Dragonfly Detectives
As the weather warms and we can begin exploring our shorelines (lake, pond, river, stream, wetland, and bog) again, everyone is invited to be a Dragonfly Detective!
Help us learn more about which species are breeding where, when they are "eclosing" (emerging from the water to become adults), and what they can tell us about their habitat needs.
Learn more details here, and print off a field sheet here.
Exuvia of a Didymops transversa (Stream cruiser) dragonfly
Dragonflies and damselflies are "cousins" in the order Odonata. They both begin life as an egg, hatching underwater. After at least a year in the water (up to 5 years, for some cold-climate species!), the larvae of both odes emerge, "unzip" their skins, and step out as adults. They unfurl their long tails and wings, pump them full of fluids, harden their exoskeletons, and fly off, to repeat the cycle. The colors are gorgeous and the behaviors are fascinating as these fierce predators dazzle us with their aerobatic stunts.
 Prince baskettail adult & exuviaThe empty skin left behind when an adult emerged; the adult in this photo was found injured and never recovered. |  Eclosing Arrow clubtail |
|---|---|
 Tiger spiketail, photo: Dale FerlandThis is the first recorded sighting of this species in Vermont! |  Cherry-faced Meadowhawk |
 Dragonfly larva |  Damselfly larvae, 2 species |
 Common Whitetail |  IMG_3551 |
 Eastern forktail damselfly |  Variable dancer damselfly |
 Mating pair of Variable dancers |  Eastern forktail |
 Just emerging from its larval skin |  IMG_3494 |
 Female Autumn meadowhawk |