Swamp Darner dragonfly (female, oviposition)

The cavalcade of spring species of odonates continues: a first-of-season Swamp Darner dragonfly (Epiaeschna heros) was spotted on 25 April 2016 near a vernal pool at a remote location in Huntley Meadows Park.

This individual is a female, laying eggs (oviposition) in soft wood. All female damselflies and many female dragonflies, especially Aeschnidae, have an ovipositor that is used to puncture aquatic plants, logs, wet mud, etc.; eggs are placed singly in the puncture. The ovipositor is clearly visible in the following annotated image.

(See a full-size version of the original photo, without annotation.)

Related Resource: Swamp Darner Ovipositing in Rotting Log (NJ, USA), an excellent YouTube video (2:03) published on June 5, 2014, shot from the edge of a vernal pool located in New Jersey.

Copyright © 2016 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.

Vernal Pools are Wet and Dry

It’s an honor to announce one of my dragonfly photographs is featured on signage for a man-made vernal pool at Butternut Creek Recreation and Nature Area, a new park in the Town of DeWitt, New York.

The info-graphic, entitled “Vernals Pools are Wet and Dry,” was written by Christine Manchester, Naturalist and Sustainability Coordinator, and illustrated by Kate Woodle.

05 JUN 2015 | Photo used with permission from Kate Woodle.

The preceding photograph shows the sign located in situ on the day the park opened; the final version of the illustration for the sign is shown below.

Graphic used with permission from the Town of DeWitt.

One of my photos of a Swamp Darner dragonfly (Epiaeschna heros), taken during a photowalk at Huntley Meadows Park (HMP) on 02 June 2014, is featured on the sign. The dragonfly is a female, shown laying eggs (oviposition) in mud alongside a vernal pool.

The original photograph is shown below. Did you notice the version on the sign is the mirror image of my photo? I guess you call that “artistic license.”

02 JUN 2014 | HMP | Swamp Darner dragonfly (female)

Related Resource: An annotated version of the same photo illustrates some of the reproductive anatomy for female Swamp Darners.

Copyright © 2015 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.

Swamp Darner dragonfly (female)

Dragonflies are classified as either “fliers” or “perchers,” based upon their feeding habits. Swamp Darner dragonflies (Epiaeschna heros) are fliers; it is uncommon to see them perching.

15 MAY 2015 | Huntley Meadows Park | Swamp Darner (female)

This individual is a female, as indicated by her terminal appendages. She was perching near a vernal pool, probably resting after egg-laying (oviposition).

15 MAY 2015 | Huntley Meadows Park | Swamp Darner (female)

Please look at the full-size version of both photos in order to see the exquisite coloration of this dragonfly.

Related Resources: Digital Dragonflies, presenting high-resolution digital scans of living dragonflies.

• Genus Epiaeschna | Epiaeschna heros | Swamp Darner | female | top view
• Genus Epiaeschna | Epiaeschna heros | Swamp Darner | female | side view
• Genus Epiaeschna | Epiaeschna heros | Swamp Darner | male | top view
• Genus Epiaeschna | Epiaeschna heros | Swamp Darner | male | side view

Copyright © 2015 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.

Photo tip: Move closer to the subject.

A simple tip for shooting better wildlife photographs: Move closer to the subject. In this case, so close that the entire subject did not fit within the photo frame — better to show the extraordinary beauty of this species of dragonfly!

The following photos show two adult female Swamp Darner dragonflies (Epiaeschna heros) laying eggs (ovipostion) in a muddy drainage ditch located near a vernal pool at Huntley Meadows Park (HMP).

02 JUN 2014 | HMP | Swamp Darner (female)

The next photo is my favorite in this set. Wow, look at those eyes!

25 MAY 2014 | HMP | Swamp Darner (female)

25 MAY 2014 | HMP | Swamp Darner (female)

25 MAY 2014 | HMP | Swamp Darner (female)

25 MAY 2014 | HMP | Swamp Darner (female)

Related Resources:

• Vernal Pools, by Alonso Abugattas, Natural Resources Manager for Arlington County at Arlington County Parks and Recreation
• Vernal pool, Wikipedia
• The Vernal Pool Association, plus Wicked Big Puddles blog

Copyright © 2015 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.

Swamp Darner dragonfly (female, oviposition)

The following annotated photograph illustrates some of the external reproductive anatomy of an adult female Swamp Darner dragonfly (Epiaeschna heros), shown laying eggs (ovipostion) in mud: a pair of cerci (superior appendages) that have little or no function; a stylus (pl. styli), one of two structures that serve as sensors in egg positioning; and an ovipositor that is used to insert eggs into wet dead wood, mud, etc.

The preceding photograph was taken on 02 June 2014 in a drainage ditch located near a vernal pool at Huntley Meadows Park. The photograph was voted one of my Top 10 Photos of 2014 in the first annual Peopoll’s Choice Awards.

Editor’s Note: Thanks to Benjamin A. Coulter, member of the Northeast Odonata Facegroup, for kindly identifying the stylus (pl. styli) located between the cerci and ovipositor.

Related Resources: Digital Dragonflies, presenting high-resolution digital scans of living dragonflies.

• Genus Epiaeschna | Epiaeschna heros | Swamp Darner | female | top view
• Genus Epiaeschna | Epiaeschna heros | Swamp Darner | female | side view

Copyright © 2015 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.

Swamp Darner dragonfly (female, oviposition)

The following photos show a Swamp Darner dragonfly (Epiaeschna heros) spotted on 23 May 2014 near a vernal pool in a relatively remote location in the forest at Huntley Meadows Park. This individual is a female, shown laying eggs (oviposition) in a muddy drainage ditch.

All female damselflies and many female dragonflies, especially Aeschnidae, have an ovipositor that is used to puncture aquatic plants, logs, wet mud, etc.; eggs are placed singly in the puncture. The ovipositor is clearly visible in all of the following photos.

Related Resources: Digital Dragonflies, presenting high-resolution digital scans of living dragonflies.

• Genus Epiaeschna | Epiaeschna heros | Swamp Darner | female | top view
• Genus Epiaeschna | Epiaeschna heros | Swamp Darner | female | side view

See also Swamp Darner Ovipositing in Rotting Log (NJ, USA), an excellent YouTube video published on June 5, 2014, shot from the edge of a vernal pool located in New Jersey.

Copyright © 2015 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.

Year in review: New finds in 2014 (odonates)

In addition to several “New discoveries in 2014,” I spotted several species of odonates in 2014 that were new finds for my “life list,” as well as a few first-time sightings of either a male or female for familiar species of dragonflies.

Ashy Clubtail dragonfly (male)

This is my first confirmed spotting of an Ashy Clubtail dragonfly (Gomphus lividus).

02 May 2014 | Meadowood Recreation Area

Common Baskettail dragonfly (male)

This is my first confirmed spotting of a male Common Baskettail dragonfly (Epitheca cynosura). I have seen a few females in the past.

02 May 2014 | Meadowood Recreation Area

Bar-winged Skimmer dragonfly (young male)

This is my first spotting of a Bar-winged Skimmer dragonfly (Libellula axilena).

31 May 2014 | Huntley Meadows Park

Painted Skimmer dragonflies (male, female)

Although I had seen one Painted Skimmer dragonfly (Libellula semifasciata) in the past, these individuals are among the first ones I photographed.

Male | 06 June 2014 | Huntley Meadows Park

Female | 23 May 2014 | Huntley Meadows Park

Swamp Darner dragonfly (female, oviposition)

I have seen lots of Swamp Darner dragonflies (Epiaeschna heros) in the past, but it’s challenging to identify their gender on the wing. I photographed one perching male on 04 June 2012. The following individual is one of the first confirmed females that I have spotted.

02 June 2014 | Huntley Meadows Park

Spot-winged Glider dragonfly (female)

This is the first confirmed female Spot-winged Glider dragonfly (Pantala hymenaea) that I have spotted.

15 July 2014 | Beacon of Groveton

Eastern Pondhawk dragonflies (mating pair, in wheel)

This mating pair of Eastern Pondhawk dragonflies (Erythemis simplicicollis) is one of the first times I was quick enough to photograph a pair “in wheel.” This image is also among the first photographs taken using my Fujifilm X-T1 digital camera, 55-200mm zoom lens (88-320mm, 35mm equivalent), and Fujifilm Shoe Mount Flash EF-42 in TTL mode.

20 August 2014 | Huntley Meadows Park

Slender Spreadwing damselfly (male)

I have seen many female Slender Spreadwing damselflies (Lestes rectangularis) in the past, but this is the first male I spotted.

28 September 2014 | Huntley Meadows Park

Shadow Darner dragonfly (male)

Although I have spotted Shadow Darner dragonflies (Aeshna umbrosa) in the past, this is one of the first individuals I photographed.

24 October 2014 | Huntley Meadows Park

Related Resources:

• Ashy Clubtail dragonfly (male)
• Common Baskettail dragonfly (male)
• Bar-winged Skimmer dragonfly (young male)
• Painted Skimmer dragonfly (male); Painted Skimmer dragonfly (female)
• Swamp Darner dragonfly (female, oviposition)
• Spot-winged Glider dragonfly (female)
• Eastern Pondhawk dragonflies (mating pair, in wheel)
• Slender Spreadwing damselfly (male)
• Shadow Darner dragonfly (male)

Editor’s Note: This is Part 2 in a three-part series — a retrospective look at 2014.

• Part 1. Year in review: New discoveries in 2014
• Part 3. Year in review: New finds in 2014 (non-odonates)

Copyright © 2014 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.

Another new species of spreadwing damselfly…

During late-May 2014, Mike Powell and I were photographing female Swamp Darner dragonflies (Epiaeschna heros) laying eggs (oviposition) in a drainage ditch near a vernal pool in the forest at Huntley Meadows Park. I noticed a damselfly and thought, “It’s just a damselfly; the Swamp Darner is more interesting.” The damselfly was perching closer to Mike, so I waited to take a few photos after Mike finished “working the shot.”

When I revisited the photos months later, I realized the damselfly was a species I’d never seen. Turns out it’s another new species of spreadwing damselfly for Huntley Meadows Park!

Ed Lam, author and illustrator of Damselflies of the Northeast, identified the specimen as either a Southern Spreadwing damselfly (Lestes australis) or Sweetflag Spreadwing damselfly (Lestes forcipatus). According to Ed, this individual “… is a male. Male Southern and Sweetflag cannot be separated in the field.”

Talk about a missed opportunity. Months later it was too late to catch-and-release one or more of these damselflies in order to examine the specimens in-hand, under magnification. At this point, we have to wait until next year to confirm the specific identity of our discovery. It’s going to be another long winter!

23 May 2014 | Huntley Meadows Park

23 May 2014 | Huntley Meadows Park

So what’s the take-away from my experience? Don’t be dismissive. Look closely at every subject before you decide it is/isn’t photo-worthy — you never know what you may find!

Related Resources:

• Another new species of spreadwing damselfly…
• A Southern Fortnight, Part 1 – Year-long mystery solved!
• A Southern Fortnight, Part 2 – Damselfly terminal appendages (male)
• A Southern Fortnight, Part 3 – Southern Spreadwing damselfly (male)
• A Southern Fortnight, Part 4 – Southern Spreadwing damselfly (female)
• A Southern Fortnight, Part 5 – Southern Spreadwing damselflies (mating pairs, in tandem)
• A Southern Fortnight, Part 6 – Damselfly reproductive anatomy
• A Southern Fortnight, Part 7 – “Arty”

Copyright © 2014 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.

Shadow Darner dragonflies (Aeshna umbrosa)

Those who know me well are familiar with one of many “Walterisms”: “I haven’t ‘seen’ something until I have photographed it.” My rationale is two-fold: 1) A photograph verifies a sighting. 2) The detail visible in a good photograph exceeds the acuity of the human eye.

Although I have spotted Shadow Darner dragonflies (Aeshna umbrosa) in the past, I hadn’t “seen” them until I photographed several of these handsome darners near a vernal pool in the forest at Huntley Meadows Park on 24 October 2014.

This post features photos of two male Shadow Darners (as indicated by their terminal appendages): the first male is shown in Photos 1-2; the second in Photo 3.

Photo 1. Male one.

Swamp Darner dragonflies (Epiaeschna heros) look somewhat similar to Shadow Darners: Swamp Darners are a spring species in the Darner Family; Shadow Darners are a fall species of mosaic darner. Both species seem to prefer the same habitat. All things being equal, Swamp Darners are more numerous than Shadow Darners: I saw LOTS of Swamp Darners during spring; in contrast, I’ve seen only a few Shadow Darners during fall … so far!

Photo 2. Male one.

The following side view of another male Shadow Darner shows its face, the side of its thorax, and its hamules (located beneath S2-3, that is, abdominal segments two and three). Remember that odonate abdominal segments are numbered from front to back.

Photo 3. Male two.

Copyright © 2014 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.

More fliers perching

Dragonflies are classified as either “fliers” or “perchers,” based upon their feeding habits. Swamp Darner dragonflies (Epiaeschna heros) are fliers; it is uncommon to see them perching.

I spotted several Swamp Darners perching near two vernal pools at Huntley Meadows Park on 23- and 25 May 2014. All of the individuals are females, resting after egg-laying (oviposition).

23 May 2014

The following gallery features another female spotted on the same day.

Finally, a female spotted two days later.

25 May 2014

Copyright © 2014 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.