A Dragonfly society?

I had no idea! But it makes sense, I think they're fun to watch --- pretty to look at. Maybe you can attract some to your pond....read on http://www.nwf.org/nationalwildlife/article.cfm?issueid=42&articleid=478

Yes, the National Wildlife Federation offers habitat creation tips and support. Aren't they wonderful!

Here are the Odonata Societies with which I have familiarity-
http://www.afn.org/~iori/dsaintro.html
http://powell.colgate.edu/wda/dragonfly.htm

Our good world neighbors the Brits have clubs devoted exclusively to dragonfly watching just as we have clubs devoted exclusively to bird watching.

edited for misspellings- sorry



This message was edited May 21, 2005 1:42 PM

Looks like I better add this to MY (silverfluter's DH) watch list. I took an entomology course where we collected several families of Dragonflies. My favorite was the Gomphids (sp), that family has the largest species of dragonflies in it. We have seen a few around our pond, but expect to see more when phase II is completed. Thanks for the info here... Tom

Say Tom, are you familiar with those vinyl coated forest green metal stakes? They seem to be readily available and are affordable. You might want to consider purchasing a few of those and strategically placing them around your pond. Odonata like resting spots that are elevated. You might be very pleasantly surprised at what takes a pit stop if you add a few. Great photo opportunities will present themselves also.

Hmmmm... maybe I'm not familiar with them... not by that description at least... do you have a pic of them as you would employ them for dragonflies? Tom

yes, I do

These plant stakes come in an assortment of heights with 48" seeming to be the standard. I do now have these, or similar "rest stops" positioned around my ponds. Incredibly simplistic, not all that attractive... but they work.

One last picture to wet your appetite for strategically placing unattractive sticks around your pond-

oops, missed one doing a hand stand-

Great looking pics. I was looking for the venation in the wings... that last one definitely looks like the "boot-wing" dragonfly family (Libellulidae). I think thats how you spell it. If you look at the venation on the hind wings, you will see what could be described as the outline of a boot. I did see on checking out the pond this afternoon, but it is a young pond, have to get things growing they like I spose.
I never thought about it this way, but I remember many times sitting on the bank of the river and the dragonflies seemed to like to land on the end of your fishing pole. I'll try the sticks and see what happens.
Just curious... what are you using for those pics?? ...... Tom

The last photo is of a Four Spotted Pennant (Brachymesia gravida).

Now don't go and get overly impressed as I only know that because I was told. The adult males differ from the adult females which differ from the male and female juveniles. Most of the time the male and female from the same species don't even look as if they would be able to spot each other to mate. Abdomen, cerci, and wing colors are so critical to pay attention to in order to properly ID Odonata that I gave up a long time ago in favor of just watching their aeronautics. I am only capable of identifying the most common but I sure do love to watch them and ever since a friend shared that trick of using those vinyl coated garden stakes, I've been having a blast. And to think I purchased them to patronize her thinking yaa right.

The camera I use is the Kodak DX series with the Carl Zeiss lenses. That camera performs the best for close ups and outdoor use. I also use an Olympus something or other. Great camera for indoor shots with flash. Those photos were taken with a Nikon camera though.

Here's a sample of the Kodak DX-
http://davesgarden.com/forums/fp.php?pid=1056100

How do you get so close without them moving off?
Steve

Too fun! Great pics Equilibrium!

All right, class: who can tell me the state insect from Washington State? Anyone, anyone?
Yes, that's right! It's the Blue Darner Dragonfly!

Guess I better get me some of those sticks and 'stake out' some territory for them. Then I can grab my camera and start clicking! Those are some might impressive photos you have there! I do really like them and I'm bookmarking this thread!
Pixy

How do I get so close...

Great question. I've done a few face plants in the water and barely saved my camera. Seriously, I've looked like the creature from the Dark Lagoon more times than I care to admit and my husband just shakes his head. Today I tried unsuccessfully to get photos of a damselfly and that little critter was incredibly uncooperative. I spent about a half hour waiting for it to land and I was so frustrated! I'll get him one of these days.

Those stakes I suggested really are the trick. For some reason the dragonflies feel as if they have a 360 degree escape route when they are perched on them and they are less likely to take off. The dragonflies that are around natural ponds seem to be less "edgie" if that makes sense. There are so many marginal plants that they feel protected. All you need do is hang out for about 15 minutes or so and sooner or later they'll pose for you. I wish I could say that I had tricks up my sleeve but it's really nothing more than exercising a little restraint in not getting a fly swatter to stop the moving target. Just kidding... I would never!

Speaking of a Blue Darner, here's a photo of a Blue Dasher taken by a friend.

Isnt Mother nature (and those of you who capture her) incredible? Thanks Equilibrium for another great pic, and the info. I just love Daves Garden!

Oh my gosh! I forgot to add that the cameras have 5.0 pixels so you can get a good shot even if you are 2-3' away and not right up on top of them. Then... decent photo editing software (Kodak gives out EasyShare for free) and voila! One has a photo that appears as if your camera was inches away from the dragonfly when in fact you were at least 2' away.

Here's an exmple of cropping-

First crop vertical-

edited for really bad spelling.

This message was edited May 29, 2005 8:40 AM

second crop horizontal-

See now, don't get all excited thinking I have a special gift or knack with a camera as I most certainly do not. I was about 4-5' away from that bullfrog when I took that photo. A few point and clicks with my mouse in the Kodak EasyShare software and you can see how I was able to zoom in. I've seen some exceptional quality photos here at Dave's Garden, sadly... mine is nothing more than the editing software. I don't even mess with settings in favor of leaving my camera on auto all the time.

Thanks for the photo of the blue darner! I'm really looking forward to just sitting by the pond, camera in hand. The other day a hummingbird was taking a bath in the waterfall, then sat on a nearby branch and preened! If only I'd had the camera.!
What you say about photo editing is so true. You can make it appear that you are right on top of whatever you photograph! My camera is only 3.2 megapixels, but I have a 10X optical zoom. Here's a photo of a frog that I took from up on a bridge. I can't believe what a little creative editing will do!

Well, our secret is out on editing software. An optical zoom huh? I have an optical zoom of some sort however every time I use it my photos turn out very grainy and have virtually no quality. I guess my zoom doesn't work as well as your zoom because your photo isn't grainy at all. Sorry about your missed hummingbird photo opportunity. I feel for you there as that seems to be the story of my life when it comes to moving targets that take a break- no camera in reach.

Sounds like you have a digital zoom rather than an optical zoom. Most cameras have some sort of optical zoom, then use the digital zoom to take over when the optical zoom reaches its limit. If your photos are grainy, then that sound like the digital zoom has taken over and reached its max. The difference is that the optical zoom is the same thing as you would have on a fully manual camera - it's the optics that are doing the work. Digital is the camera's computer enlarging the photo. One reason I chose the camera I have (Canon Powershot S1) is for the digital zoom.
But regardless, your dragonfly photos are great! And photo editing software means we can all be good photographers without going back to school!

Those dragonfly roosts really work.... look what showed up the second day after putting one up!!! I since put up a couple more, it had to sample the view from each of them right after I put them up!!!! Thanks for the hint!! Tom
PS. This pic was taken with a camcorder using digital zoom from about 6 feet away. It is definitely more pixilated than most pics you see in here. Some day we will get a decent digital cam for still shots!

This message was edited May 30, 2005 12:18 PM

Say Pixy, I have no idea what I have but I'm sure you're right as my pictures turn out crappy every time I try to use the zoom. I set it to auto now. My bad! One of these days when I have enough time, I might go take a course on how to use the cameras I have. That would be a concept. The owner's manuals on all that they do are long gone.

WOOOOHOOOOO silverfluter! You go Tom! Pretty awesome isn't it! I swear when it was originally suggested to me I bought a few for the sole purpose of going through the motions to be able to say I had bought a few and stuck them in the ground around the pond. I never in a million years expected anything to actually land on them. The first time a dragonfly landed on one of the stakes, I thought uh huh... coincidence. About a week later I noticed a dragonfly on each stake with a few buzzing around perchless and I knew there was actually something to those elcheapo stakes. Oddly enough, the damselflies around here don't seem to use them.

Here's to stakes for everyone who has a pond!

edited for big boo boo of referring to Tom as a girl- sorry Tom.

This message was edited May 30, 2005 11:40 PM

Cool pics you guy's/gals ........ I cant wait until I have a pond, but mine will be shaded ---- I'd probably have better luck if I could have one in the sun.

Seeing the dragonfly and bullfrog pics make me feel like a kid again! I have'nt been that close to either in many years. Thanks, Jill

Woo Hoo! Right on Tom! I haven't seen any dragonflies yet, maybe too early for them? I'm going to put up the sticks, though. Just in case!
So , Jill, that was a bullfrog's pic that I took? I thought so , but wasn't sure. I haven't seen one, either, since I was a kid, and we don't like them critters very much up here. They eat our native frogs (and anything else that moves, I hear). A pretty creature, though! Took his photo at Arches National Park in Utah. Truely God's country!

Here's my first dragonfly using the landing stick I have next to the pond! I know there have been many other dragonflies, and I actually have some nymphs in the pond! But this is the first one I've had an opportunity to catch landing on the stick. And it was a red one!

Wow! I've never seen one that color! Very cool! The wonders of nature never cease to amaze me.

Yes, me too! I had never seen one like this either. We have another type of red one that I've seen occasionally, but the abdomen is shorter and fatter and the color is less orange and more true red. I'm hoping one will come to the pond and pose for me. I need to put more landing spots around.

I was amazed this year at the number of dragonflys that made their way to the new pond. Last year there was the occasional, albeit rare, sightings. Now they're EVERYWHERE! :o)

[two thumbs up!]

WOOOOHOOOOO Pixydish! You go girl! I see you have your first photo! And... you have nymphs in the pond which means you better buy more stakes for next year.

Here's a photo for you of a damselfly I took. Those uncooperative damselflies! They never land on my stakes but this one sort of hung out as if to say, "Here's lookin at ya babe!" I cracked up when I downloaded the photos and saw the eyeballs staring out at me from the photo. Oh, the simple pleasures of life.

What an awesome shot! I guess that damselfly is too smart or too big for those carnivorous plants! I love the eyes on those things. They are so very 'buggy'!
I'll definitely be putting in more stakes!

unknown guest. yesterday at dusk the sky seemed filled with dragonflys

There must have been something on that plant that the damselfly was interested in eating. Those carnivorous plants produce "lures" and I've no doubt that over time predator insects pick up on the fact that other smaller insects are attracted to CPs so they hang out waiting for an easy meal. Yum yum!

I've split apart spent pitchers at the end of the season and have yet to find a damselfly in one of them. I have found small tree frogs and a host of other insects as well as many arachnid. Maybe they don't like to crawl inside of plants? They do generally seem to be out in the open on plants as opposed to under them. I dunno. Speaking of which, I should go and see if I have any pitchers from any plants that I could split apart and photograph. Some should be winding down for the season and I've got my eye on a particularly swollen flava pitcher. Actually, my kids want to know what that plant "ate" too.

Jerry, nice photo. Very distinctive markings on your dragonfly.

Very nice dragonfly! Beautiful markings!

Here's a dragonfly who happened to land directly in front of me while I was visiting Heronswood Nursery in Kingston, WA yesterday. All other nurseries will now have difficulty measuring up to this incredible place. It's a garden as well as a nursery and it has plants you can't get almost anywhere else. Here's the link if you want to see the website.
http://www.heronswood.com

Somebody's got the odonata bug!

Are you totally hooked on these little critters now?

Well, I've always had a liking for them. When I was a kid I was sure that the dragonflies were male fairies, and the damselflies were female fairies. And I've always thought their eyes were very cool and, of course, the way their colors glisten. I also like praying mantis eyes. (althought the eating of the male's head is a bit bold...)

I think I may have seen a dragonfly trying to attract a mate the other day. It hovered over my pond then flew in a sort of figure 8 over the pond. It did this over and over again for a very long time. I sat and watched it for at least 10 minutes before it flew off. At one point another dragonfly flew by and it took off after it, but then returned. Maybe it was guarding the pond? It was very cool.

They evidently have rather complex courting behavior. By what you described, it sounds as if they mated and the male was being territorial by driving off a male to make sure the female did not mate with another before ovipositing. I have a photo of a female ovipositing somewhere. It's older though and I might not be able to find it.