jeff Robinson (Canadian

Wildlife Service) provided a permit to collect insects

and plants in Long Point National Wildlife Area.

Literature Cited

Beatty, G.H., and A.F. Beatty. 1969. Evolution and

speciation in the subgenus Schizuraeschna, with

observations on Aeshna (Schizuraeschna) mutata

Hagen (Odonata). Proceedings of the Pennsylvania

Academy of Science 43: 147-152.

Brown, G. 2005. Ecological inventory, monitoring,

and stewardship program: 2004 Odonata Atlas

Program. Pages 10-11, in Rhode Island Naturalist

(May 2005), Rhode Island Natural History Survey,

Kingston, Rhode Island. 24 pp. Available:

http://www.uri.edu/ce/rinhs/pdfs/ri_naturalist_spring

05.pdf

Brunelle, P-M. 1999. Distribution of damselflies and

dragonflies (Odonata) of Maine, United States.

Northeastern Naturalist 6(2): 95-118.

Carpenter, V. 1991. Dragonflies and Damselflies of

Cape Cod. Natural History Series No. 4, Cape Cod

Museum of Natural History, Brewster,

Massachusetts. 79 pp.

Catling, P.M. 2002. Checklist of Ontario Odonata.

Pp. 33-35 in P.M. Catling, C .D. Jones and P. Pratt,

eds., Ontario Odonata, Vol. 3. Toronto

Entomologists’ Association, Toronto, Canada

[updated Nov. 2004 on pages 197-198 of Ontario

Odonata, Vol. 6].

Catling, P.M., and V.R. Brownell. 2000.

Damselflies and Dragonflies (Odonata) of Ontario:

Resource Guide and Annotated List. Privately

published, Metcalfe, Ontario. 198 pp.

Catling, P.M., R.A. Cannings and P-M. Brunelle.

2005. An annotated checklist of the Odonata of

Canada. Bulletin of American Odonatology 9(1):1-

20.

Catling, P.M., C. Jones and P. Pratt (editors). 2000.

Ontario Odonata Volume 1 (including 1999

observations). Toronto Entomologists' Association,

Toronto, Ontario. 153 pp.

http://www.uri.edu/ce/rinhs/pdfs/ri_naturalist_spring05.pdfhttp://www.uri.edu/ce/rinhs/pdfs/ri_naturalist_spring05.pdf


13

Figure 2. Habitat of Spatterdock Darner at Long Point. Spatterdock is flowering in the centre foreground.

Catling, P.M., C.D. Jones and P. Pratt (editors).

2001. Ontario Odonata: Volume 2 (including

observations for the year 2000). Toronto

Entomologists' Association. 186 pp.

Catling, P.M., C.D. Jones, and P. Pratt (editors).

2002. Ontario Odonata Volume 3 (including


Entomologists' Association, Toronto, Ontario. 208

pp.

Catling, P.M., C.D. Jones, and P.D. Pratt (editors).

2004a. Ontario Odonata Volume 4 (including



pp.


2004b. Ontario Odonata Volume 5 (including



pp.


2005. Ontario Odonata Volume 6 (including



pp.

Colburn, E.A. 2004. Vernal Pools: Natural History

and Conservation. McDonald & Woodward

Publishing Company, Blacksburg, Virginia. 426 pp.


14

Cook, C., and D.W. Bridgehouse. 2005. Aeshna

mutata Hagen (Spadderdock Darner) in Nova Scotia,

a new provincial record, and significant range

extension. Argia 16(4): 5.

Curry, J.R. 2001. Dragonflies of Indiana. Indiana

Academy of Science, Indianapolis, Indiana. 301 pp.

Donnelly, T.W . 2004. Distribution of North

American Odonata. Part I: Aeshnidae, Petaluridae,

Gomphidae, Cordulegastridae. Bulletin of American

Odonatology 7(4): 61-90.

Dragonfly Society of the Americas. 1998. The

Odonata of North America. Slater Museum of

Natural History, University of Puget Sound.

Available:

http://www2.ups.edu/biology/museum/NAdragons.h

tml. Updated August 2005. (Accessed: February 25,

2006).

Dunkle, S.W. 2000. Dragonflies through Binoculars:

A Field Guide to Dragonflies of North America.

Oxford University Press, New York. 266 pp.

Falls, B. 1995. The Odonata of Long Point. Long

Point Bird Observatory Newsletter 27(3): 17-19.

(Reprinted in Ontario Insects 1(3): 42-43, 46.)

Genoways, H.H. and Brenner, F.J. 1985. Species of

Special Concern in Pennsylvania. Special

Publication of the Carnegie Museum of Natural

History No. 11, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Glotzhober, R.C. and D. McShaffrey. 2002. The

Dragonflies and Damselflies of Ohio. Bulletin of the

Ohio Biological Survey, New Series 14(2): 1-364.

McCracken, J.D., M.S.W. Bradstreet and G.L.

Holroyd. 1981. Breeding Birds of Long Point, Lake

Erie. Canadian Wildlife Service Report Series No.

44. 74 pp.

Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program.

2003. Spatterdock Darner Dragonfly (Aeshna

mutata). Fact sheet, Massachusetts Division of

Fisheries & Wildlife, Westborough, Massachusetts.

2 pp. Available:

http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/nhesp/nhfacts/aesh

na_mutata.pdf

NatureServe. 2005. NatureServe Explorer: An online

encyclopedia of life [web application]. Version 4.6.

NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available

http://www.natureserve.org/explorer. (Accessed:

February 25, 2006).

Needham, J.G., M.J. Westfall, Jr., and M .L. May.

2000. Dragonflies of North America. Revised

Edition. Scientific Publishers, Gainesville. 939 pp.

Nikula, B, J.L. Loose, and M.R. Burne. 2003. A

Field Guide to Dragonflies and Damselflies of

Massachusetts. Natural Heritage and Endangered

Species Program. Massachusetts Division of

Fisheries & Wildlife, Boston, Massachusetts.

Oldham, M.J. and A.A. Reznicek. 2006. Rare plant

field surveys on Long Point. Ontario Natural

Heritage Information Centre Newsletter 11(1): 10-

11. Available:

http://nhic.mnr.gov.on.ca/documents/winter2006/N

HIC_NEWS_WINTER2006.pdf

Oldham, M.J., D.A. Sutherland and M.L. Holder.

2000. Conservation status ranks for Ontario

Odonata. Pages 1-7, in "Ontario Odonata Volume

1" (P.M. Catling, C. Jones and P. Pratt, editors),

Toronto Entomologists' Association, Toronto,

Ontario.

Ontario Odonata Atlas. 2005. Natural Heritage

Information Centre, Ontario Ministry of Natural

Resources.

http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/MNR/nhic/odonates/ohs.

html. (Accessed February 25, 2006)

Ontario Odonata Database. 2006. Natural Heritage

Information Centre, Ontario Ministry of Natural

Resources. Accessed February 25, 2006.

Reznicek, A.A. and P.M. Catling. 1989. Flora of

Long Point, Regional Municipality of Haldimand-

Norfolk, Ontario. Michigan Botanist 28(3): 99-175.

Von Ellenrieder, N. 2002. A phylogenetic analysis

of the extant Aeshnidae (Odonata: Anisoptera).

Systematic Entomology 27: 437-467.

Von Ellenrieder, N. 2003. A synopsis of the

Neotropical species of ‘Aeshna’ Fabricius: the genus

Rhionaeschna Förster (Odonata: Aeshnidae).

Tijdschrift voor Entomologie 146: 67-207.

http://www2.ups.edu/biology/museum/NAdragons.htmlhttp://www2.ups.edu/biology/museum/NAdragons.htmlhttp://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/nhesp/nhfacts/aeshna_mutata.pdfhttp://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/nhesp/nhfacts/aeshna_mutata.pdfhttp://nhic.mnr.gov.on.ca/documents/winter2006/NHIC_NEWS_WINTER2006.pdfhttp://nhic.mnr.gov.on.ca/documents/winter2006/NHIC_NEWS_WINTER2006.pdf


15

Wagner, D.L. and M.C. Thomas. 2006. The Odonata

Fauna of Connecticut. Department of Ecology and

Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut.

Available

http://ghostmoth.eeb.uconn.edu/dragons/intro.htm.

(Accessed: February 26, 2006)

Walker, E.M. 1912. The North American

dragonflies of the genus Aeshna. University of

Toronto Studies, Biological Series No. 11. 212 pp.

Walker, E.M . 1941. List of the Odonata of Ontario

with distributional and seasonal data. Transactions

of the Royal Canadian Institute Vol. 23, Part 2, No.

50, pp. 201-265.

Walker, E.M. 1958. The Odonata of Canada and

Alaska. Volume 2. The Anisoptera-four families.

University of Toronto Press, Toronto, Ontario. 318

pp.

Williamson, E.B. 1908. Three related American

species of Aeshna (Odonata). Entomological News

19: 264-308.

http://ghostmoth.eeb.uconn.edu/dragons/intro.htm


16

Observations on local field trips(Arnprior area) - Annual Meetingof the Dragonfly Society of theAmericas, 2005 [condensed versions of this article appeared in Trail

and Landscape 40(1): 9-20 and Argia 17(3): 9-11].

P.M. Catling, B. Kostiuk, C. Lewis and B.Bracken catlingp@agr,gc.ca [email protected]

Local field trips took place on 10 and 11 July with

different groups visiting the same locations (Table 1)

on the two consecutive days. Seven locations were

visited with ½ to 1 ½ hours at each site. The furthest

site was 22 km from Arnprior. The weather on both

days was hot and sunny with temperatures reaching

35/C. A participant from Austin, Texas, commented

that he did not “think that it got that hot up here ...

and another 10 degrees and it would be just like

Texas.” Nevertheless the groups remained generally

energetic and good natured and the river and stream

locations provided welcomed relief for those who

were able to get their feet (or more than their feet)

wet. Landowners Liza Badham (site 2), Neil Stewart

(site 5), Dale Dean (site 1) and John Trudeau (site 7)

kindly provided permission and assistance. On the

first day there were 17 cars and 35 people and on the

second day there were 10 cars and 25 people. The

groups were diverse and included DSA members,

local photographers, federal and provincial

government biologists and members of the Ottawa

Field-Naturalists Club and the McNamara Field

Naturalists from Arnprior. It was a major

educational experience for many (Figure 1) . Much

information was shared and people were very

pleased to have an opportunity to meet some of the

well known scientific experts including Nick

Donelly (editor of the DSA newsletter), Sid Dunkle

(author of “Dragonflies Through Binoculars”, Figure

2) and Michael May (co-author of the two basic

textbooks on North American dragonflies).

The outing began in a recently excavated sand

quarry with fishless ponds. The substrate was sandy

with limited aquatic vegetation. Hundreds of

recently emerged Saffron-winged Meadowhawks

(Sympetrum costiferum). Also characteristic of this

habitat in the region was the uncommon and local

Figure 1. Jessica Ware from Rutgers University

presented a paper at the symposium. Her daughter

Aeshna is naturally committed to the study of

dragonflies. Photo by B. Kostiuk at a quarry near

Arnprior (location 1), 10 July 2005.

__________________________________________

Amber-winged Spreadwing (Lestes eurinus). Several

people obtained good photos of this species. Equally

local and characteristic, the Azure Bluet (Enallagma

aspersum) was seen and a few were captured. Many

pairs of the very attractive Calico Pennant

(Celithemis elisa) were ovipositing in shallow areas

of the pool. Another local damsel, largely confined

to recent pit ponds in the region, the Northern Bluet

(Enallagma cyathigerum) was present. Nick

Donnelly was particularly interested in collecting

specimens for further study of this species and he

enthusiastically solicited donations from others. A

few Wandering Gliders (Pantala flavescens) were

seen here but nowhere else. Theses migrants use the

mailto:catlingp@agr,gc.camailto:[email protected]


17

Figure 2. Sid Dunkle, author of “Dragonflies

Through Binoculars: a Field Guide to the

Dragonflies of North America” enjoys a visit to

“Scoops” in Pakenham after seeing Rapids Clubtail

(Gomphus quadricolor) at the town bridge. Photo by

B. Kostiuk, 10 July 2005.

__________________________________________

sandy pit ponds to produce a generation that moves

south in the fall. This site was rich and productive

(see Table 2) with 25 species recorded over the two

visits.

Large rivers are another special habitat for certain

species of dragonflies and the Ottawa river near the

Quyon ferry provides a good example. This is one of

the few stretches of water in the province where the

Cobra Clubtail (Gomphus vastas) and Elusive

Clubtail (Stylurus notatus) occur. Hundreds of shed

skins of S. notatus were found along the shore and 2

emergences were observed. Many Cobra Clubtails

were seen and photographed. A few Midland

Clubtails (Gomphus fraternus) were present and the

riverine Powdered Dancers (Argia moesta) were

common. Twenty-three species were recorded. Of

additional interest at the river was the Eastern Tailed

Blue Butterfly (Cupido (Everes) comyntas) a tiny

and rare species that may have only recently become

established as a permanent resident in the district

(see Trail& Landscape 37(3): 101. 2003.). It was

netted by Chris Michener. Other butterfly species of

interest to participants included our Pearl Crescent

(Phycioides tharos), Northern Broken Dash

(Wallengrenia egeremet) and Deleware Skipper

(Atrytone logan seen at site 4).

Both groups had lunch on the Mississippi River at

Pakenham. The highlight here was the rare Rapids

Clubtail (Gomphus quadricolor) which came in to

land on rocks along the shore beside the rapids with

the well known 5-span stone bridge in the

background. Twenty-three species were recorded

here, among them the very attractive Rainbow Bluet

(Enallagma antennatum). An impressively large

Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) was also

captured and released at this site.

A small stream, little more than an inch deep and 2

feet wide (Figure 3) produced larvae of Twin-

spotted Spiketail (Cordulegaster maculata) and it

was hoped that an adult of this denizen of shady

Figure 3. Stalking three species of Spiketail

dragonflies (Cordulegaster) on a tiny stream on the

north side of Mount Pakenham. Photo by B.Kostiuk,

10 July 2005.

_________________________________________

woodland streams would appear. The group

positioned itself tightly along the road facing the


18

forest and Oliver Flint from the Smithsonian waited

by the trickling stream. Suddenly a spiketail dashed

out of the shadows. Oliver netted it and the group

had a close up look at a rare Arrowhead Spiketail

(Cordulegaster obliqua, Figure 4). Next a Delta-

spotted Spiketail (Cordulegaster diastatops) landed

on a fence beside the stream and many photographs

were taken. It was a surprise to see 3 different

species of these large, green-eyed and boldly yellow-

marked dragonflies at the same place and the

Arrowhead was a new county record. A damselfly

associated with small seepages and springs, the

Aurora Damsel (Chromagrion conditum) was also

found here and abundant Ebony Jewelwings

(Calopteryx maculata) with black wings and

metallic emerald bodies made the place seem

tropical. A total of 10 species were recorded at this

brief stop. The second group had a little more time

and stopped at another similar stream nearby.

Jewelwings were abundant here as well and very

photogenic. A few Dragonhunters (Hagenius

brevistylus) were also seen and their large size and

build, suiting them well to a diet of other

dragonflies, captured the interest of the group.

Figure 4. The rare and local Arrowhead Spiketail

(Cordulegaster obliqua) was a surprise (actual

specimen shown here, courtesy of Oliver Flint).

Photo by P.M. Catling.

__________________________________________

The stony, fast-flowing Waba River was cool and

semi-shaded and a nice place to be on two very hot

afternoons (Figure 5 - 7). Two gomphids of fast-

moving rocky streams were the highlight and both

perched on rocks with abdomens held vertically

providing numerous opportunities for photographs.

The Least Clubtail (Stylogomphys albistylus, Figure

8), about the same size as the numerous Powdered

Dancers (Argia moesta), and also with a white-

tipped abdomen, could be distinguished by its more

rapid and agile flight. Rusty Snaketails

(Ophiogomphus rupinsulensis) appeared from the

trees every so often and then were gone again, as is

characteristic of their behaviour. However, on 10

July one posed on a mid-stream rock long enough to

allow many close-up photographs.

__________________________________________

Figure 5. Oliver Flint (bent over) demonstrating that

the “river pennies” are beetle larvae. Many had seen

the mobile flattened life forms, but few knew what

they were. Photo by B. Kostiuk on W aba River (site

6).

__________________________________________

An old sand pit with some shallow drying pools was

the next stop. Here White-faced Meadowhawks

(Sympetrum obtrusum) had recently emerged from

pools with 6 inches of water and the shallow pools

were also apparently home to four species of

spreadwings. However, this clearing in extensive

Canadian Shield mixed forest was actually mostly of

interest due to the high diversity of species that had

emerged elsewhere and wandered in. In particular

there were several Halloween Pennants (Celithemis

eponina) perching on twigs here at the northern limit

of their range. Late-flying American Emeralds

(Cordulia shurtleffii), Hudsonian Whitefaces

(Leucorrhinia hudsonica) and Chalk-fronted


19

Figure 6. The “remains” of the group on the Waba River after the first (very hot) day. Gordon Lewer isabsent from the photo. Towering at the back centre is Daniel Bogar from Marysville, Pensylvania withAilsa Donnelly from Binghampton, New York on his right and Yvette Liautaud from Streamwood,Illinois on his left. On the far righthand side of the photo is DSA president Roy Beckemeyer fromWichita, Kansas. On the left at the back are Bob Bracken from Ottawa (with net) and Chris Michener(coauthor of the annotated checklist of the dragonflies of Renfrew County). In front of Chris is AnneDeGoff from New York City and in front of Bob is Christina Lewis from Ottawa. There are 13 nets, 5cameras, and 6 pairs of binoculars in the photo. If you only counted 12 nets it is because NickDonnelly’s (very sporting) net is literally off (the top of) the page! Photo by B. Kostiuk at Waba, 10 July2005. ___________________________________________________________________________________________

Corporals (Ladona julia) were present. Jerrell Daigle

discovered two Emeralds, Williamson’s

(Somatochlora williamsoni) and Brush-tipped (S.

walshii) flying in the shadows along the woods road.

This site proved to be the most diverse with 28

species on the first day, 28 on the second and a total

of 30 for the first two days. Also of local interest

here were Sweetflag Spreadwing (Lestes forcipatus).


20

Figure 7. Perhaps this explains why GordonLewer (former Algonquin Park Naturalist andpresent High School teacher in Hamilton), ismissing from the group picture. Photo by B.Kostiuk from Waba River bridge on 10 July2005. __________________________________________

The final stop was White Lake fen, where the group

photographed the large black larvae of the very rare

Bog-Bean Buckmoth (Hemileuca sp.), one of the

late-flying giant silk moths that feeds exclusively on

bog bean (Menyanthes trifoliata). Rose Pogonia

Orchids (Pogonia ophiglossoides) were also

photographed. Among the dragonflies at this site

were a late Common Baskettail (Epitheca cynosura)

and more Halloween Pennants and Williamson’s

Emeralds. The fen produced 9 species of

dragonflies.

On the second day some of the group led by Peter

Burke and Carl Rothfels went to the nearby (5 km S)

but more extensive Hayes Bay fen where they added

Elfin Skimmer (Nannothemis bella ) to the regional

field trip list. Finally most of the group participated

in viewing and catching the dusk-flying Stygian

Shadowdragons (Neurocodulia yamaskanensis) on

the Madawaska River right outside the Quality Inn

in Arnprior. Ten species were recorded by another

group on a visit to “Gillies Grove,” an old growth

pine stand beside the Ottawa River in the town of

Arnprior, but none of these were additional.

The consecutive visits on two days of similar

weather allowed a comparison of numbers following

collecting and disturbance. The most popular

species at the quarry for collecting was Lestes

eurinus and eight of 13 seen were collected, but 30

were seen on the second day. Gomphus vastas

which was much more common on the second day

when 20 were encountered. On the Waba River

Stylogomphus albistylus was just as common on the

second day as on the first despite the fact that several

were collected. There is thus evidence that dragonfly

populations are not as disturbed as we might

imagine by monitoring and collecting activities.

There are obviously many more dragonflies present

than were seen and many were not caught despite a

large crowd with nets.

Each day the groups met in the evening to tally the

records (Table 2). The final master list for the local

field trips included 68 species, an impressive count

for casual observations (80 possible). The ten

species of Gomphids was particularly notable.

Figure 8. A male Least Clubtail (Stylogomphus

albistylus) handstands on a rock in the riffles of the

Waba River. This excellent photo was taken by Bev

Wigney of Osgoode on 10 July 2005. Bev provided

a very impressive display for the meeting area, led a

discussion of dragonfly photography, and taught d

dragonfly photography techniques in the field. 9


21

Table 1. Locations visited during local field trips.

Location County Lat. Long.

(1) Recently excavated sand pit ponds 6 km ESE ofArnprior

Ottawa-Carleton 45.4154 -76.2818

(2) Ottawa River, S side upstream from Quyon ferrycrossing

Ottawa-Carleton 45.5109 -76.2212

(3) Mississippi River at Pakenham Lanark 45.3445 -75.0115

(4) small stream 3.5 km E of Waba Lanark 45.3481 -76.4144

(5) small stream 5 km E of Waba Lanark 45.3519 -76.3953

(6) Waba River at Waba Renfrew 45.3484 -76.4591

(7) sand pit and shallow pools with much aquaticvegetation, S of Three Mile Bay, White Lake

Lanark 45.2525 -76.4807

(8) White Lake Fen Renfrew 45.3371 -76.4983

(9) Hayes Bay Fen Lanark 45.3371 -76.4983

(10) Madawaska River at Arnprior Renfrew 45.3124 -76.4581

(11) Other locations in local area (see text)

Table 2. Species recorded at locations visited on the local field trips showing approximate numbersobserved over 2-day period. See table 1 for location data. For species without location details see textabove. All numbers refer to adults. No species were recorded from a site only as larvae.

Scientific Name 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Calopteryx aequabilis 6

Calopteryx maculata 32 30 42

Lestes disjunctus 26 15

Lestes dryas 12

Lestes eurinus 43

Lestes forcipatus 13

Lestes rectanguaris 6 2

Argia fumipennis violacea 2

Argia moesta 60 200 50 24

Chromagrion conditum 2 2

Enallagma antennatum 6


22

Enallagma aspersum 2

Enallagma carunculatum 4 20 45 1

Enallagma civile 4

Enallagma cyathigerum 36

Enallagma ebrium 35 230 10

Enallagma exsulans 60 40 5

Enallagma geminatum 45

Enallagma hageni 1 1 2 1

Enallagma signatum 2 1

Ischnura verticalis 21 16 25 13

Nehalennia irene 16 60 70 50

Aeshna canadensis 4 32 6 1 50

Aeshna tuberculifera 1 2 3

Aeshna umbrosa 2 1

Anax junius 14 7 4

Basiaeshna janata 1

Boyeria vinosa 2

Dromogomphus spinosus 35 8 2 1 1 1 2

Gomphus adelphus 2 1 1

Gomphus exilis 2 8 1

Gomphus fraternus 9 7

Gomphus quadricolor 10

Gomphus vastas 25

Hagenius brevistylus 1 5 1 1 11 1 6

Ophiogomphus rupinsulensis 9

Stylogomphus albistylus 13

Stylurus notatus 5

Cordulegaster diastatops 1

Cordulegaster maculata 1


23

Cordulegaster obliqua 2

Didymops transversa 4 1

Macromia illinoiensis 5 3 1

Cordulia shurtleffii 1

Dorocordulia libera 15 1 1

Epitheca cynosura 1 1

Epitheca princeps 9 7 5 2 6 4 1

Neurocordulia yamaskanensis 4

Somatochlora walshii 4

Somatochlora williamsoni 8 2

Celithemis elisa 200 40

Celithemis eponina 12 2 1

Erythemis simplicicollis 1 3

Ladona julia 2 4

Leucorrhinia frigida 2 20

Leucorrhinia hudsonica 1

Leucorrhinia intacta 30 5 50

Leucorrhinia proxima 20

Libellula incesta 1 3

Libellula luctuosa 10 1 20 8

Libellula pulchella 30 5 25 12

Libellula quadrimaculata 4 1 7 15 3

Nannothemis bella 1

Pantala flavescens 3

Plathemis lydia 4 2 1 4

Sympetrum costiferum 400

Sympetrum internum 2 1 2

Sympetrum obtrusum 1 1 230


24

Observations on “northern” fieldtrips (upper Ottawa Valley) -Annual Meeting of the DragonflySociety of the Americas, 2005

Colin D. Jones

Ontario Natural Heritage Information Centre

(NHIC)

Biodiversity Section, Fish & Wildlife Branch

Ministry of Natural Resources

300 Water St., 2nd Floor N. Tower

P.O. Box 7000, Peterborough, ON K9J 8M5

[email protected]

During the 2005 Dragonfly Society of the Americas

meeting in Arnprior, Ontario, field trips took place

on 10 and 11 July. One the first day, one half of the

group visited areas reasonably close to Arnprior (see

Catling et al. in this issue) while the other half of the

group visited areas north of Arnprior. The next day,

the groups switched (although the leaders remained

the same). This report includes the details of the

“northern” field trips.

On each day, a total of six locations (Table 1) were

visited with approximately ½ to 2 hours at each site.

On the first day, site 5 (the McManus Rd. Bog) was

largely skipped. On the second day, in the interest of

time, the Ottawa River at Westmeath was skipped by

the majority of the group. On both days, the sun was

shining and the temperature reached 35 C (95 F).Somebody made the comment that their attendance

must have negated the Donnelly effect!

Our first site was Little Lakes (a.k.a. the Beachburg

Ponds) just south of the small town of Beachburg.

These are interesting small lakes, bordered by forest

and nestled within what is otherwise a largely

agricultural portion of the Upper Ottawa Valley. We

spent time at only one of these lakes. The lake itself

contains both floating and emergent vegetation with

some areas having boggy margins. At one end, a

small stream empties into the lake. As a result of this

combination of features, the lake has an interesting

diversity of species, with a total of 28 detected over

the two days (see Table 2). Both Common

Baskettails (Epitheca cynosura) and Prince

Baskettails (E. princeps) were cruising over the

parking lot as we arrived. Among the many Racket-

tailed Emeralds (Dorocordulia libera) present, a

couple of Williamson’s Emeralds (Somatochlora

williamsoni) and a single Brush-tipped Emerald (S.

walshii) were caught. Over the lake itself, hundreds

of Calico Pennants (Celithemis elisa) were flying,

many of which were mating and laying eggs.

Smaller numbers of Slaty (Libellula incesta), Four-

spotted (L. quadrimaculata) and Widow Skimmers

(L. luctuosa) were also present as were patrolling

Black-shouldered Spinylegs (Dromogomphus

spinonsus). Ken Tennessen and Benoit Menard spent

time dredging for larvae with Benoit turning up a

single Cyrano Darner (Nasiaeschna pentacantha).

Along the boggy edge of the lake, both Belted

(Leucorrhinia proxima) and Frosted W hitefaces (L.

frigida) were found. Nick Donnelly was intrigued by

the redness of our Belted Whitefaces. Throughout

most of the northeastern U.S., mature males are

apparently yellow, rather than red. Certainly in my

experience, most of the mature male Belted

Whitefaces in Ontario are quite red, more like the

western form raising the question of why? Along an

old road, leading from the parking lot, a small

wetland within the forest yielded a population of

Lyre-tipped Spreadwings (Lestes unguiculatus),

which was a target species for some members of the

group.

Our second site (only visited by the entire group on

day 1) was the Ottawa River at the Westmeath boat

launch. The highlight at this site were the dozens of

exuviae of Elusive Clubtail (Stylurus notatus). Many

were found on the ground (the usual location for

emerging clubtails) along the rock pier but many

were also present on the emergent vegetation along

the shoreline. It was among the emergent vegetation

that Ken Tennessen and Peter Burke were lucky

enough to find and collect an individual emerging!

Another highlight at this site was a single Midland

Clubtail (Gomphus fraternus) caught by Robi

Oldham. Among several other species, Tule Bluets

(Enallagma carunculatum), and Swift River

Cruisers (Macromia illinoiensis) were also recorded.

By noon we had moved onto the spectacular

Petawawa River at a site just west (upstream) of

Highway 17. This large river, the headwaters of

which are within Algonquin Provincial Park, is quite


25

fast-flowing along much of its lower half. Indeed, it

is well-known among white-water enthusiasts as a

fine river for an exciting canoe trip. At the site we

visited, the river was quite strong with both gentle

and stronger rapids as well as slower, deeper

sections. A few individuals experienced just how

strong the rapids were while attempting to wade to

the far shore only to be swept further downstream!

The cooling off was welcome, however, as the heat

of the day was upon us. Species characteristic of

rivers were present in good numbers including

Powdered Dancers (Argia moesta), Stream Bluets

(Enallagma exsulans), Mustached Clubtails

(Gomphus adelphus), and Dragonhunters (Hagenius

brevistylus). Plenty of Rusty Snaketails

(Ophiogomphus rupinsulensis) were present, many

of which were perching on rocks, as well as on

people’s shoulders, allowing for some good

photographic opportunities. Much smaller numbers

of the rarer Extra-striped Snaketail (Ophiogomphus

anomalus) were also present here and one Ocellated

Darner (Boyeria grafiana) was collected.

The highlight at the Petawawa River was when the

group returned in the evening to witness the flight of

two crepuscular species, the Stygian (Neurocordulia

yamaskanensis) and Broad-tailed Shadowdragons

(N. michaeli). Until recently, the only shadowdragon

known from Ontario was the Stygian

Shadowdragon. In 2003, however, exuviae were

collected at this site by Paul Catling and at two other

sites in northern Ontario by Michael Oldham, that

were thought to be Broad-tailed Shadowdragons, a

species only known from sites in New Brunswick

and Maine. In 2004, larvae were collected and reared

from the Petawawa River site and adults were

collected from the northern Ontario sites, thus

confirming the identity as Neurocordulia michaeli,

an extremely exciting addition to the fauna of

Ontario (see Argia 16(3): 13-16). Our return to this

site on the river at dusk was not disappointing – both

species of shadowdragon were flying, with 100’s of

individuals of N. michaeli present. Although

difficult to catch in the waning daylight, many

individuals (both males and females) of this

attractive species (especially the golden eyes), as

well as the more widespread Stygian Shadowdragon,

were caught.

In the afternoon, between visits to the Petawawa

River site, the group ventured into Algonquin

Provincial Park, Ontario’s largest (nearly 8,000 km 2)

and most famous Provincial Park. We visited three

sites in the Park. The Barron River is a medium

sized, tea-stained river that runs through a

spectacular canyon (upstream from the site we

visited). Here, more riverine species were

encountered including dozens of exuviae of Fawn

Darners (Boyeria vinosa) and Stygian

Shadowdragons (Neurocordulia yamaskanensis)

under the bridge. Along the banks of the river,

wildflowers were in bloom, including the

spectacular Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis) and

Purple-fringed Orchid (Platanthera psycodes).

Our second stop while in Algonquin was the

McM anus Lake Bog, a typical Algonquin Park bog-

rimmed pond with a floating mat of sphagnum,

plenty of ericaceous shrubs, and several carnivorous

plant species including Northern Pitcher-plant

(Sarracenia purpurea) and Roundleaf Sundew

(Drosera rotundifolia) along with Tamarack and

Black Spruce growing on the more developed

portions of the bog mat. Although only briefly

visited on day 1, our visit on day 2 to this pretty,

little bog-pond was quite productive. Many

Sphagnum Sprites (Nehalennia gracilis) were

present, although one had to look carefully in order

to spot these tiny sprites among the vegetation. The

most abundant species here was the Crimson-ringed

Whiteface (Leucorrhinia glacialis) although both

Belted (L. proxima) and Frosted W hitefaces (L.

frigida) were also present, allowing for excellent

comparisons between these three tricky species.

Another species characteristic of these types of bog

ponds that was present in low numbers was the

Amber-winged Spreadwing (Lestes eurinus). Among

a few other species, two Lake Darners (Aeshna

eremita) and a single Common Green Darner (Anax

junius) were also patrolling around the pond. Bog

Coppers (Lycaena epixanthe), tiny butterflies

restricted to such habitats, were also flitting among

the vegetation.

Lone Creek, a sandy-bottomed creek with some

larger rocks, was our last site in Algonquin Park.

Here, both River (Calopteryx aequabilis) and Ebony

Jewelwings (Calopteryx maculata) were present in

good numbers. At least one Twin-spotted Spiketail

(Cordulegaster maculata) was cruising low over the

water while several Eastern Least Clubtails


26

(Stylogomphus albistylus) perched on the emergent

rocks in the middle of the creek.

The combination of sites visited during the

“northern” field trips provided participants a chance

to record 56 species of Odonata (one of which,

Nasiaeschna pentacantha, was only recorded as

larva) in a variety of habitats. It also provided

visitors from elsewhere a chance to see some of

central Ontario’s beautiful scenery, including the

pristine waters of the Petawawa River and the vast

forested areas of Algonquin Provincial Park.

Bill Crins, Brad Steinberg and Peter Dawson from

Ontario Parks are thanked for providing permission

and logistical support for our visits to Algonquin

Provincial Park.

Table 1. Locations visited during upper Ottawa valley field trips.

Location County Lat. Long.

(1) Little Lakes, a.k.a .“Beachburg Ponds” Renfrew 45.7148 -76.8499

(2) Westmeath Boat Launch, Ottawa River Renfrew 45.8167 -76.8933

(3) Petawawa River at Hwy 17 Renfrew 45.8876 -77.3101

(4) Barron River at Squirrel Rapids, Algonquin Provincial

Park

Nipissing District 45.8703 -77.5587

(5) McManus Road Bog, Algonquin Provincial Park Nipissing District 45.9009 -77.5825

(6) Lone Creek at M cManus Lake Rd., Algonquin

Provincial Park

Nipissing District 45.9143 -77.5840

Table 2. Species recorded at locations visited on the Upper Ottawa Valley field trips showing approximate

numbers observed over 2-day period. See table 1 for location data. All numbers refer to adults except where

indicated.

Scientific Name 1 2 3 4 5 6

Calopteryx aequabilis - - - - - 10

Calopteryx maculata 5 - - 15 - 20

Lestes disjunctus - - 1 - - -

Lestes dryas 1 - 2 - - -

Lestes eurinus - - - - 5 -

Lestes unguiculatus 10 - - - - -

Argia fumipennis violacea 10 - - 1 - -

Argia moesta - 40 100 50 - -

Enallagma carunculatum 1 5 - - - -

Enallagma ebrium 10 - - - 30 -

Enallagma exsulans - - 100 30 - -

Enallagma hageni - 15 1 1 - -

Ischnura posita 2 - - - - -

Ischnura verticalis 2 5 25 15 - 15

Nehalennia gracilis - - - - 30 -

Nehalennia irene 1 - - - - -

Aeshna canadensis 5 - 10 2 - 2

Aeshna eremita - - - - 2 -

Anax junius - - - - 1 -


27

Boyeria grafiana - - 1 - - -

Boyeria vinosa - - - 1** - 5

Nasiaeschna pentacantha 1* - - - - -

Dromogomphus spinosus 10 4 30 15 - -

Gomphus adelphus - - 10 - - -

Gomphus exilis 5 - 20 10 - 10

Gomphus fraternus - 1 - - - -

Gomphus spicatus 5 7 5 - - -

Hagenius brevistylus - - 3 20 - 5

Ophiogomphus anomalus - - 3 - - -

Ophiogomphus rupinsulensis - - 30 - - -

Stylogomphus albistylus - - - - - 10

Stylurus notatus - 1** - - - -

Cordulegaster maculata - - 1 - - 1

Didymops transversa - - - 4 - -

Macromia illinoiensis - 3 5 2 - 2

Dorocordulia libera 20 - 10 5 10 5

Epitheca cynosura 50 - 20 10 - 10

Epitheca princeps 30 5 25 15 - 5

Neurocordulia michaeli - - 100+ - - -

Neurocordulia yamaskanensis - - 20 - - -

Somatochlora walshii 1 - - - - -

Somatochlora williamsoni 2 - - 1 - -

Celithemis elisa 100’s 30 - 30 - -

Ladona julia - - 20 15 2 10

Leucorrhinia frigida 10 - - - 50 -

Leucorrhinia glacialis - - - - 100’s -

Leucorrhinia intacta - 1 - - - -

Leucorrhinia proxima 10 - - - 20 -

Libellula incesta 30 - 15 10 1 -

Libellula luctuosa 2 - - - - -

Libellula pulchella - 10 - 1 - 1

Libellula quadrimaculata 15 - 10 20 20 10

Plathemis lydia - - - - - 1

Sympetrum internum 1 - - - - -

Sympetrum obtrusum 10 15 - - - -

Sympetrum semicinctum 1 - - - - -

Total Number of Species (56) 28 14 25 23 12 17

* - larval record

** - dozens of exuviae were also present


28

Post conference field trip -Annual Meeting of the DragonflySociety of the Americas, 2005

P.M. Catling and B. Kostiuk170 Sanford Ave.,

Ottawa, Ontario K2C 0E9

[email protected]

It was about 9:00 AM on 12 July that about 20

people (see Table 1) headed for the far north with

the expectation of seeing northern dragonflies and

some that we had not seen already on either the local

or upper valley field trips. Among those anticipated

were Boreal Snaketail (Ophiogomphus colubrinus)

and Zizag Darner (Aeshna sitchensis). We first

covered a lot of ground, passing familiar stops of the

upper valley trips, Beachburg, Westmeath and the

Petawawa. It was very hot and sunny (again). The

first stop was Aumond Creek, one of only two

nearby locations in Ontario where Maine Snaketail

(Ophiogomphus mainensis) is known. At both places

it is known only from larvae. Of course we hoped to

find an adult but were not successful. We did find

many larvae. Darting in and out of the shoreline

shadows and over the riffles, Ocellated Darners

(Boyeria grafiana) were common here.

After a rest in Mattawa for lunch, we continued west

toward North Bay stopping at the Amable du Fond

river. Here 19 species of Odonata were recorded

(Table 3) while wading and swimming. Rusty

Snaketails (Ophiogomphus rupinsulensis) were

flying low over the river and landing on midstream

rocks. After this stop the group broke up, to meet

again in Kirkland Lake. Some found Frosted

Whiteface (Leucorrhinia frigida) abundant in a bog

on highway 11 while others travelled to Esker Lakes

Park (map is available at ....

crownlanduseatlas.mnr.gov.on.ca/htmls/P1621e.html )

and recorded Ski-tailed Emerald (Somatochlora

elongata) and Lake Emerald (Somatochlora

cingulata). In the evening, Canada Darner (Aeshna

canadensis) and Variable Darner (Aeshna

interrupta) were abundant around the Comfort Inn in

Kirkland Lake.

The next day was also hot and sunny. The first stop

(Figure 1) was for the northern Boreal Snaketails

(Ophiogomphus colubrinus) on the Englehart River.

They were common, but equally interesting were the

Zebra Clubtails (Stylurus scudderi) and Ashy

Clubtails (Gomphus lividus).

__________________________________________

Figure 1. Members of the Dragonfly Society of the

Americas (DSA) pause for a photo on the Englehart

River in northern Ontario. Ken Tennessen from

Wisconsin on the right, Daniel Bogar from

Pennsylvania in the middle and John Abbott from

Texas on the left. Zebra Clubtails (Stylurus

scudderi) were patrolling the river periodically and

adult larvae were abundant burrowing in the open

sandy sediment. Photo by Paul Catling

__________________________________________

Next we tried to find access to a good bog with

hope of some boreal Emeralds (Somatochlora spp.)

and Canada Whiteface (Leucorrhinia patricia). This

did not work well. After one aborted attempt, which

led to excavated ponds rather than bog, the group

accepted the idea of a hike through the bush (the

dense bush) to a bog. This hike turned out to be a

challenge (or as some said a “death march”). Half

the group turned back at an early stage. The boreal

forest was thick and rugged. Although the bog was

eventually reached, the pools were not found. Much

fatigued, the group returned slowly to the road. It

was a first hand experience with the boreal forest

and a lasting memory (not exactly to be cherished)

for all who participated (Figure 2), but spirits

remained high (remarkably) as Ken Tennessen joked

about shredding his legs (he wore shorts) and Nick

Donnelly (apparently accustomed to death marches)

never sat down. The death march consumed much

time. Meanwhile back at the road Ocellated Emerald

mailto:[email protected]


29

(Somatochlora minor) and several darners appeared.

Next a roadside stop at a pond near to the Englehart

River Bridge produced 13 species, among them

Black-tipped Darner (Aeshna tuberculifera). A

beaver marched down the road to meet the group- a

nice Canadian experience.

__________________________________________

Figure 2. SURVIVOR DSA !! This group survived

the Death March - more than any challenge endured

by those featured in the popular television series.

From left to right Yvette Liautaud, Ken Tennessen,

Daniel Bogar, Paul Catling and Nick Donnelly.

Photo by Brenda Kostiuk.

_____________

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