Dragonflies: the flight of the odonates

During the hot summer days of July and August, it is difficult not to walk by a pond, lake or river and not be able to spot at least a few dragonflies or damselflies chasing prey or each other in courtship. Bobbing and weaving, these insects put on an aerial display as they hover for a moment, then zoom away at speeds that may approach 40 mph.

Dragonflies and damselflies are being watched by professionals and amateurs alike, much in the same way that birds are watched by birdwatchers. These “odes” (short for odonate; dragonflies and damselflies are of the order Odonata) come in many color and size variations at different times of the summer as the various species emerge from larval stage and take flight.

Dragonfly watching is as simple as finding a comfortable spot to sit next to a pond and being patient as the dragonflies return to their normal behavior pattern. Dragonflies can be spotted and identified by eye alone, but close focusing binoculars will help when they perch further away.

A lot of field guides and resources are available for watching these fascinating insects. A good on-line resource can be found at odesforbeginners.com.