ontarioinsects.org · ontario odonata, vol. 7 2007 iii contents first observations on larvae of...
TRANSCRIPT
-
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
-
TORONTO ENTOMOLOGISTS'ASSOCIATION (TEA)
The TEA is a non-profit educational andscientific organization formed to promoteinterest in insects, to encourage co-operationamong amateur and professional entomologists,to educate and inform non-entomologists aboutinsects, entomology and related fields, to aid inthe preservation of insects and their habitats andto issue publications in support of theseobjectives. See: www.ontarioinsects.org
Publications received as part of the TEAmembership include:- 3 issues per year of our news journal OntarioInsects,- annual Ontario Lepidoptera summary
THE TEA IS A REGISTERED CHARITY(#1069095-21); ALL DONATIONS ARE TAXCREDITABLE.
Board of Directors:
Glenn Richardson, PresidentAlan Macnaughton, Vice-PresidentChris Rickard, Treasurer
Alan J. Hanks, MemberNancy van der Poorten, Past PresidentCarolyn King, Publicity Co-ordinatorChris Darling, R.O.M. RepresentativeCarol Sellers, Program Co-ordinatorSteve LaForest, Field Trip Co-ordinator
MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION
Annual dues:Individual $25Student $15Family $30
See the website:www.ontarioinsects.org/
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
-
Ontario Odonata, vol. 7 2007
1
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.
_______________________________________
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
-
Ontario Odonata, vol. 7 2007
2
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
-
Ontario Odonata, vol. 7 2007
3
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
-
Ontario Odonata, vol. 7 2007
4
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
-
Ontario Odonata, vol. 7 2007
5
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
-
Ontario Odonata, vol. 7 2007
6
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
-
Ontario Odonata, vol. 7 2007
7
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.
-
Ontario Odonata, vol. 7 2007
8
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
-
Ontario Odonata, vol. 7 2007
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.
-
Ontario Odonata, vol. 7 2007
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
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
-
Ontario Odonata, vol. 7 2007
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).
-
Ontario Odonata, vol. 7 2007
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
-
Ontario Odonata, vol. 7 2007
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
observations for the year 2001). Toronto
Entomologists' Association, Toronto, Ontario. 208
pp.
Catling, P.M., C.D. Jones, and P.D. Pratt (editors).
2004a. Ontario Odonata Volume 4 (including
observations for the year 2002). Toronto
Entomologists' Association, Toronto, Ontario. 216
pp.
Catling, P.M., C.D. Jones, and P.D. Pratt (editors).
2004b. Ontario Odonata Volume 5 (including
observations for the year 2003). Toronto
Entomologists' Association, Toronto, Ontario. 145
pp.
Catling, P.M., C.D. Jones, and P.D. Pratt (editors).
2005. Ontario Odonata Volume 6 (including
observations for the year 2004). Toronto
Entomologists' Association, Toronto, Ontario. 202
pp.
Colburn, E.A. 2004. Vernal Pools: Natural History
and Conservation. McDonald & Woodward
Publishing Company, Blacksburg, Virginia. 426 pp.
-
Ontario Odonata, vol. 7 2007
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
-
Ontario Odonata, vol. 7 2007
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
-
Ontario Odonata, vol. 7 2007
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]
-
Ontario Odonata, vol. 7 2007
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
-
Ontario Odonata, vol. 7 2007
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
-
Ontario Odonata, vol. 7 2007
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).
-
Ontario Odonata, vol. 7 2007
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
-
Ontario Odonata, vol. 7 2007
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
-
Ontario Odonata, vol. 7 2007
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
-
Ontario Odonata, vol. 7 2007
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
-
Ontario Odonata, vol. 7 2007
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
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
-
Ontario Odonata, vol. 7 2007
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
-
Ontario Odonata, vol. 7 2007
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 -
-
Ontario Odonata, vol. 7 2007
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
-
Ontario Odonata, vol. 7 2007
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
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]
-
Ontario Odonata, vol. 7 2007
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.
_____________