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Updated on Thursday, September 2 at 06:30 AM ET
The most recently received Mail is at the top.
Pteridophora alberti

2 Sep Telebasis digiticollis San Benito Cameron Co Texas 8 30 2010 [Terry Fuller ]
1 Sep Maverick County Dragonfly Survey []
30 Aug Claret Pondhawk at Frontera Audubon Thicket, 8-30-10 []
30 Aug Estero Llano Grande SP, August 27, 2010 [Mike Rickard ]
29 Aug Tawny Pennant arrives...Uvalde County ["Tripp" ]
29 Aug Fort Inge, Uvalde Co, 8/28 ["Troy" ]
28 Aug newbie id please? [william ]
28 Aug Fwd: Damselfly and Dragonfly I.D. Verification [Lee Hoy ]
28 Aug Re: Damselfly and Dragonfly I.D. Verification [Greg Lasley ]
28 Aug unusual pose for Dythemis maya ["Tripp" ]
28 Aug Pecos and Crockett Counties on the Pecos River ["Terry Hibbitts" ]
28 Aug Dancer id please? [william ]
27 Aug Damselfly and Dragonfly I.D. Verification [Lee Hoy ]
27 Aug Odes @ estero Llano Grande []
27 Aug Valley Baptist Medical Center Dragonflies Bar-sided Darners (2) and female Slough Amberwing 8 26 2010 Harlingen Cameron Co TX [Terry Fuller ]
26 Aug Silver Falls Turns Up Another New Record for Crosby Co. ["Jerry" ]
25 Aug San Benito Cameron Co TX Bar-sided Darner Gynacantha mexicana 8 25 10 [Terry Fuller ]
24 Aug Crosby and Dickens Counties 8/22/10 [Steve Collins ]
24 Aug Buffalo Springs Lake reveals another new Lubbock Co. record! ["Jerry" ]
22 Aug Pale-green Darner Triacanthagyna septima San Benito Cameron Co TX Aug 22 2010 [Terry Fuller ]
22 Aug Amazon Darner Anax amazili San Benito Cameron Co TX 8 22 10 [Terry Fuller ]
22 Aug Claret Pondhawk female, Blue-faced Darner, Evening Skimmer San Benito Cameron Co Texas 82210 [Terry Fuller ]
21 Aug RE: Digest Number 1173 ["Terry Hibbitts" ]
21 Aug Comet Darner at Utopia Park ["Mitch" ]
20 Aug Estero Llano Grande Odes []
20 Aug Three-striped Dasher in my back yard. []
17 Aug Re: Just some observations and thoughts (LONG) ["Troy" ]
16 Aug Re: Just some observations and thoughts (LONG) ["Mitch" ]
15 Aug back from Minnesota, and near TX Odes from trip ["Troy" ]
14 Aug Estero Llano Grande, August 13, 2010 [Mike Rickard ]
12 Aug B. gravida mystery ["Jerry" ]
12 Aug Buffalo Springs Lake and Ransom Canyon (Lubbock Co.) ["Jerry" ]
12 Aug Cardinal Meadowhawk Madera Canyon Jeff Davis Co, 7 Ischnura Species at the Post ["Tripp" ]
12 Aug Mayan Setwing good numbers at Ojito ["Tripp" ]
11 Aug Straw-colored Sylph at Guadalupe River SP- Comal Co. 11 aug 10 []
11 Aug HIdalgo Pumphouse, August 10, 2010 [Mike Rickard ]
11 Aug Oops! ["Jerry" ]
11 Aug Clapp Park Playa 10 August 2010 ["Jerry" ]
10 Aug Metallic Pennant at Chihuahua Woods, Hidalgo Co. 8-10-10 []
10 Aug Brewster County, the Post and Ash Creek ["Tripp" ]
09 Aug 7 Ischnura species in Lubbock 8/9/10 [Steve Collins ]
9 Aug Re: Just some observations and thoughts about dragon populations, etc. [Chris Hill ]
09 Aug Seaside dragonlets and more at pecos river ["Tripp" ]
08 Aug Sylph Photos from Montell ["Tripp" ]
8 Aug Re: Mystery Ode @ estero Llano Grande [Joshua Stuart Rose ]
08 Aug Re: Just some observations and thoughts about dragon populations, etc. ["Tripp" ]
08 Aug 3 syplhs one location, Uvalde Co. ["Tripp" ]
7 Aug Re: Mystery Ode @ estero Llano Grande []
07 Aug Just some observations and thoughts about dragon populations, etc. ["GregL" ]
07 Aug Shadowdragons 0 at Neches River ["Tripp" ]
6 Aug Re: Mystery Ode @ estero Llano Grande [Joshua Stuart Rose ]
06 Aug Re: Mystery Ode @ estero Llano Grande [Ed Lam ]
6 Aug Mystery Ode @ estero Llano Grande []
06 Aug Slow day San Jacinto and Polk Counties, Help with Ischnura id! ["Tripp" ]
05 Aug Jasper and Tyler Counties August 4 2010 ["Tripp" ]
4 Aug Canon Road, Cameron co. 8-4-10 []
04 Aug San Antonio River (Bexar Co.) ["Jerry" ]
03 Aug Gonzales and Luling, 2 August 2010 ["GregL" ]
02 Aug Gonzales County July 31 ["Tripp" ]
31 Jul Back from Minnesota ["Terry Hibbitts" ]
31 Jul Trip Report, Goliad Co., 30 July 2010 ["GregL" ]
30 Jul Regal Darner new for Uvalde County ["Tripp" ]
28 Jul 3 sylph day Uvalde Co. ["Tripp" ]
26 Jul July 25 Uvalde County ["Tripp" ]
24 Jul Austin trip report, 23 July 2010 ["GregL" ]
25 Jul Uvalde Co. Uncooperative Evening Skimmer and lots of Mexican Wedgetails ["Tripp" ]
23 Jul Uvalde County-shadowdragons still flying ["Tripp" ]
24 Jul Texas to Colorado Odes 7/11-21/10 []
24 Jul Southeast Park, Hornsby Bend, and Walter E. Long Lake Park - Photos with Greg ["LeeH" ]
24 Jul Austin area field trip report, 23 July 2010 [Greg Lasley ]
23 Jul Sylph photos from today ["Troy" ]
22 Jul Tale of Jade and Ivory (Montell 7/22) ["Troy" ]
21 Jul Re: Mystery Odes at Yturria NWR [Joshua Stuart Rose ]
22 Jul Gonzales, Cuero, Runge (7/21) ["Troy" ]
21 Jul Southeast Texas Photots ["Tripp" ]
20 Jul Re: Mystery Odes at Yturria NWR []

Subject: Telebasis digiticollis San Benito Cameron Co Texas 8 30 2010
From: Terry Fuller <terrywfuller AT gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 2 Sep 2010 06:29:53 -0500
There is a small colony of the Telebasis digiticollis near my house in San
Benito.  I have worked with D Paulson, R Garrison, and JCAbbott on id.  The
similar looking T. levi is never absolutely excluded but microscopic pics of
the cerci are consistent with digiticollis.  Will post pics.  Basicly a
slightly larger Telebasis than the more common T. salva.  The thorax is not
marked with bright red.  The males have very bright red eyes.  Red on top
yellow below.  The abdomen is red.

Specimens have been obtained so additional are not needed.

This is a specied reported from Veracruz MX south so quite a range
extension.  Look for them in Hyacinth beds.  I suspect there are more in my
area and I have a couple of other places to look at.  Unfortunately will
have limited time.

Directions are difficult but it is basicly near my house.  If interested
call Marci Fuller 245 7192.

-- 
Terry W Fuller
Terrywfuller AT gmail.com
San Benito Texas


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Maverick County Dragonfly Survey
From: Antshrike1 AT aol.com
Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2010 21:50:53 EDT
 
The Rio Bravo Nature Center will sponsor a Dragonfly Survey of  Maverick 
County, September 25-26th.   

Scheduled events:
 
Saturday:
 
Promptly at 12 Noon
Meet on Hwy 277 at Rolly's Grocery
12 miles North of Eagle Pass, TX.
 
We will convoy to the Cunningham Ranch in Quemado Valley (800 acres:  
cuesta and climax chaparral habitat, 200' cliffs above Rio Grande, Big Canal 
and 

small brushy creek, sloughs and ponds surrounded by large trees). We will  
transfere to jeeps and pickups to be hauled around.
 
Evening:
 
7 p.m. 
Supper at the Charcoal Grill, then BYOB at
1345 Simpson Drive (Nature Center Director's home)
Swim Party
 
Sunday:
(Hour to be determined by consensus)
Breakfast/Rendezvous at the Skillet Cafe (in front of Quinta Inn)
Quick tour along Rio Grande inside Eagle Pass (Shelby Park)
then Convoy/Car Pool to Fournier Ranch at the North End of Quemado  Valley.
Canoes and Kayaks on Rio Grande IF it isn't flooding and roads are  dry.
(We'll modify and play by ear on whether the river is accessible.)
 
12 Noon
 
End planned Survey
Lunch at Country Corner Cafe, Quemado (optional)
 
 
Questions: Call 830-773-1836



Carol Cullar,  Executive Director 
Rio Bravo Nature Center Foundation, Inc.  
Offices: 1345 Simpson Drive 
Eagle Pass TX 78852 
28.5128 W, -100.5273 N
Maverick County
_www.riobravonaturecenter.org_ (http://www.riobravonaturecenter.org/)  
_riobravo.naturecenter AT yahoo.com_ (mailto:riobravo.naturecenter AT yahoo.com) 
 
posted by Dan Jones in Weslaco



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Claret Pondhawk at Frontera Audubon Thicket, 8-30-10
From: Antshrike1 AT aol.com
Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 18:22:45 EDT
It was hot and muggy this morning at Frontera Audubon Thicket in  Weslaco.  
I figured with everyone else in the Valley finding darners maybe  it would 
be my turn today.  I was looking for Bar-sided but couldn't find  any.  As I 
was cursing my luck, this cute little Turquoise-tipped Darner  hung up in 
front of me.
 
_http://i36.tinypic.com/flbpjq.jpg_ (http://i36.tinypic.com/flbpjq.jpg) 
 
_http://i36.tinypic.com/2nvq7er.jpg_ (http://i36.tinypic.com/2nvq7er.jpg) 
 
Then I finally found my first Amazon Darner.
 
_http://i34.tinypic.com/30thrfa.jpg_ (http://i34.tinypic.com/30thrfa.jpg) 
 
There were lots of Common Green Darners and I finally got a pic I  liked.
 
_http://i36.tinypic.com/vertc2.jpg_ (http://i36.tinypic.com/vertc2.jpg) 
 
Narrow or Broad-striped?  I'm leaning toward Narrow-striped.
 
_http://i34.tinypic.com/2ep5b4i.jpg_ (http://i34.tinypic.com/2ep5b4i.jpg) 
 
_http://i34.tinypic.com/20krjn8.jpg_ (http://i34.tinypic.com/20krjn8.jpg) 
 
And just as I was leaving I saw this Claret Pondhawk sitting in the shade  
near the entrance gate.
 
_http://i35.tinypic.com/8zqzhz.jpg_ (http://i35.tinypic.com/8zqzhz.jpg) 
 
Dan Jones in Welasco


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Estero Llano Grande SP, August 27, 2010
From: Mike Rickard <folksinger4 AT yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 14:55:50 -0700 (PDT)
The Friday afternoon butterfly walk at Estero degenerated into a dragonfly 
walk, 

a not unusual occurrence given the participants - leader John Yochum, and 
followers Mary Beth Stowe, Tom Pendleton, myself and Ginny.  Gone were the 
flooded trails near the Alligator ponds, so we got in some exercise hiking well 

beyond the butterfly gardens. While there was no shortage of odes to see, most 

were common everyday species, with a species count of 25 or so.  In the pond 
area we saw not a single Marl Pennant, regularly seen in previous weeks, but 
there were a number of Four-spotted and Tawny Pennants.  The most exciting and 
interesting odes were on the Green Jay trail, late in the afternoon.  These 
were: Blue-faced Darner, Bar-sided Darner (lifer for me), and Three-striped 
Dasher.  We saw a number of other "unknowns" in the deeply-shaded portions of 
the trail.  The complete list is below, as I recall it.  Since I'm a recent 
convert I surely overlook a few species. Thanks to Estero's John Yochum for his 

leadership.

Mike Rickard
Mission, TX
   
Blue-fronted Dancer – Argia apicalis    
Powdered Dancer – Argia moesta    
Familiar Bluet – Enallagma civile    
Rambur’s Forktail – Ischnura ramburii    
Common Green Darner – Anax junius    
Blue-faced Darner – Coryphaeschna adnexa 
Bar-sided Darner – Gynacantha mexicana    
Broad-striped Forceptail – Aphylla angustifolia  
Red-tailed Pennant – Brachymesia furcata    
Four-spotted Pennant – Brachymesia gravida    
Tawny Pennant – Brachymesia herbida    
Black Setwing – Dythemis nigrescens    
Pin-tailed Pondhawk – Erythemis plebeja    
Eastern Pondhawk – Erythemis simplicicollis 
Great Pondhawk – Erythemis vesiculosa    
Band-winged Dragonlet – Erythrodiplax umbrata    
Spot-tailed Dasher – Micrathyria aequalis    
Three-striped Dasher – Micrathyria didyma    
Thornbush Dasher – Micrathyria hagenii
Roseate Skimmer – Orthemis ferruginea    
Blue Dasher – Pachydiplax longipennis    
Wandering Glider – Pantala flavescens    
Spot-winged Glider – Pantala hymenaea    
Eastern Amberwing – Perithemis tenera    
Red Saddlebags – Tramea onusta
Subject: Tawny Pennant arrives...Uvalde County
From: "Tripp" <tripp.davenport AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 29 Aug 2010 20:59:56 -0000
Saw my first Tawny Pennant of the year today out at Cook's Slough in 
Uvalde...Good numbers of odes flying today, I did not stay out long because of 
the heat and humidity... 


Uvalde County 08/29/10
Anax junius,  Common Green Darner
Aphylla angustifolia, Broad-striped Forceptail
Argia apicalis, Blue-fronted Dancer
Argia sedula, Blue-ringed Dancer
Brachymesia furcata, Red-tailed Pennant
Brachymesia gravida, Four-spotted Pennant
Brachymesia herbida, Tawny Pennant
Dromogomphus spoliatus, Flag-tailed Spinyleg
Dythemis fugax, Checkered Setwing
Dythemis nigrescens, Black Setwing
Dythemis velox, Swift Setwing
Erythemis plebeja, Pin-tailed Pondhawk
Erythemis simplicicollis, Common Pondhawk
Gomphus militaris, Sulphur-tipped Clubtail
Ischnura posita, Fragile Forktail
Ischnura ramburii, Rambur's Forktail
Lestes australis, Southern Spreadwing
Libellula luctuosa, Widow Skimmer
Libellula pulchella, Twelve-spotted Skimmer
Macrothemis inacuta, Straw-colored Sylph
Miathyria marcella, Hyacinth Glider
Orthemis ferruginea, Roseate Skimmer
Pachydiplax longipennis, Blue Dasher
Pantala flavescens, Wandering Glider
Pantala hymenaea, Spot-winged Glider
Perithemis domitia, Slough Amberwing
Perithemis tenera, Eastern Amberwing
Plathemis lydia, Common Whitetail
Telebasis salva, Desert Firetail
Tramea lacerata, Black Saddlebags
Tramea onusta, Red Saddlebags
Subject: Fort Inge, Uvalde Co, 8/28
From: "Troy" <alterna2627 AT swtexas.net>
Date: Sun, 29 Aug 2010 14:19:42 -0000
Dad & I headed down to Uvalde yesterday to search Ft. Inge . . . before we 
headed out, I noticed a Striped Saddlebags (Tramea calverti) gliding about 
amongst the Wandering & Spot-winged Gliders in our backyard here in Edwards Co. 
This is a new county record. I netted it for in hand photos and will go ahead 
and collect the specimen. 


Anyway, we searched Ft. Inge from 10:40-1:15 or so. Ode numbers were relatively 
low compared to similar time frames last year. Whatever they did to remove the 
hyacinth seems to have affected the odes here. Despite this, we had a decent 
list: 


Blue-fronted Dancer (Argia apicalis) lots
Kiowa Dancer (Argia immunda) lots
Golden-winged Dancer (Argia rhoadsi) 1
Blue-ringed Dancer (Argia sedula) lots
Dusky Dancer (Argia translata) 1
Double-striped Bluet (Enallagma basidens) 10+
Rambur's Forktail (Ischnura ramburi) 1
Common Green Darner (Anax junius) 10+
Broad-striped Forceptail (Aphylla angustifolia) 4-5
Flag-tailed Spinyleg (Dromogomphus spoliatus) 4-5
Eastern Ringtail (Erpetogomphus designatus) 4-5
Five-striped Leaftail (Phyllogomphoides albrighti) 2-3
Pale-faced Clubskimmer (Brechmorhoga mendax) 1
Checkered Setwing (Dythemis fugax) 2
Black Setwing (Dythemis nigrescens) lots
Swift Setwing (Dythemis velox) lots
Pin-tailed Pondhawk (Erythemis plebeja) 1
Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis) lots
Comanche Skimmer (Libellula comanche) 4-5
Widow Skimmer (Libellula luctuosa) 1
Twelve-spotted Skimmer (Libellula pulchella) 4-5
Carmine Skimmer (Orthemis discolor) 4-5
Roseate Skimmer (Orthemis ferruginea) 10+
Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) lots
Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens) lots
Spot-winged Glider (Pantala hymenea) lots
Eastern Amberwing (Perithemis tenera) 4-5
Common Whitetail (Plathemis lydia) 10+
Black Saddlebags (Tramea lacerata) 4-5
Red Saddlebags (Tramea onusta) lots

Troy Hibbitts
Camp Wood, TX
Subject: newbie id please?
From: william <odes AT wa.net>
Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2010 23:20:14 -0500
Can anyone tell me whether this is a Blue-fronted Dancer or Powdered  
Dancer? What should i be looking at to decide between the two? Many  
thanks!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/53422610 AT N02/4936299461/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/53422610 AT N02/4936300313/

-william
  enid garfield co ok
  william AT wa.net

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Fwd: Damselfly and Dragonfly I.D. Verification
From: Lee Hoy <leehoy AT me.com>
Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2010 20:41:46 -0500
Well, consensus is a female Dusky Dancer and not Sooty Dancer. On range maps 
there is a small circle somewhere in central Texas. Where is the general 
location that the Sooty Dancer is found in central Texas? 


Here are a couple more I.D. challenges for those who are interested from today 
at Chalk Ridge Falls Park in Bell County near Stillhouse Hollow Reservoir. 


Damselfly #1 = http://www.flickr.com/photos/leehoy/4936505916/ 

Damselfly #2 = http://www.flickr.com/photos/leehoy/4935912925/in/photostream/ 

Dragonfly #1 = http://www.flickr.com/photos/leehoy/4936552172/ This was the 
only photo I was able to snag before it flew and could not be relocated. 


Thanks again, I am learning a lot from you guys. I have been using Paulson's 
and Abbott's books but was stumped on these. 


Lee Hoy
Georgetown, TX

>> Today I went a few miles from home to photograph on the Lake Georgetown Hike 
& Bike Trail in Williamson County. 

>> 
>> I have tentatively I.D.'ed this damselfly as a female Sooty Dancer (Argia 
lugens) but would like some 
feedback:http://www.flickr.com/photos/leehoy/4933961330/ 

>> 
>> In addition, I believe that this dragonfly as a female Great Blue Skimmer 
(Libellula vibrans) 
:http://www.flickr.com/photos/leehoy/4933973416/in/set-72157624443808759/ and 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/leehoy/4933975636/in/set-72157624443808759/ . 

>> 
>> Thanks for any assistance. Obviously, if you see any other mis-I.D.'s I 
would love to know. 

>> 
>> Lee Hoy
>> Georgetown, TX
>> 
>> 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Re: Damselfly and Dragonfly I.D. Verification
From: Greg Lasley <glasley AT earthlink.net>
Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2010 15:26:08 -0600
Lee, your Sooty Dancer appears to be a female Dusky Cancer (Argia translata). 
The female Great Blue Skimmer looks correct. 

Best,
Greg Lasley
Austin.
Just getting
back fromt he Galapagos where there are very few dragons!
On Aug 27, 2010, at 10:46 PM, Lee Hoy wrote:

> Today I went a few miles from home to photograph on the Lake Georgetown Hike 
& Bike Trail in Williamson County. 

> 
> I have tentatively I.D.'ed this damselfly as a female Sooty Dancer (Argia 
lugens) but would like some 
feedback:http://www.flickr.com/photos/leehoy/4933961330/ 

> 
> In addition, I believe that this dragonfly as a female Great Blue Skimmer 
(Libellula vibrans) 
:http://www.flickr.com/photos/leehoy/4933973416/in/set-72157624443808759/ and 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/leehoy/4933975636/in/set-72157624443808759/ . 

> 
> Thanks for any assistance. Obviously, if you see any other mis-I.D.'s I would 
love to know. 

> 
> Lee Hoy
> Georgetown, TX
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> 
> 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



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Subject: unusual pose for Dythemis maya
From: "Tripp" <tripp.davenport AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2010 14:42:05 -0000
I am just getting my west texas trip photos posted on flickr... I think the 
fellow odonistas might enjoy this photo of a mayan setwing 


http://www.flickr.com/photos/tdavenport/4933420619/
Subject: Pecos and Crockett Counties on the Pecos River
From: "Terry Hibbitts" <thibb AT swtexas.net>
Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2010 09:14:49 -0500
I went to Iraan to see if I could get Seaside Dragonlet.  The water had been
high so it was difficult moving around along the river.  I didn't get very
much diversity, but got my target animal.

 

August 27, 2010   10:00 am to 12:00 noon

TX: Pecos and Crockett Counties, US 190 east of Iraan and TX 349 north of
Iraan on the Pecos River.

 

Argia immunda (Kiowa Dancer)- 4

Argia moesta (Powdered Dancer)-10

Argia sedula (Blue-ringed Dancer)-many

Enallagma civile (Familiar Bluet)-many

Ischnura ramburii (Rambur's Forktail)-2

Anax junius (Common Green Darner)-many

Dromogomphus spoliatus (Flag-tailed Clubtail)-1

Phyllogomphoides stigmatus (Four-striped Leaftail)-1

Brachymesia gravida (Four-spotted Pennant)-many

Drythemis fugax (Checkered Setwing)-1

Erythemis simplicicollis (Eastern Pondhawk)-2

Erythrodiplax berenice (Seaside Dragonlet)-5

Libellula luctuosa (Widow Skimmer)-8

Libellula pulchella (Twelve-spotted Skimmer)-many

Macrodiplax balteata (Marl Pennant)-5

Plathemis lydia (Common Whitetail)-many

Sympetrum corruptum (Variegated Meadowhawk)-3

Pantala flavescens (Wandering Glider)-many

Pantala hymenaea (Spot-winged Glider)-many

Tramea lacerate (Black Saddlebags)-many

Tramea onusta (Red Saddlebags)-10

 

Terry Hibbitts

Camp Wood, TX

www.thehibbitts.net

 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Dancer id please?
From: william <odes AT wa.net>
Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2010 05:23:30 -0500
G'morning everyone! I am William, a new member of the group, and also  
new to odonata. In fact, i am having trouble with my very first id,  
and am hoping for a little help. For some reason i was unable to get  
pics uploaded to the group, but they are posted on Facebook (you  
don't have to join to look at the pics). Would be very grateful if a  
few folks might have a look at these 2 pics and tell me is it a Blue- 
fronted Dancer or Powdered Dancer? And most importantly, what are the  
diagnostic features? Thanks a million, and have a great day!!

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php? 
pid=30802512&l=c822a2c3ec&id=1391239062
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php? 
pid=30802790&l=980a710ac7&id=1391239062

-william
  enid garfield co ok
  odes AT wa.net

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Damselfly and Dragonfly I.D. Verification
From: Lee Hoy <leehoy AT me.com>
Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2010 23:46:53 -0500
Today I went a few miles from home to photograph on the Lake Georgetown Hike & 
Bike Trail in Williamson County. 


I have tentatively I.D.'ed this damselfly as a female Sooty Dancer (Argia 
lugens) but would like some 
feedback:http://www.flickr.com/photos/leehoy/4933961330/ 


In addition, I believe that this dragonfly as a female Great Blue Skimmer 
(Libellula vibrans) 
:http://www.flickr.com/photos/leehoy/4933973416/in/set-72157624443808759/ and 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/leehoy/4933975636/in/set-72157624443808759/ . 


Thanks for any assistance. Obviously, if you see any other mis-I.D.'s I would 
love to know. 


Lee Hoy
Georgetown, TX


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Odes @ estero Llano Grande
From: MiriamEagl AT aol.com
Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2010 20:52:50 EDT
Hi, all!
 
Had a hot but fun day at Estero Llano with Ranger John leading our usual  
group around the place; I think Mike is gonna post the entire list (I always  
miss something) but highlights for me included a "real" Wandering Glider  
perching, and a Dusky Dancer that was very cooperative!  We were  entertained 
by a Tawny Pennant trying to drive a Four-spotted off his perch as  well.  
We also wandered into the Tropical Zone where the highlight was a  Mazans 
Scallopwing.  Before heading over to Estero I stopped at Frontera  Audubon 
Thicket and ran into Mike and Ginny (as well as John Thatcher) where we  all 
enjoyed a Malachite.
 
Pics are posted here:
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/Friday_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/Friday) 
 
Enjoy!  MB
 
Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Valley Baptist Medical Center Dragonflies Bar-sided Darners (2) and female Slough Amberwing 8 26 2010 Harlingen Cameron Co TX
From: Terry Fuller <terrywfuller AT gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:47:59 -0500
Slough Amberwing : Perithemis domitia

Was surprised to see the female of this Amberwing on the ceiling in the side
hallway.

Bar-sided Darner : Gynacantha mexicana

In the interior garden were two very fresh Bar-sided Darners.  This is the
fifteenth record for this darner in the hospital or it's interior garden
areas.  I have only two other species ie the Common Green Darner, and the
new Slough Amberwing in these interior hospital spaces.

The Slough Amberwing and the Bar-sided Darner both like shady areas or
interior spaces so not surprising they would make their way into a building
or an interior garden space.

This interior garden space had a nesting Hooded Oriole this winter, and
previously had had a Blomfield's Beauty butterfly.

Never know what will show.

-- 
Terry W Fuller
Terrywfuller AT gmail.com
San Benito Texas


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Silver Falls Turns Up Another New Record for Crosby Co.
From: "Jerry" <dragonflywatcher1029 AT yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2010 04:32:20 -0000
Hello All,

Just as Steve Collins has been picking up new records for Dickens Co. at 
Dickens Springs just west of there in Crosby Co. I picked up a new one at 
Silver Falls with Libellula vibrans. Both male and female were observed in 
copula momentarily but I was unable to photograph them as the separated most 
abruptly while I was getting into position to take their pic. So....since the 
female stayed around a while longer, I was able to get pics of her and verify 
that she was indeed L. vibrans. 


Jerry K. Hatfield
Subject: San Benito Cameron Co TX Bar-sided Darner Gynacantha mexicana 8 25 10
From: Terry Fuller <terrywfuller AT gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2010 08:41:47 -0500
Finally the Bar-sided Darners are showing up.  Very low flying.  Hung up
about 6 inches off the ground.  Typically chest high.  I have been on this
guy earlier but would not stop.

-- 
Terry W Fuller
Terrywfuller AT gmail.com
San Benito Texas


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Crosby and Dickens Counties 8/22/10
From: Steve Collins <dcollins AT ufl.edu>
Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2010 18:58:56 -0500
  On Sunday I visited Silver Falls in Crosby County and Dickens Spring 
in Dickens County and had a fairy good day.  Flowing water is almost a 
novelty in this region, and it always feels good to stand in cool spring 
water.  The highlight was finding a Paiute Dancer at each location.  I 
also documented several other county records, though new county records 
aren't quite as exciting when the county lists are slim. ; )  Photos 
were uploaded to OC, but there are more at this link, including a photo 
of a Comanche Skimmer nymph:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/odephoto/sets/72157624794475174/

There's also a shot of a Western Diamondback Rattlesnake I encountered 
at Dickens Spring.  That's always a little disconcerting when you're 
walking through waist-high veg.

* = documented county record

--Silver Falls (Crosby County)
Archilestes grandis (Great Spreadwing) 2
Argia alberta (Paiute Dancer) 1
Argia apicalis (Blue-fronted Dancer) 1
Argia fumipennis (Variable Dancer) 2
Argia immunda (Kiowa Dancer) 3
Argia plana (Springwater Dancer) 25
Argia sedula (Blue-ringed Dancer) 5
Enallagma basidens (Double-striped Bluet) 8
Enallagma civile (Familiar Bluet) 2
* Ischnura verticallis (Eastern Forktail) 4
Ischnura denticollis (Black-fronted Forktail) 4
Ischnura posita (Fragile Forktail) 2
Telebasis salva (Desert Firetail) 4
* Dythemis velox (Swift Setwing) 4
Erythemis simplicicollis (Common Pondhawk) 1
Libellula comanche (Comanche Skimmer) 8
Libellula luctuosa (Widow Skimmer) 1
Libellula pulchella (Twelve-spotted Skimmer) 1
* Orthemis ferruginea (Roseate Skimmer) 1
Pachydiplax longipennis (Blue Dasher) 3
Pantala flavescens (Wandering Glider) 1
Perithemis tenera (Eastern Amberwing) 6
Plathemis lydia (Common Whitetail) 4
Sympetrum corruptum (Variegated Meadowhawk) 1
* Tramea onusta (Red Saddlebags) - documented at Crosbyton City Park

--Dickens Spring (Dickens County)
Hetaerina americana (American Rubyspot) 4
* Lestes australis (Southern Spreadwing) 3
Archilestes grandis (Great Spreadwing) 18
* Argia alberta (Paiute Dancer) 1
* Argia immunda (Kiowa Dancer) 2
* Argia nahuana (Aztec Dancer) 3
Argia plana (Springwater Dancer) 22
* Telebasis salva (Desert Firetail) 3
* Anax junius (Common Green Darner) 2
Libellula comanche (Comanche Skimmer) 8
Libellula croceipennis (Neon Skimmer) 4
Pachydiplax longipennis (Blue Dasher) 3
Pantala hymenaea (Spot-winged Glider) 1
Plathemis lydia (Common Whitetail) 2
Sympetrum corruptum (Variegated Meadowhawk) 1
* Tramea lacerata (Black Saddlebags) 1

Cheers,
Steve Collins
Lubbock, TX
Subject: Buffalo Springs Lake reveals another new Lubbock Co. record!
From: "Jerry" <dragonflywatcher1029 AT yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2010 18:33:05 -0000
Hello All,

This morning while sun was still visible, I headed out to BSL ahead of the cold 
front coming our way. I saw some of the more common species such as: 


Argia sedula
Argia moesta
Argia apicalis
Libellula luctuosa
Orthemis ferruginea
Anax junius
Rhionaeschna multicolor
Pantala flavescens
P. hymenaea
Sympetrum corruptum

In addition, the first Sympetrum vicinum is now on the wing. And a most 
unexpected find was the presence of a male Enallagma signatum; a single male 
perched low on twig a few inches or so from north side of the river bank not 
too far from where I got the new Texas state record of Sympetrum pallipes last 
year in first of September. I will post photos on my flickr site and 
OdonataCentral for anyone interested to view them. 


Jerry K. Hatfield
Lubbock, Tx
Subject: Pale-green Darner Triacanthagyna septima San Benito Cameron Co TX Aug 22 2010
From: Terry Fuller <terrywfuller AT gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 17:39:03 -0500
Another nice rarity dragonfly for the yard day.  Pale-green Darner
Triacanthagyna septima.

Fifth yard record:  Oct 22 2004, Aug 16-22 2007, Sept 7 2008, Nov 3 2008,
Aug 22 2010.

Dragons for the day (so far) included:

Claret Pondhawk female, Evening Skimmer, Amazon Darner, Three-striped
Dasher, Pale-green Darner, Blue-faced Darner.

Must be more.

Got ten dragonflies on one stick (a long switch I put along the edge of the
garden).  Got four species perched on one long stick.  This is a really hot
dragonfly time of the year.

-- 
Terry W Fuller
Terrywfuller AT gmail.com
San Benito Texas


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Amazon Darner Anax amazili San Benito Cameron Co TX 8 22 10
From: Terry Fuller <terrywfuller AT gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 12:12:42 -0500
Yard is hopping today.  Not likely to be able to leave any time soon.

Amazon Darner Anax amazili

-- 
Terry W Fuller
Terrywfuller AT gmail.com
San Benito Texas


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Claret Pondhawk female, Blue-faced Darner, Evening Skimmer San Benito Cameron Co Texas 82210
From: Terry Fuller <terrywfuller AT gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 11:10:23 -0500
Nice showing of specialties mixed in with hordes of gliders and skimmers,
few damselflies.

Tholymis citrina Evening Skimmer yard record number eleven

Claret Pondhawk Erythemis mithroides female yard record number three (second
female)

Blue-faced Darner Coryphaeschna adnexa common yard darner, many individuals
daily.

-- 
Terry W Fuller
Terrywfuller AT gmail.com
San Benito Texas


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: RE: Digest Number 1173
From: "Terry Hibbitts" <thibb AT swtexas.net>
Date: Sat, 21 Aug 2010 21:36:47 -0500
If anyone is interested, I have uploaded some of my recent photos from my
Minnesota trip to my new flickr account
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/terry47/) and my website.  Only odes new to me
were added.  I am still editing from that trip.

When I get to a place where I can open Odonata Central, I will also add some
new county records.

 

I haven't done much in Texas lately,  but there are large numbers of
Wandering gliders and Spot-winged gliders flying in my area.

 

Terry Hibbitts

Camp Wood, TX

www.thehibbitts.net

 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Comet Darner at Utopia Park
From: "Mitch" <mitch AT utopianature.com>
Date: Sat, 21 Aug 2010 13:23:22 -0500
Hi all,

Shortly before noon this a.m. Sat. Aug. 21 
there was a nice male Comet Darner Anax longipes
at Utopia Park.  No pix, but great looks through
my bins as close as 10'.

This is the first I've seen the species in the county
since a teneral in '07 that was surely from the '05
invasion.

You guys out west county keep an eye out.  ;)

Mitch

Mitch Heindel
Utopia, Texas
www.utopianatue.com


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Estero Llano Grande Odes
From: MiriamEagl AT aol.com
Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 21:23:08 EDT
Hi, all!
 
Once again, the butterfly walk turned into an ode walk :-) and we  
(consisting of myself, Mike Rickard, Ginny Musgrave, Tom Pendelton, and Ranger 

Jose) saw some nice bugs; a couple I think we settled on a female Four-spotted 

Pennant, but I have to confess that I'm not sure I'd be able to tell them 
from a  Tawny Pennant, which we were also looking for.  Comments are welcome, 
as I  was able to get several shots of two different bugs (had several male 
FSPEs as  well).  Other odes included the expected stuff:  Common Green 
Darner, Eastern Pondhawk, Blue Dasher, Roseate Skimmer, Wandering Glider, Marl 

Pennant,  Needham's Skimmer, Eastern Amberwing, Red-tailed Pennant, 
Spot-tailed Dasher,  Pin-tailed Pondhawk, Black and Red Saddlebags, and a blue 
damsel that got  away...  The others may have seen things I missed...
 
Pics are posted here (along with a few critters at my apartment):
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/Friday_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/Friday) 
 
Enjoy!  MB  

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Three-striped Dasher in my back yard.
From: Antshrike1 AT aol.com
Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 15:06:08 EDT
While eating breakfast I looked out the window and saw this dainty  
dragonfly perched on an amaryllis. Turns out to be a Three-striped Dasher. He's 

still out there sitting in the shade.
 
_http://i38.tinypic.com/w8nb7m.jpg_ (http://i38.tinypic.com/w8nb7m.jpg) 
 
_http://i34.tinypic.com/2vcz76u.jpg_ (http://i34.tinypic.com/2vcz76u.jpg) 
 
_http://i34.tinypic.com/2lwdbt.jpg_ (http://i34.tinypic.com/2lwdbt.jpg) 
 
Dan Jones in Weslaco


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Re: Just some observations and thoughts (LONG)
From: "Troy" <alterna2627 AT swtexas.net>
Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2010 11:34:09 -0000

--- In TexOdes AT yahoogroups.com, "Mitch"  wrote:
>
> Hi all,
> 
> >>Tripp Davenport wrote:
> >>Spot-tailed dasher and tawny pennant are noticeably 
> >>absent from the county this year. 
> 
> Don't worry Tripp, give it a few years and they might 
> not seem so noticeably absent.   :)
> 
> Spot-tailed Dasher as far as I understand was new to the 
> county last year, when I found the individual at Cook's 
> Slough which Ken Cave and I photo'd, and Ken posted his 
> great pic at O.C.. I thought that was the one you saw 
> later in Sept.?  Were there others?

IIRC, Tripp had it several times last year. FWIW, Dad got one this year in SE 
Edwards County on Miller Creek. To me, this sighting makes their apparent 
absence in Uvalde Co seem a bit more ODD, not LESS so . . . but then again, who 
knows with vagrants. 


> 
> Tawny Pennant likewise I thought was new to the county last year?
> It was another species I'd been looking for, and like the workers
> that had the 77 sps. on the UvCo list as of 2003, and to Overton's 
> list, it was not recorded here.  So while they were "coots" to you 
> since they were present in numbers your first full season when you 
> started, others had been looking for them for 5 prior seasons and 
> more without finding any.   :)   Again, normally absent is what I'd 
> describe them as, if asked.  

What strikes me as odd here is not the absence of Tawny Pennants but the 
overall low numbers of Pennants in general. In 2008 and 2009, I regularly had 
100s of Red-tailed Pennants and 100s of four-spotted Pennants at Cooks. This 
year, I'm doing good to see 5-6 RTs and 20 or so 4 spots. Last year was an 
irruptive year for Tawny's all across west Texas, too, and I'm not seeing 
reports for them out west either. 



> >>Tripp wrote: Last year the hyacinth glider were in that area in 
> >>astounding numbers.
> 
> It would help me understand better if terms like "astounding
> numbers" (Hyacinth Glider) had some sort of number attached to 
> them.  Tens? Hundreds? Thousands?  What was your biggest daily
> count, and biggest swarm, at Ft. Inge?  It would likely add 
> tremendous long term value to your posts as well?   :)

I regularly saw 100s of Hyacinth Gliders at Ft Inge, and 10 or more at 
Cooks/Tom Nunn (each). This year the Hyacinth Glider numbers seem to be running 
in the singletons at whatever location I search. 



> Same with Thornbush Dasher, "daily bug" in what numbers?
> Single, double, or triple digits per site, and per day?
> Again I think it would add GREAT value to your posts to have
> some sort of indicator of numbers, besides metaphors.   :)
> 
> For instance for Thornbush Dasher I've never had a double digit 
> figure at a SINGLE site/visit, and maybe not even reached that in 
> a day at 3 sites around Uvalde.  1 here, 3 there, 4 over there 
> has been it, the best years, and, 2 of the 6 years I've looked,
> they did NOT occur at all.  

I didn't get any of these in 2008 in Uvalde Co, but had them regularly last 
year. High daily numbers were in September and October at Fort Inge while I was 
looking for Blue-faced Darners - most of those days I'd have anywhere from 5-6 
upwards to 10 or more. 


Troy Hibbitts
Camp Wood, TX
Subject: Re: Just some observations and thoughts (LONG)
From: "Mitch" <mitch AT utopianature.com>
Date: Mon, 16 Aug 2010 10:13:02 -0500
Hi all,

>>Tripp Davenport wrote:
>>Spot-tailed dasher and tawny pennant are noticeably 
>>absent from the county this year. 

Don't worry Tripp, give it a few years and they might 
not seem so noticeably absent.   :)

Spot-tailed Dasher as far as I understand was new to the 
county last year, when I found the individual at Cook's 
Slough which Ken Cave and I photo'd, and Ken posted his 
great pic at O.C.. I thought that was the one you saw 
later in Sept.?  Were there others?

Unless I missed some reports, it has only occurred once, 
so I would characterize it as an accidental vagrant so far 
as we know.  I think it is not something we should expect 
annually based on present knowledge and normally absent 
would be my term of choice for the last 6 years.  

Neither all the work that got the UvCo list to 77 sps by 
2003, or the 6 years others and myself looked since that, 
turned any up until last year's single, and I had been 
specifically looking for it.  This one Spot-tailed Dasher 
record was late late August (29) to early or mid-September.  
So to me, the window of occurrence so far as present knowledge 
indicates, has not even opened up yet.

Tawny Pennant likewise I thought was new to the county last year?
It was another species I'd been looking for, and like the workers
that had the 77 sps. on the UvCo list as of 2003, and to Overton's 
list, it was not recorded here.  So while they were "coots" to you 
since they were present in numbers your first full season when you 
started, others had been looking for them for 5 prior seasons and 
more without finding any.   :)   Again, normally absent is what I'd 
describe them as, if asked.  

When you started we were in an exceptional drought, and with it 
came many exceptional ode records, surprisingly to me.  It was by 
far, the most different of the 6 seasons I've looked hereabouts, 
checking Ft. Inge, the fish hatchery, and Cook's Slough a couple 
dozen times a year, each, besides keeping a constant eye on 
things here in the Sabinal watershed in the NE part of county.   

>>Tripp wrote: Last year the hyacinth glider were in that area in 
>>astounding numbers.

It would help me understand better if terms like "astounding
numbers" (Hyacinth Glider) had some sort of number attached to 
them.  Tens? Hundreds? Thousands?  What was your biggest daily
count, and biggest swarm, at Ft. Inge?  It would likely add 
tremendous long term value to your posts as well?   :)

Same with Thornbush Dasher, "daily bug" in what numbers?
Single, double, or triple digits per site, and per day?
Again I think it would add GREAT value to your posts to have
some sort of indicator of numbers, besides metaphors.   :)

For instance for Thornbush Dasher I've never had a double digit 
figure at a SINGLE site/visit, and maybe not even reached that in 
a day at 3 sites around Uvalde.  1 here, 3 there, 4 over there 
has been it, the best years, and, 2 of the 6 years I've looked,
they did NOT occur at all.  

Due to the tremendous variations in populations, I wouldn't put a 
whole lot of expectation on one year, based on one prior year,
particularly when in the heat of boom and bust hydrologic cycles.

Thanks!  Keep up the great work!

P.S. I netted Ivory-striped Sylph at Ft. Inge Sat. Aug 14 for 
in hand photos of an immature male.  Have you been getting
them there yet this year?  Audubon's Oriole, Least Flycatcher,
and Louisiana Waterthrush were there as well.  

best regards,
Mitch

Mitch Heindel
Utopia, Texas
www.utopianature.com





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: back from Minnesota, and near TX Odes from trip
From: "Troy" <alterna2627 AT swtexas.net>
Date: Sun, 15 Aug 2010 02:33:28 -0000
Howdy all,

Just got in today from our 2 week trip to Minnesota. I exceeded my target of 30 
"lifers" by 1 species, did well on Somatachlora Emeralds (6 species, all new), 
Darners (8 Darners, 5 new), and Clubtails (13 species, 6 new). Since the vast 
bulk of my trip report is of areas outside this list's region, I'll leave most 
of it off this list (a long report will go up on Great Lakes Odes, as well as 
possibly my website), but I thought I'd go ahead and post the three days worth 
of Odes that were just outside of our region, as we spent a few hours on 3 days 
searching for Odes just over the Kansas line in Cowley County at Cowley State 
Fishing Lake, a location that is less than 5 miles from the Oklahoma line. 


We first stopped at Cowley State Lake late (11:30 pm) on July 31. I got up in 
the morning around 7 am on August 1 and quickly noticed a Gilded River Cruiser 
coursing about the hilltop where we camped (I don't count this as a "lifer" 
because I got no photos). So I got out the net and went after it, to no avail. 
But what I found next beat the Cruiser - first I noticed an dark Emerald fly 
by, then I found one perched! So the very first Ode I photographed on this trip 
was an Ozark Emerald, way out on the Kansas prairie! I got decent (if a bit 
backlit) photos before it flew away, not to be refound. Then I got another nice 
Ode - a female Orange Shadowdragon. Nice way to start the trip! My list for 
Cowley State Lake for August 1 included: 


Powdered Dancer (Argia moesta) lots
Double-striped Bluet (Enallagma basidens) 4-5
Flag-tailed Spinyleg (Dromogomphus spoliatus) 4-5
Sulphur-tipped Clubtail (Gomphus militaris) 1 - photos
Gilded River Cruiser (Macromia pacifica) 2
OZARK EMERALD (Somatacholora ozarkensis) 2 - photos
Prince Baskettail (Epitheca princeps) lots - photos - specimen
Orange Shadowdragon (Neurocordulia xanthosoma) 1 - photos
Halloween Pennant (Celithemis eponina) lots - photos
Checkered Setwing (Dythemis fugax) 1 - photos
Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicollis) 10+ 
Widow Skimmer (Libellula luctuosa) lots - photos
Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens) lots
Spot-winged Glider (Pantala hymenea) lots
Black Saddlebags (Tramea lacerata) 10+

Since I had the Ozark Emerald at Cowley State Lake on my way up, + the River 
Cruiser sightings, I decided to stop there again on the way back home. So on 
August 12, we arrived there at around 7:30 pm to set up camp. Had on cruiser 
fly-by that I couldn't get a net on, and then around 8:15 pm, I noticed an 
Emerald flying nearby to camp, so I went and netted it. Pulling it out of the 
net, I was surprised to NOT see any thoracic stripes - instead of an Ozark 
Emerald like I was expecting, it was a MOCHA EMERALD, another lifer for me, and 
at least judging from the range maps in in Paulson's field guide, a pretty 
significant range extension (I photographed it the next morning, and went ahead 
and collected the specimen). My list for the evening included: 


Powdered Dancer (Argia moesta) lots
Common Green Darner (Anax junius) lots
Gilded River Cruiser (Macromia pacifica) 1
MOCHA EMERALD (Somatacholora linearis) 1 - photos - specimen
Prince Baskettail (Epitheca princeps) lots 
Halloween Pennant (Celithemis eponina) 10+
Widow Skimmer (Libellula luctuosa) lots
Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens) lots
Spot-winged Glider (Pantala hymenea) lots
Eastern Amberwing (Perithemis tenera) 1
Black Saddlebags (Tramea lacerata) lots - photo

Got up the next morning to continue the search, but saw no more Emeralds and my 
ability to chase Macromia was abruptly limited when I walked past a nearby 
campsite and the next thing I know there's an Australian Shepherd biting on the 
back of my left knee! The owner doctored me up with his extensive first aid kit 
(former military medic I think) and showed me the dog's rabies vaccination tag. 
I'm fine, but was unable to run after and "cut off" flying River Cruisers (of 
which I saw 2 more that morning). My list for the morning of August FRIDAY THE 
13th included: 


Powdered Dancer (Argia moesta) lots
Common Green Darner (Anax junius) lots - photos
Flag-tailed Spinyleg (Dromogomphus spoliatus) 10+ - photos
Sulphur-tipped Clubtail (Gomphus militaris) 2 - photos
Gilded River Cruiser (Macromia pacifica) 2
Prince Baskettail (Epitheca princeps) lots 
Halloween Pennant (Celithemis eponina) lots
Checkered Setwing (Dythemis fugax) 2 - photos
Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicollis) 10+ 
Widow Skimmer (Libellula luctuosa) lots 
Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens) lots
Spot-winged Glider (Pantala hymenea) lots
Common Whitetail (Plathemis lydia) 10+ - photos
Black Saddlebags (Tramea lacerata) 10+

Late Friday afternoon, stopped at a friend's house in NW Fort Worth to spend 
night. Had 3 species of Libellula in her backyard (a stark contrast to 
Minnesota's north shore, were I rarely saw more than 1 Libellula at a spot and 
usually no more than 3 or 4 individuals per day): 


Comanche Skimmers (Libellula comanche) 2
Widow Skimmers (Libellula luctuosa) 3
Twelve-spotted Skimmer (Libellula pulchella) 1
Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens) 4-5
Spot-winged Glider (Pantala hymenea) 4-5
Common Whitetail (Plathemis lydia) 1
Black Saddlebags (Tramea lacerata) 4-5

Anyway, I'm home now . . . will quickly edit and post photos of the "lifers" to 
my website (http://thehibbitts.net/troy/photo/odonata.htm) in the next couple 
of days, starting with the Somatachlora species tomorrow. 


Troy Hibbitts
Camp Wood, TX
Subject: Estero Llano Grande, August 13, 2010
From: Mike Rickard <folksinger4 AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 14 Aug 2010 19:31:01 -0700 (PDT)
Ginny and I joined Interpreter John Yochum for a Friday 13th butterfly walk at 
Estero Llano Grande SP, on which we spent most of our time looking at Odes. The 

main attraction was an Amazon Darner, which hung up for a long time along the 
sidewalk for a nice photo shoot.
Also of interest was the large number of Spot-winged Gliders hanging along the 
wooded trails.  Everything else was fairly ordinary, with most of the activity 
out at the Dowitcher Pond and maintenance road canal.  I've listed all I 
remember below, plus a link to the Amazon Darner photo. Thanks, John, for a hot 

but enjoyable afternoon!
Mike Rickard
Mission, TX

Amazon Darner:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=469482&l=9ba212ca4d&id=1785281533

Smoky Rubyspot
Blue-fronted Dancer
Blue-ringed Dancer
Familiar Bluet
Rambur's Forktail
Amazon Darner
Common Green Darner
Broad-striped Forceptail
Red-tailed Pennant
Four-spotted Pennant
Black Setwing
Eastern Pondhawk
Great Pondhawk
Band-winged Dragonlet
Marl Pennant
Spot-tailed Dasher
Blue Dasher
Roseate Skimmer
Wandering Glider
Spot-winged Glider
Eastern Amberwing
Black Saddlebags
Red Saddlebags
Subject: B. gravida mystery
From: "Jerry" <dragonflywatcher1029 AT yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2010 15:10:50 -0000
Hello All,

Anyone have any thoughts on B. gravida's extreme wariness? I have noticed that 
when I have visited two other areas (Bitter Lakes NWR in Roswell, NM and 
Hornsby Bend near Austin, Tx, where numerous conglomerations of B. gravida have 
been present that they are much more approachable for photo-ops, but here in 
Lubbock, where I've only seen 4 or 5 over a 6 year period, my attempts have 
been thrarted for photo-ops either due to the species zipping off at my 
approach or their being just out of range of my camera to get good pics. Anyone 
know why this might be? I wonder if there is a mentality among them: "there's 
safety in numbers?!?!?" 


Jerry K. Hatfield,
Lubbock, Tx
Subject: Buffalo Springs Lake and Ransom Canyon (Lubbock Co.)
From: "Jerry" <dragonflywatcher1029 AT yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2010 13:28:21 -0000
Hello All,

Yesterday I spent most of the afternoon poking around the Audubon Trail at BSL 
and the small spillway at Ransom. Here are the odes I saw: 


Libellula saturata (Flame Skimmer) 3 males
Unidentified Gomphid male
Argia moesta (many)
Argia sedula (6 males, 2 females, 5 copulative pairs)
Argia apicalis (2 males)
Ischnura denticollis (4males, 2 copulative wheels)
Ischnura ramburii (1 male, 1 andromorph female)
Ischnura barberi (1 male)
Anax junius (2 males)
Brachymesia gravida (2 males...1 flying fast and low over the creek near foot 
of BSL spillway; one perched high in a tree in open area on lower canyon side 
where he stayed obelisking the who time I was there). 

Epitheca princeps (1 male flying over creek/river at BSL)
Libellula luctuosa (9 males, 3 females)
Libellula comanche (3 males, 1 tattered female)
Libellula pulchella (3 males)
Dythemis velox (6 males, 4 females)
Pachydiplax longipennis (many)
Erythemis simplicicollis (3 females, 1 male)
Tramea lacerata (4 males)
Tramea onusta (3 males, 2 females)
Pantala hymenaea (many)
Pantala flavescens (many)


Jerry K. Hatfield,
Lubbock, Texas
Subject: Cardinal Meadowhawk Madera Canyon Jeff Davis Co, 7 Ischnura Species at the Post
From: "Tripp" <tripp.davenport AT yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2010 05:29:42 -0000
Last Day in West Texas today 08-11-10 (Total trip species count 62 species-3 
lifers)...on the way back from Big Bend, stopped at the Post (Ft. Pena Creek) 
below Marathon, saw 7 species of Ischnura, if I had seen the desert forktail 
that I saw Monday morning it would have made 8! oh well...still a good number 
of odes there despite the Brewster county crew making every effort possible to 
remove every last scrap pf vegetation from the shoreline...as I was there the 
guys were out with the weedeaters buzzing off the cattails as far out as they 
could reach from the shore...the Ischnura were hanging on to anything that was 
left standing along the shore...It strikes me as peculiar that the grounds crew 
will spend time weed eating cattails in and among the plastic shopping bags and 
water bottles, leaving those trash items laying will laying waste to the 
natural stuff...I will get back off my soapbox and get back to the odes...I saw 
both arroyo and blue eyed darners at the post, the arroyo was down below 
patrolling near the carrizo on the far end and the blue-eyed darner was 
patrolling along the upper fence in the cattail marsh. From the post, I stopped 
in at the Madera Canyon trail in the davis mountains to check out the stock 
pond...it was very active with all types of damsels and dragons, lots of bluets 
and spreadwings, lots of mexican forktail and desert firetail, Cradinal 
Meadowhawk was there again (saw it there in late June) blue-eyed darners and 
common green were patrolling at intervals. Noted that the twelve-spotted 
Skimmers were there as well. 


Jeff Davis County 08-11-10  (30 species)

Anax junius (Common Green Darner) 
Archilestes grandis (Great Spreadwing) 
Argia fumipennis (Variable Dancer) 
Argia immunda (Kiowa Dancer) 
Argia lugens (Sooty Dancer) 
Argia moesta (Powdered Dancer) 
Argia plana (Springwater Dancer) 
Enallagma basidens (Double-striped Bluet) 
Enallagma civile (Familiar Bluet) 
Enallagma praevarum (Arroyo Bluet) 
Erythemis simplicicollis (Common Pondhawk) 
Hesperagrion heterodoxum (Painted Damsel) 
Ischnura demorsa (Mexican Forktail) 
Ischnura hastata (Citrine Forktail) 
Lestes alacer (Plateau Spreadwing) 
Libellula croceipennis (Neon Skimmer) 
Libellula luctuosa (Widow Skimmer) 
Libellula pulchella (Twelve-spotted Skimmer)
Libellula saturata (Flame Skimmer) 
Orthemis ferruginea (Roseate Skimmer) 
Pachydiplax longipennis (Blue Dasher) 
Pantala flavescens (Wandering Glider) 
Pantala hymenaea (Spot-winged Glider) 
Plathemis lydia (Common Whitetail) 
Rhionaeschna multicolor (Blue-eyed Darner) 
Sympetrum corruptum (Variegated Meadowhawk) 
Sympetrum illotum (Cardinal Meadowhawk) 
Telebasis salva (Desert Firetail) 
Tramea lacerata (Black Saddlebags) 
Tramea onusta (Red Saddlebags)

Brewster 08-11-10 (26 species)

Anax junius (Common Green Darner) 
Argia sedula (Blue-ringed Dancer) 
Dythemis fugax (Checkered Setwing) 
Dythemis velox (Swift Setwing) 
Enallagma civile (Familiar Bluet) 
Enallagma praevarum (Arroyo Bluet) 
Erythemis simplicicollis (Common Pondhawk) 
Ischnura damula (Plains Forktail) 
Ischnura demorsa (Mexican Forktail) 
Ischnura denticollis (Black-fronted Forktail) 
Ischnura hastata (Citrine Forktail) 
Ischnura posita (Fragile Forktail) 
Ischnura ramburii (Rambur's Forktail) 
Libellula comanche (Comanche Skimmer) 
Libellula luctuosa (Widow Skimmer) 
Libellula saturata (Flame Skimmer) 
Orthemis ferruginea (Roseate Skimmer) 
Pachydiplax longipennis (Blue Dasher) 
Pantala flavescens (Wandering Glider) 
Plathemis lydia (Common Whitetail) 
Rhionaeschna dugesi (Arroyo Darner) 
Rhionaeschna multicolor (Blue-eyed Darner)
Sympetrum corruptum (Variegated Meadowhawk) 
Telebasis salva (Desert Firetail) 
Tramea lacerata (Black Saddlebags) 
Tramea onusta (Red Saddlebags)
Subject: Mayan Setwing good numbers at Ojito
From: "Tripp" <tripp.davenport AT yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2010 04:47:42 -0000
Spent Tuesday the 10th in the Big Bend Area, morning time in Presidio County at 
BBRSP Ojito Adentro, Cuevas Amarillas Creek, and the Rio Grande at Arenosa. 
There were good numbers of Mayan Setwing at Ojito despite low water levels, the 
falls are just a drip despite rains in the area. Several Giant Darner were 
there and one female came in to oviposite, I watched two occasions as mayan 
setwing oviposited in the pool below the maidenhair ferns. In the Cuevas Creek, 
I saw Plateau Dragonlet, the numbers of these is no where close to what it was 
last year, this year I saw one at the post, 0 at Balmorhea, and 2 at 
Cuevas...Late in the afternoon, I made the hike up to the oak springs trailhead 
and to cattail falls, no bear this time but almost stepped on a 
rattlesnake...Nothing unusual in the way of odes at either place with the 
exception of a feeding frenzy of gliders and saddlebags right at sunset, along 
the road out, I stopped at a brush pile that was buzzing with dozens and dozens 
of gliders only a few feet off the ground, it was quite dark by that time, and 
I was not sure what species were there so I took a swipe with the net at the 
swarm, I ended up with 9 gliders in the net, 2 wandering and 7 spot-winged, I 
am sure there were some saddlebags in the swarm as well but I did not want to 
upset whatever they were feeding on there...took a quick pic and released them 
all.. 



list: Presidio County (Ojito, Cuevas, and Arenosa)33 species

Anax junius (Common Green Darner) 
Anax walsinghami (Giant Darner) 
Archilestes grandis (Great Spreadwing) 
Argia fumipennis (Variable Dancer) 
Argia immunda (Kiowa Dancer) 
Argia lugens (Sooty Dancer) 
Argia moesta (Powdered Dancer) 
Argia nahuana (Aztec Dancer) 
Argia plana (Springwater Dancer) 
Argia sedula (Blue-ringed Dancer) 
Dythemis maya (Mayan Setwing) 
Enallagma civile (Familiar Bluet) 
Enallagma praevarum (Arroyo Bluet) 
Erpetogomphus designatus (Eastern Ringtail) 
Erythemis simplicicollis (Common Pondhawk) 
Erythrodiplax basifusca (Plateau Dragonlet) 
Hetaerina americana (American Rubyspot) 
Ischnura barberi (Desert Forktail) 
Libellula croceipennis (Neon Skimmer) 
Libellula luctuosa (Widow Skimmer) 
Libellula saturata (Flame Skimmer) 
Orthemis ferruginea (Roseate Skimmer) 
Pachydiplax longipennis (Blue Dasher) 
Pantala flavescens (Wandering Glider) 
Pantala hymenaea (Spot-winged Glider) 
Plathemis lydia (Common Whitetail) 
Plathemis subornata (Desert Whitetail) 
Progomphus borealis (Gray Sanddragon) 
Rhionaeschna multicolor (Blue-eyed Darner) 
Stylurus plagiatus (Russet-tipped Clubtail) 
Sympetrum corruptum (Variegated Meadowhawk) 
Tramea lacerata (Black Saddlebags) 
Tramea onusta (Red Saddlebags)

list: Brewster County (cattail falls trail) 17 species

Anax junius (Common Green Darner) 
Anax walsinghami (Giant Darner) 
Archilestes grandis (Great Spreadwing) 
Argia fumipennis (Variable Dancer) 
Argia lugens (Sooty Dancer) 
Argia plana (Springwater Dancer) 
Enallagma praevarum (Arroyo Bluet) 
Libellula croceipennis (Neon Skimmer) 
Libellula saturata (Flame Skimmer) 
Orthemis ferruginea (Roseate Skimmer) 
Pantala flavescens (Wandering Glider) 
Pantala hymenaea (Spot-winged Glider) 
Plathemis subornata (Desert Whitetail) 
Rhionaeschna multicolor (Blue-eyed Darner) 
Sympetrum corruptum (Variegated Meadowhawk) 
Tramea lacerata (Black Saddlebags) 
Tramea onusta (Red Saddlebags)
Subject: Straw-colored Sylph at Guadalupe River SP- Comal Co. 11 aug 10
From: MTHEINDEL AT aol.com
Date: Wed, 11 Aug 2010 17:02:00 -0400
I spent the late morning and early afternoon at my two regular haunts, 
Guadalupe River State Park (Comal Co) and Cibolo Nature Center (Kendall Co). Of 
note, I had a Straw-colored Sylph at GRSP, which would be a NCR but I was 
unable to photograph it. I first noted it flying a few feet in front of me and 
saw its blue eyes and pale, thin abdomen. Havnig just seen this ode at two 
locations this past weekend in Uvalde Co. with Tripp, Terry, and Bob, I knew 
what it was, but also knew there were no records in OC for the immediate 
vicinity. It hung up 15 feet in front me; I took a few seconds to enjoy the 
view with bins and then went for pictures. The other branches made my two 
attempts on auto-focus fail. I switched to manual and it flew, still dancing in 
front of me (For a few seconds as close as arm's length) for a minute or so (I 
am no Greg Lasley and have no clue how he gets flight pictures....). I gave it 
a long time and checked the area 45 minutes later and could not relocate it. 
So, although I was surprised and enjoyed the event, it never happened. I will 
go back to see if I can find this sucker. If anyone has an interest in the 
exact directions, let me know and I will provide more precise details. 


Ode activity was decent but does seem to be declining a bit. The entire list 
for the 3 hours follows, with an initial of the location if only seen at one 
locale. 


American Rubyspot Hetaerina americana 10 
Smoky Rubyspot H. titia 3 G
Kiowa Dancer Argia immunda 8 C
Powdered Dancer A. moesta 30
Aztec Dancer A. nahuana 2 C
Springwater Dancer A. plana 2 C
Blue-ringed Dancer A. sedula 14
Dusky Dancer A. translata 12
Bluet Enallagma  sp ~ exsulans 1 C
Desert Firetail Telebasis salva 2 C
Common Green Darner Anax junius 6 C ovipositing
Pale-faced Clubskimmer Brechmorhaga mendax 1 C
Checkered Setwing Dythemis fugax 2 C
Black Setwing D. nigrescens 4
Swift Setwing D. velox 8
Eastern Pondhawk Erythemis simplicicollis 30 C 
Widow Skimmer Libellula luctuosa 6 C
Straw-colored Sylph Macrothermis inacuta 1M, G NCR if photographed
Roseate Skimmer Orthemis ferruginea 8
Blue Dasher Pachydiplax longipennis 18 C
Spot-winged Glider P. hymenaea 1 G, NCR if photographed
Eastern Amberwing Perithemis tenera 2 C
Common Whitetail Plathemis lydia 3 C
Black Saddlebags Tramea lacerata 4 C tandem
Red Saddlebags T. onusta 12 C ovipositing

Matt Heindel
Fair Oaks Ranch, TX





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: HIdalgo Pumphouse, August 10, 2010
From: Mike Rickard <folksinger4 AT yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 11 Aug 2010 09:43:07 -0700 (PDT)
I visited the Hidalgo Pumphouse yesterday afternoon 2-4 PM and it was hot.  It 
was so hot that the Darners I flushed in shaded areas flew only a few feet 
before settling again.  Thus I was able to get my first photos of Blue-faced 
Darner (Coryphaeschna adnexa) and Amazon Darner (Anax amizili), and end some 
frustration at watching so many disappear unidentified down the trail.
I only saw a few other odes - a dozen common species - but I spent most of my 
time in the butterfly habitats. 
Mike Rickard
Mission, TX
Subject: Oops!
From: "Jerry" <dragonflywatcher1029 AT yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 11 Aug 2010 03:02:30 -0000
Hello All,

I realized my mistake after sending the post...I didn't see ALL 7 from Steve 
and Nancy's post. Telebasis salva (Desert Firetail) I did not see at Clapp. I 
also noticed that their post liste Brachymesia gravida (Four-spotted Pennant) 
at Dupree Park NOT Clapp, so the individual I saw could not have been the same 
as they saw. 


Jerry K. Hatfield,
Lubbock, Tx.
Subject: Clapp Park Playa 10 August 2010
From: "Jerry" <dragonflywatcher1029 AT yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 11 Aug 2010 02:55:45 -0000
Hello All,

Following the "heads-up" lead from Nancy McIntyre and Steve Collins, I shot out 
to Clapp Park today. I, too, saw all seven Ischnurid species reported by Nancy 
and Steve. I got my first pics of male I. hastata, and what I believe is a 
female I. demorsa. I also saw the Brachymesia gravida (probably the same 
individual)on SE corner of playa on twig sticking up out of the water. In 
addition, I saw both Lestes australis (2 males and females) and Lestes alacer 
(2 males and females),Erythemis simplicicollis (1 male, 2 females) Libellula 
luctuosa (1 male), Libellula pulchella (at least 3 males), Orthemis ferruginea 
(3 males, 2 females), Pachydiplax longipennis 4 males, 5 females)Pantala 
hymenaea (many), Pantala flavescens (many) Tramea onusta (3 males), Perithemis 
tenera (2 males, 1 female). 


Jerry K. Hatfield,
Lubbock, Tx.
Subject: Metallic Pennant at Chihuahua Woods, Hidalgo Co. 8-10-10
From: Antshrike1 AT aol.com
Date: Tue, 10 Aug 2010 17:37:32 EDT
I checked out the Nature Conservancy's Chihuahua Woods this morning looking 
 for darners and Mary's Short-tailed Hawk.  No luck with the hawk and the  
only darner I could ID was a Common Green.  But I did find a Metallic  
Pennant.  It was on the South Trail, about 100 yards south of the East-West  
trail sign with the small bench.
 
_http://i37.tinypic.com/2eahuer.jpg_ (http://i37.tinypic.com/2eahuer.jpg) 
_http://i37.tinypic.com/fc8bqe.jpg_ (http://i37.tinypic.com/fc8bqe.jpg) 
_http://i38.tinypic.com/2egbq5c.jpg_ (http://i38.tinypic.com/2egbq5c.jpg) 
 
Golden-winged Dancer
Blue-ringed Dancer
Rambur's Forktail
Common Green Darner
Narrow-striped Forceptail
Five-striped Leaftail
Checkered Setwing
Black Setwing
Eastern Pondhawk
Band-winged Dragonlet
Metallic Pennant
Marl Pennant
Thornbush Dasher
Carmine Skimmer
Roseate Skimmer
Blue Dasher
Wandering Glider
Spot-winged Glider
Slough Amberwing
Striped Saddlebags
Red Saddlebags
 
Dan Jones in Weslaco
 


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Brewster County, the Post and Ash Creek
From: "Tripp" <tripp.davenport AT yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 10 Aug 2010 02:50:01 -0000
Started the day at Marathon at the post, read Steve's post about the forktails, 
I did not quite make 7 but got 5 species of forktails at the Post in the 
morning, Desert Firetail is not listed for Brewster, but had that one at the 
post and at Ash Creek. I was at the post early so I did not see a lot of 
dragons, mainly damsels. Did photograph what is most likely an arroyo darner 
there. At Ash Creek, there were hundreds of odes of all types patrolling up and 
down the creek. The most spectacular were the giant darners, I stopped counting 
at 20, there were also 6 serpent ringtail on that stretch of creek. Painted 
damsels were there in all the color varieties. Logged in 45 species today 3 
that were not on county checklist...knocked off the second of my target bugs 
with arroyo darner...5 more to go! Big Bend Cattail Falls in the morning and 
Ojito adentro in the afternoon... 


Brewster County:

Anax junius (Common Green Darner) 
Anax walsinghami (Giant Darner) 
Archilestes grandis (Great Spreadwing) 
Argia fumipennis (Variable Dancer) 
Argia hinei (Lavender Dancer) 
Argia immunda (Kiowa Dancer) 
Argia lugens (Sooty Dancer) 
Argia moesta (Powdered Dancer) 
Argia nahuana (Aztec Dancer) 
Argia plana (Springwater Dancer) 
Argia sedula (Blue-ringed Dancer) 
Brechmorhoga mendax (Pale-faced Clubskimmer) 
Dythemis fugax (Checkered Setwing) 
Dythemis velox (Swift Setwing) 
Enallagma civile (Familiar Bluet) 
Enallagma praevarum (Arroyo Bluet) 
Erpetogomphus lampropeltis (Serpent Ringtail) 
Erythemis collocata  
Erythemis simplicicollis (Common Pondhawk) 
Hesperagrion heterodoxum (Painted Damsel) 
Hetaerina americana (American Rubyspot) 
Ischnura damula (Plains Forktail) 
Ischnura demorsa (Mexican Forktail) 
Ischnura denticollis (Black-fronted Forktail) 
Ischnura posita (Fragile Forktail) 
Ischnura barberi (Desert Forktail)*
Libellula comanche (Comanche Skimmer) 
Libellula croceipennis (Neon Skimmer) 
Libellula luctuosa (Widow Skimmer) 
Libellula saturata (Flame Skimmer) 
Orthemis ferruginea (Roseate Skimmer) 
Pachydiplax longipennis (Blue Dasher) 
Pantala flavescens (Wandering Glider)
Pantala hymenae (Spot-winged Glider)* 
Plathemis lydia (Common Whitetail) 
Plathemis subornata (Desert Whitetail) 
Progomphus borealis (Gray Sanddragon) 
Pseudoleon superbus (Filigree Skimmer) 
Rhionaeschna dugasi (Arroyo Darner)*
Rhionaeschna multicolor (Blue-eyed Darner) 
Sympetrum corruptum (Variegated Meadowhawk) 
Sympetrum vicinum (Autumn Meadowhawk) 
Telebasis salva (Desert Firetail) 
Tramea lacerata (Black Saddlebags) 
Tramea onusta (Red Saddlebags)
Subject: 7 Ischnura species in Lubbock 8/9/10
From: Steve Collins <dcollins AT ufl.edu>
Date: Mon, 09 Aug 2010 14:59:32 -0500
  Nancy McIntyre and I visited a couple urban playas in Lubbock today, 
and we ended up with 7 Ischnura species.  Unfortunately I didn't get a 
photo/specimen of Mexican Forktail (I. demorsa) at Clapp Park; I'll have 
to go back.  A Four-spotted Pennant at Dupree Park was interesting.  
That species seems to be showing up in many spots this summer.  A 
Blue-fronted Dancer (A. apicalis) was also notable at Clapp Park, since 
the closest flowing water is a few miles away.

D = Dupree Park, C = Clapp Park

Argia apicalis (Blue-fronted Dancer)  C
Enallagma civile (Familiar Bluet)  D, C
Ischnura barberi (Desert Forktail)  D
Ischnura damula (Plains Forktail)  C
Ischnura demorsa (Mexican Forktail)  C
Ischnura denticollis (Black-fronted Forktail)  C
Ischnura hastata (Citrine Forktail)  D, C
Ischnura posita (Fragile Forktail)  C
Ischnura ramburii (Rambur's Forktail)  C
Lestes alacer (Plateau Spreadwing)  D

Anax junius (Common Green Darner)  D
Brachymesia gravida (Four-spotted Pennant)  D
Erythemis simplicicollis (Common Pondhawk)  C
Libellula luctuosa (Widow Skimmer)  C
Libellula pulchella (Twelve-spotted Skimmer)  C
Libellula saturata (Flame Skimmer)  C
Orthemis ferruginea (Roseate Skimmer)  C
Pachydiplax longipennis (Blue Dasher)  C
Pantala flavescens (Wandering Glider)  D, C
Pantala hymenaea (Spot-winged Glider)  D, C
Perithemis tenera (Eastern Amberwing)  D, C
Sympetrum corruptum (Variegated Meadowhawk)  D, C
Tramea lacerata (Black Saddlebags)  D, C
Tramea onusta (Red Saddlebags)  D, C

Cheers,
Steve Collins
Lubbock, TX
Subject: Re: Just some observations and thoughts about dragon populations, etc.
From: Chris Hill <chill AT coastal.edu>
Date: Mon, 9 Aug 2010 15:56:04 -0400
On Aug 7, 2010, at 11:52 AM, GregL wrote:

> Hello Fellow Texas Odonate Folks,
>
> For what it is worth I just had a few thoughts and images to share.  
> I have posted 9 shots on a Flickr page at:
>
> 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gwldragon/sets/72157624547835207/with/4868420385/ 

>
> which pertain to some of my comments and musings below.
>
1. Odonate populations and their variability year to year. I


Great stuff, Greg,

#1 is all time odewatcher's question, isn't it?  Why are there so  
(many, few) of this species compared to last [year, decade]?   
Actually, I think it's great that we're getting to the point where  
enough people are aware of or keeping track of the changes that we can  
have a conversation about them.  What happened in the past is mostly  
lost (but more on that below).

Without any real entomological or population biology background, it  
seems to me the set of questions about why, say, Blue-faced Ringtails  
are rarer this year than last comes down to a bunch of other  
questions, like:

Are the adults rarer because there were fewer larvae to start with?   
And if it was fewer larvae, was that because of more predation on  
larvae (by other odonate larvae, by fish, by ???) or was there less  
food for larvae, or were flow regimes poor (a couple giant floods?  A  
drought?) or was there too much siltation in the habitat?  Or was  
there a contaminant spill, a pulse of pesticides, say, in the source  
river?  And what is the life cycle of a ringtail larva in Texas?  Two  
years?  Is there a particular time/age in that two years when the  
larvae are especially vulnerable to flooding or predation or siltation  
or drought or ???  Or were there fewer larvae because there were just  
fewer eggs laid two summers ago (or three, or one, or whatever the  
appropriate time interval to produce this year's adults is)?  And if  
there were fewer eggs, is that because there were fewer adults then  
(coming full circle)?

Or maybe it's loss of life by adults and tenerals (predation, rain,  
flooding, spiders, birds, less food to eat...) that leads to fewer  
adults being around?

It sounds like several careers worth of investigation to thoroughly  
explore those variables.  And I know some of that work has been done -  
I've read some interesting quantitative studies of larval survival in  
a South Carolina pond.  Would you believe that after a year or more of  
struggling to eat and not be eaten in a pond, of the successes who  
mature and march to join the world of flying adults, 95% get eaten by  
fish on their way out of the pond (and who knows how many more get  
eaten as tenerals)?   [How much would that suck?  It's like seeing one  
of the hapless individuals that makes it all the way to metamorphosis  
and then gets stuck and dies halfway out of the larval skin].  John  
Payne sent me an interesting manuscript on how the order of settling  
in newly colonized experimental ponds helps determine which species  
succeed in dominating and emerging from that pond.  Does a thriving  
population of ringtails depend on who else colonizes those gravel bars  
and when they do so?   In short, there's a lot of reading to do, I'm  
sure, and the real odonate experts are probably slapping their heads  
at my ignorant conjectures (but I wager even if you read everything  
published so far, a lot of those questions are still unanswered).

But maybe observant oders can make a contribution despite all the  
complexity.  Just a for-instance - at the Southeast DSA meeting in  
Galax, Virginia last year, we faced torrential rains, and the cool,  
wet weather had apparently persisted through most of the emergence  
period of several clubtail species.  We had a hard time finding adult  
odes (well, the group I was with did!) and we (well, I) pictured  
softbodied adults pummeled and drowned by the millions.  Does that  
mean that in two years there is going to be a great scarcity (or a  
lesser scarcity...any kind of scarcity!) of the species that were  
knocked down by the 2009 rains?  That's the kind of thing you could  
maybe answer with some notes on abundance like Greg's and Tripp's,  
coupled with some records of (hypothetically) ode-relevant weather.

*********
Population Changes over the Decades (and longer)

I tracked down recently a couple of old (1930s) articles that were  
cited for documentation that a few clubtail species (Stylurus  
scudderi, S. townesi, S. laurae, S. ivae, S. spiniceps) had occured in  
my home state, South Carolina.  It seemed a little bit fishy that some  
1930s paper reported several species that hadn't been seen since.  How  
reliable were Williamson 1932 and Gloyd 1936?  Much to my surprise, I  
found that not only were they reliable (and how!), but that they were  
the papers that originally described Shining, Laura's, and Townes'  
Clubtails.  A single river, the North Saluda River in Greenville  
County, is the type location for all three species.  So I read the  
account with considerable interest, and discovered that in TWO DAYS on  
that river, Williamson collected 58 Laura's Clubtails, which is more  
than several southeastern ode experts I correspond with have seen in  
their lives (I've never seen a single one).  And so, with visions of  
fall clubtails in my head, I googled that stretch of river, and  
discovered that  SCDHEC (SC's environmental agency) in fact, monitored  
that reach and pronounced that:

"Aquatic life uses are not supported at the midstream site (S-773)  
based on macroinvertebrate
community data."

Eck.

The topography and use of the land isn't terribly different - tree- 
lined river, but not in deep woods.  There were cornfields nearby in  
Williamson's time, and there still are now.  There are more people  
there now than 80 years ago, of course, and there is now a dam and  
reservoir 10 miles upstream, but the account I googled also noted that  
DDT residues were still detectable in the sediments (it's 40 years  
since DDT was banned, but that's how slowly it breaks down).  And  
where do gomphids live?  In the sediments.  So more people, industrial  
agriculture, and a dam, and now that stream, where Williamson in a  
weekend saw more Laura's Clubtails than active observers today see in  
a lifetime, and also caught Zebra and Arrow Clubtails, which haven't  
been seen as adults in modern SC....that stream is judged unfit for  
aquatic life now.

Well, I'm probably overdoing it with the doom-and-gloom.  If  
Williamson were reincarnated and came back for a week of collecting,  
who knows what he'd find?  I'm sure most of those species are still  
out there.  But when it comes to the numbers of them....I wonder.

Chris

links to articles:
http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/56686/1/OP247.pdf
http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/56765/1/OP326.pdf


************************************************************************
Christopher E. Hill
Biology Department
Coastal Carolina University
Conway, SC 29528-1954
chill AT coastal.edu
http://ww2.coastal.edu/chill/chill.htm

There are in fact two things, science and opinion; the former begets  
knowledge, the latter ignorance.
Hippocrates (460 BC - 377 BC), Law
Subject: Seaside dragonlets and more at pecos river
From: "Tripp" <tripp.davenport AT yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 09 Aug 2010 04:48:13 -0000
2nd attempt to post this, hope it is not redundant...Made a side trip on my way 
out to Big Bend, stopped off at the pecos river on both sides of Iraan. 
Definitely more ode activity here than in east texas last week. 25 species 
today in those locations (Pecos County). Noteable bugs, 8 seaside dragonlet 
males and females, 3 pale-faced clubskimmer along the river hanging in bushes, 
big numbers of marl pennant, 1 striped saddlebags in flight over river. I am in 
Alpine for the evening, heading to Calamity Creek in the morning. Already 
knocked off one bug from my target list, got Desert Forktail on the Pecos by 
Iraan today... 


Pecos County 8-08-10

Anax junius (Common Green Darner) *
Argia immunda (Kiowa Dancer) 
Argia moesta (Powdered Dancer) 
Argia sedula (Blue-ringed Dancer) 
Brachymesia gravida (Four-spotted Pennant) *
Brechmorhoga mendax (Pale-faced Clubskimmer) *
Dythemis velox (Swift Setwing) 
Enallagma civile (Familiar Bluet) 
Erpetogomphus designatus (Eastern Ringtail) 
Erythemis simplicicollis (Common Pondhawk) 
Erythemis collocata (Western Pondhawk) *
Erythrodiplax berenice (Seaside Dragonlet) *
Ischnura barberi (Desert Forktail) 
Ischnura ramburi (Rambur's Forktail) *
Libellula composita (Bleached Skimmer) 
Libellula luctuosa (Widow Skimmer) 
Libellula saturata (Flame Skimmer) 
Microdiplax balteata (Marl Pennant) *
Pachydiplax longipennis (Blue Dasher) 
Pantala hymenaea (Spot-winged Glider)
Pantala flavescens (Wandering Glider) *
Plathemis lydia (Common Whitetail) 
Tramea calverti (Striped Saddlebags) *
Tramea lacerata (Black Saddlebags) *
Tramea onusta (Red Saddlebags) *

* not represented with OC county record
Subject: Sylph Photos from Montell
From: "Tripp" <tripp.davenport AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 08 Aug 2010 04:49:36 -0000
Here are three of the sylph photos for anyone that is interested...all three 
were taken 08-07-10 at the Coleman-Clarke Homestead on Candelaria Creek in 
Montell Texas, Uvalde County 


http://www.flickr.com/photos/tdavenport/4870961164/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tdavenport/4870350933/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tdavenport/4870960156/
Subject: Re: Mystery Ode @ estero Llano Grande
From: Joshua Stuart Rose <opihi AT mindspring.com>
Date: Sun, 8 Aug 2010 00:35:58 -0400 (GMT-04:00)
Hi Mary Beth,

Seaside Dragonlet does not necessarily require coastal habitat. It does require 
saline habitat, but there are inland places with such habitat, including the 
LRGV's chain of salt lakes. Heck, the Rio Grande itself is relatively salty by 
the time it reaches the LRGV, thanks to diversion for irrigation and the 
related evaporation and leaching. 


I had at least two records of the species at Bentsen while I was there, one in 
May and one in August. 


The USGS odonata website shows records for the species in far north and west 
Texas and at least five counties in New Mexico, all a heck of a lot further 
from the ocean than Llano Grande: 

http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/distr/insects/dfly/usa/356.htm

Cheers,

Josh


-----Original Message-----
>From: MiriamEagl AT aol.com
>Sent: Aug 7, 2010 4:06 PM
>To: azurebluet AT aol.com, TexOdes AT yahoogroups.com
>Subject: Re: [TexOdes] Mystery Ode  AT  estero Llano Grande
>
>Thanks so much for the help, Ed!  By looking at on-line images I could  see 
>what you meant by the "bulls-eye"!  I did have a question (and I'm  posing 
>this to the whole group):  in the literature I've read, Seaside  Dragonlet 
>is supposedly a salt-marsh/coastal-only bug, yet I'm seeing a plethora  of 
>inland reports--is the "conventional wisdom" about it being strictly coastal  
>no longer valid?  (Caveat:  I'm VERY new with odes and so will  probably be 
>asking "stupid" questions--please bear with me!  Thanks!)


Joshua Stuart Rose
opihi AT mindspring.com
Amherst MA

http://www.facebook.com/opihi
http://bugguide.net/user/view/2399
Subject: Re: Just some observations and thoughts about dragon populations, etc.
From: "Tripp" <tripp.davenport AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 08 Aug 2010 04:00:02 -0000
In response to Gregs post...

enjoyed the photo collection Greg...cool predator shots!

I am ending year two of identifying and photographing odonata and I have 
noticed some dramatic differences between this year and the last. 


The most noticable difference has taken place at Ft. Inge where the water 
hyacinth has been completely removed above the dam. Last year the hyacinth 
glider were in that area in astounding numbers. There were literally swarms of 
them over the water and in the tall grass around the river, they were resting 
by hanging up at all times of the day. This year, we see an occasional Hyacinth 
glider at Cook's slough and Montell. Thornbush dasher are rare this year (2 for 
me) last year they were an everyday bug at Cook's, Inge, and even Tom Nunn. 
Spot-tailed dasher and tawny pennant are noticeably absent from the county this 
year. Tawny pennant appeared as far north as Reagan Wells last year and the 
numbers were good at Cook's Slough (it was an everyday bug there for a good 
part of the late summer) 


Bugs that are holding their own this year are pin-tailed pondhawk,an everyday 
bug now at Cook's and showing up pretty much everywhere in the county. Mexican 
Wedgetail is seen in good numbers everywhere. Straw-colored sylph is appearing 
countywide. Gray-waisted Skimmer has expanded throughout the county. Orange 
Threadtail are still being seen but in the usual small numbers. Black pondhawk 
made an appearance at Montell this year,and last year at Ft. Inge. 


New bugs have shown up this year. Most noticable are the Great-blue Skimmer 
that have appeared in small numbers but in many locations in the county. 
Antillean Saddlebags in good numbers and breeding at Tom Nunn. Regal Darner 
ovipositing at Tom Nunn. Royal River Cruiser at Cook's. Evening Skimmer at Ft. 
Inge. Orange Shadowdragon at Ft. Inge, Cook's and Tom Nunn. Blue-faced 
Meadowhawk at Cook's in late spring. Cyrano Darner showed up again after a 
break last year (county wide). 


Dragonfly predators:

 having just returned from east texas, I had a comment on predators and 
dragonflies... 


I noticed that when I was at Silsbee in early June, I was able to travel 
through the forest areas near the river without much interference from spider 
webs. There were large numbers of moths and the shadowdragons were hanging in 
the canopy. 


I returned again in late June to collect some shadowdragons, the dragons were 
still there as were the moths and such. 


In mid July I returned again to find cicadas and fewer moths and many more 
spider webs. Entagled in a single web were 2 giant swamp cicada and a swamp 
darner carcass. I combed the area looking for shadowdragon carcasses in spider 
webs as I could not locate any live specimens, found none dead or alive there. 
Nearby on village creek, I found 1 shadowdragon in similar canopy but without 
the huge spider numbers. 


I returned a few days ago to the same areas, the forest was silent, cicadas 
were gone, moths were gone, blue skimmers and slaty skimmers were absent, 
shadowdragons were absent, the only residents were again hundreds of spiders 
and masses of webs strung throughout the canopy and below, even the ground at 
ankle level had webs extending throughout the forest floor. It was a creepy 
sight and I could not help but wonder if this might explain the low numbers of 
odonata that I saw in the forest area. 





--- In TexOdes AT yahoogroups.com, "GregL"  wrote:
>
> Hello Fellow Texas Odonate Folks,
> 
> For what it is worth I just had a few thoughts and images to share. I have 
posted 9 shots on a Flickr page at: 

> 
> 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gwldragon/sets/72157624547835207/with/4868420385/ 

> 
> which pertain to some of my comments and musings below.
> 
> 1. Odonate populations and their variability year to year. I am closing in on 
a decade of my own interest in odonates so I have had enough time to really see 
some differences in populations of the same species at the same site in 
multiple years. Sometimes these differences are striking. Some examples would 
include Carmine Skimmer (Orthemis discolor), which, for some reason, was very 
common in the Austin area in August-October 2007. Eric Isley, John Abbott, and 
I (and others) sometimes routinely saw 20+ individuals in a single day. It was 
really remarkable. We wondered at the time if we had simply overlooked these in 
the past, but as time has gone by, I don't think so. Since October, 2007, I 
have only seen 1 or perhaps 2 individuals of this species here in Austin. What 
happened? Why did we have so many in the late summer and fall of 2007, but not 
before or since? More recent examples include Royal River Cruiser (Macromia 
taeniolata), which of the 3 Macromia species regularly found in Austin 
(including Swift "Georgia" River Cruiser, and Bronzed River Cruiser) we always 
regarded as the most unusual. In the years 2004-2009, I might see 1 to 4 Royal 
River Cruisers during an entire summer of my routine dragonfly trips around 
Austin. In 2010, this species was easily the most commonly encountered 
Macromia, at least at Hornsby Bend, where Eric Isley sometimes saw 25+ in a 
single day in June. In parts of July it was the only Macromia species I would 
see. Why the change? Another example is Cobra Clubtail (Gomphus vastus). Though 
a fairly common species in May and June in Austin, in 2010 we could see 
literally a hundred in a day, whereas in year past a count of 5 to 10 in a day 
was pretty good. On the opposite end of the scale of local abundance would be 
Blue-faced Ringtail (Erpetogomphus eutainia). Starting in July, 2003, the best 
and usually only place to reliably see this species in the U.S. was at 
Independence Park in Gonzales, Texas, along the banks of the Guadalupe River. 
In summer seasons of 2003-2006 I note that I sometimes saw 20-25 individuals of 
this species at Independence Park on most any day between early July and early 
October. On one remarkable day in 2004 I think, Tony Gallucci and I saw at 
least 40 of these guys low over the river, their blue thoraxes reflecting 
beautifully in the morning sun. In 2007 and 2008 I noted that they were a 
little harder to find, for some reason, and I often saw no more than 5 in a 
day. In 2009 and 2010 they are harder to find, still. In 2010 I have been there 
3 times in July and August and have only managed 2 or 3 individuals on each 
trip. I have searched other historical areas of the Guadalupe River and San 
Marcos River trying to find more of this species, but so far no luck. Why are 
the numbers down? Perhaps flooding along the river has changed the substrate on 
the bottom? I realize that population dynamics is a very complex issue, but 
these were just some notable observations, I thought, and wondered if other 
Texas observers had seen similar things. 

> 
> 2. Spiders and robber flies are frequent predators of dragonflies as we all 
know. Some of the big Garden Spiders (Argiope species) frequently catch even 
very large dragons including Common Green Darners (Anax junius). Likewise, 
Robber Flies regularly catch and consume dragons. I have a shot on the Flickr 
page above showing a river cruiser species (Macromia) wrapped up in the web of 
a big Argiope. Jerry Hatfield and I were at Palmetto State Park earlier this 
week when we came across an interesting scene. A male Neon Skimmer (Libellula 
croceipennis) had apparently become entangled in a spider web. I speculate that 
the dragon almost broke free but at least one of its wings was still entangled 
and it was perhaps flying in circles trying to get free of the web. This 
activity attracted the attention of one of the largest robber flies in the 
U.S., Microstylum morosum, and the robber took advantage of the free meal. I'd 
never seen a robber take a prey item from a spider web before. Two shots are on 
the Flickr page. 

> 
> 3. Coral-fronted Threadtail (Neoneura aaroni) behavior. Yesterday, 6 August 
2010, Eric Isley and I spent a little time along a section of the San Marcos 
River in San Marcos, Hays Co., Texas. The area where we were had a channel 
through a park area where the current was moderately swift. We sat on a 
sidewalk near a bridge and watched numerous pairs of Coral-fronted Threadtail 
(Neoneura aaroni) in tandem. There were leaves, sticks and other small debris 
floating along in this channel being carried by the current. Just downstream 
from the area where we were sitting the water flowed udder a low concrete 
bridge where it was dark, the top of the bridge being only about 10 inches 
above the water's surface. The tandem pairs of threadtails would land on a tiny 
stick or other debris and the females would being to probe and oviposit into 
the wood, but as soon as the small woody debris would start to flow under the 
bridge and into the dark, the damsels would take off and try to find a new 
perch out in the open. We then began watching as the males would start to fly 
upstream, against the current, while the female was perched on the tiny stick 
in the process of laying eggs. The males would literally pull against the 
current and in effect keep the stick from going under the bridge while the 
female did her work. Sometimes two pairs would land on the same stick and all 4 
individuals would work against the current and actually pull the stick upstream 
for several feet, a herculean effort it seemed. This continued for the hour or 
so we sat there and watched. I had never seen this behavior before, but perhaps 
others have. In any event, I thought it was very interesting. A few shots are 
on the Flickr page above. 

> 
> Anyway, just a few observations and thought I thought might be of interest to 
some of you. 

> 
> Greg Lasley
> Austin
>
Subject: 3 syplhs one location, Uvalde Co.
From: "Tripp" <tripp.davenport AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 08 Aug 2010 03:15:21 -0000
A decent day in Uvalde County (47 species), started the day at Cook's Slough 
with Bob Rasa and Matt Heindel, searched for the Orange Shadow Dragon, no luck 
there, over to Ft. Inge for Darners none flying and no Hyacinth Glider again. 
Reading Gregs post earlier, I realize how variable populations can be, this 
might be a down year for the Blue-faced Darner and Hyacinth Glider here in 
Uvalde...At Montell we were joined by Terry Hibbetts, right out of the truck, 
we saw a Straw-colored Sylph and a Jade-striped Sylph flying together on the 
road. The Straw-colored hung up for photo opps. Farther down the dirt road, we 
flushed a couple of Ivory-Striped sylph, one Ivory-striped female hung up for 
photos. Later in the same area, a female Jade-striped Sylph hung for 
photos...making it a three Sylph, three photo day...(6 Ivory-striped, 4 
Jade-striped, and 1 Straw-colored)...The creek yielded a tandem of Coppery 
Dancer and other species of Dancers and Bluets (common stuff). While we were in 
the creek an unidentified Darner flew in, dunked into the water and zipped back 
up into the canopy...did not get any chance to photo that bug but it was 
unusual in color and I will have to go back when I get in from West Tex and 
look for that one...ended the day at Tom Nunn where the Antillean Saddlebags 
were still in flight, 3 individuals.Mexican Wedgetail were in the same pool as 
weeks ago in good numbers 9 individuals and 1 tandem. List follows: 


Acanthagrion quadratum, Mexican Wedgetail
Anax junius,  Common Green Darner
Aphylla angustifolia, Broad-striped Forceptail
Argia cuprea, Coppery Dancer
Argia immunda, Kiowa Dancer
Argia moesta, Powdered Dancer
Argia rhoadsi, Golden-winged Dancer
Argia sedula, Blue-ringed Dancer
Argia translata, Dusky Dancer
Brachymesia furcata, Red-tailed Pennant
Brachymesia gravida, Four-spotted Pennant
Brechmorhoga mendax, Pale-faced Clubskimmer
Cannaphila insularis, Gray-waisted Skimmer
Celithemis eponina, Halloween Pennant
Dromogomphus spoliatus, Flag-tailed Spinyleg
Dythemis fugax, Checkered Setwing
Dythemis nigrescens, Black Setwing
Dythemis velox, Swift Setwing
Enallagma basidens, Double-striped Bluet
Enallagma novaehispaniae, Neotropical Bluet
Enallagma praevarum, Arroyo Bluet
Erpetogomphus designatus, Eastern Ringtail
Erythemis plebeja, Pin-tailed Pondhawk
Erythemis simplicicollis, Common Pondhawk
Erythemis vesiculosa, Great Pondhawk
Hetaerina americana, American Rubyspot
Hetaerina titia, Smoky Rubyspot
Ischnura posita, Fragile Forktail
Ischnura ramburii, Rambur's Forktail
Libellula croceipennis, Neon Skimmer
Libellula luctuosa, Widow Skimmer
Macrothemis imitans, Ivory-striped Sylph
Macrothemis inacuta, Straw-colored Sylph
Macrothemis inequiunguis, Jade-striped Sylph
Miathyria marcella, Hyacinth Glider
Orthemis ferruginea, Roseate Skimmer
Pachydiplax longipennis, Blue Dasher
Pantala flavescens, Wandering Glider
Pantala hymenaea, Spot-winged Glider
Perithemis domitia, Slough Amberwing
Perithemis tenera, Eastern Amberwing
Phyllogomphoides albrighti, Five-striped Leaftail
Plathemis lydia, Common Whitetail
Telebasis salva, Desert Firetail
Tramea insularis, Antillean Saddlebags
Tramea lacerata, Black Saddlebags
Tramea onusta, Red Saddlebags
Subject: Re: Mystery Ode @ estero Llano Grande
From: MiriamEagl AT aol.com
Date: Sat, 7 Aug 2010 16:06:30 EDT
Thanks so much for the help, Ed!  By looking at on-line images I could  see 
what you meant by the "bulls-eye"!  I did have a question (and I'm  posing 
this to the whole group):  in the literature I've read, Seaside  Dragonlet 
is supposedly a salt-marsh/coastal-only bug, yet I'm seeing a plethora  of 
inland reports--is the "conventional wisdom" about it being strictly coastal  
no longer valid?  (Caveat:  I'm VERY new with odes and so will  probably be 
asking "stupid" questions--please bear with me!  Thanks!)
 
Take care,
 
MB
 
 
Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 




In a message dated 8/6/2010 5:52:13 P.M. Central Daylight Time,  
azurebluet AT aol.com writes:

Hi, Mary  Beth,

Your mystery ode is a male Seaside Dragonlet  (Erythrodiplax berenice). It 
is indeed smaller and darker than a pondhawk.  Compare it to your other 
photograph of a Eastern Pondhawk and note the  differences in the color of the 
eyes and face.

Your darner is a female  Blue-faced Darner (Coryphaeshna adnexa). It has 
pale markings along the top of  the abdomen that Common Green Darners lack. It 
also doesn't have the  "bullseye" mark on the top of the frons that Common 
Green Darners  have.

Best wishes,
Ed Lam




 






[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Just some observations and thoughts about dragon populations, etc.
From: "GregL" <glasley AT earthlink.net>
Date: Sat, 07 Aug 2010 15:52:32 -0000
Hello Fellow Texas Odonate Folks,

For what it is worth I just had a few thoughts and images to share. I have 
posted 9 shots on a Flickr page at: 


http://www.flickr.com/photos/gwldragon/sets/72157624547835207/with/4868420385/

which pertain to some of my comments and musings below.

1. Odonate populations and their variability year to year. I am closing in on a 
decade of my own interest in odonates so I have had enough time to really see 
some differences in populations of the same species at the same site in 
multiple years. Sometimes these differences are striking. Some examples would 
include Carmine Skimmer (Orthemis discolor), which, for some reason, was very 
common in the Austin area in August-October 2007. Eric Isley, John Abbott, and 
I (and others) sometimes routinely saw 20+ individuals in a single day. It was 
really remarkable. We wondered at the time if we had simply overlooked these in 
the past, but as time has gone by, I don't think so. Since October, 2007, I 
have only seen 1 or perhaps 2 individuals of this species here in Austin. What 
happened? Why did we have so many in the late summer and fall of 2007, but not 
before or since? More recent examples include Royal River Cruiser (Macromia 
taeniolata), which of the 3 Macromia species regularly found in Austin 
(including Swift "Georgia" River Cruiser, and Bronzed River Cruiser) we always 
regarded as the most unusual. In the years 2004-2009, I might see 1 to 4 Royal 
River Cruisers during an entire summer of my routine dragonfly trips around 
Austin. In 2010, this species was easily the most commonly encountered 
Macromia, at least at Hornsby Bend, where Eric Isley sometimes saw 25+ in a 
single day in June. In parts of July it was the only Macromia species I would 
see. Why the change? Another example is Cobra Clubtail (Gomphus vastus). Though 
a fairly common species in May and June in Austin, in 2010 we could see 
literally a hundred in a day, whereas in year past a count of 5 to 10 in a day 
was pretty good. On the opposite end of the scale of local abundance would be 
Blue-faced Ringtail (Erpetogomphus eutainia). Starting in July, 2003, the best 
and usually only place to reliably see this species in the U.S. was at 
Independence Park in Gonzales, Texas, along the banks of the Guadalupe River. 
In summer seasons of 2003-2006 I note that I sometimes saw 20-25 individuals of 
this species at Independence Park on most any day between early July and early 
October. On one remarkable day in 2004 I think, Tony Gallucci and I saw at 
least 40 of these guys low over the river, their blue thoraxes reflecting 
beautifully in the morning sun. In 2007 and 2008 I noted that they were a 
little harder to find, for some reason, and I often saw no more than 5 in a 
day. In 2009 and 2010 they are harder to find, still. In 2010 I have been there 
3 times in July and August and have only managed 2 or 3 individuals on each 
trip. I have searched other historical areas of the Guadalupe River and San 
Marcos River trying to find more of this species, but so far no luck. Why are 
the numbers down? Perhaps flooding along the river has changed the substrate on 
the bottom? I realize that population dynamics is a very complex issue, but 
these were just some notable observations, I thought, and wondered if other 
Texas observers had seen similar things. 


2. Spiders and robber flies are frequent predators of dragonflies as we all 
know. Some of the big Garden Spiders (Argiope species) frequently catch even 
very large dragons including Common Green Darners (Anax junius). Likewise, 
Robber Flies regularly catch and consume dragons. I have a shot on the Flickr 
page above showing a river cruiser species (Macromia) wrapped up in the web of 
a big Argiope. Jerry Hatfield and I were at Palmetto State Park earlier this 
week when we came across an interesting scene. A male Neon Skimmer (Libellula 
croceipennis) had apparently become entangled in a spider web. I speculate that 
the dragon almost broke free but at least one of its wings was still entangled 
and it was perhaps flying in circles trying to get free of the web. This 
activity attracted the attention of one of the largest robber flies in the 
U.S., Microstylum morosum, and the robber took advantage of the free meal. I'd 
never seen a robber take a prey item from a spider web before. Two shots are on 
the Flickr page. 


3. Coral-fronted Threadtail (Neoneura aaroni) behavior. Yesterday, 6 August 
2010, Eric Isley and I spent a little time along a section of the San Marcos 
River in San Marcos, Hays Co., Texas. The area where we were had a channel 
through a park area where the current was moderately swift. We sat on a 
sidewalk near a bridge and watched numerous pairs of Coral-fronted Threadtail 
(Neoneura aaroni) in tandem. There were leaves, sticks and other small debris 
floating along in this channel being carried by the current. Just downstream 
from the area where we were sitting the water flowed udder a low concrete 
bridge where it was dark, the top of the bridge being only about 10 inches 
above the water's surface. The tandem pairs of threadtails would land on a tiny 
stick or other debris and the females would being to probe and oviposit into 
the wood, but as soon as the small woody debris would start to flow under the 
bridge and into the dark, the damsels would take off and try to find a new 
perch out in the open. We then began watching as the males would start to fly 
upstream, against the current, while the female was perched on the tiny stick 
in the process of laying eggs. The males would literally pull against the 
current and in effect keep the stick from going under the bridge while the 
female did her work. Sometimes two pairs would land on the same stick and all 4 
individuals would work against the current and actually pull the stick upstream 
for several feet, a herculean effort it seemed. This continued for the hour or 
so we sat there and watched. I had never seen this behavior before, but perhaps 
others have. In any event, I thought it was very interesting. A few shots are 
on the Flickr page above. 


Anyway, just a few observations and thought I thought might be of interest to 
some of you. 


Greg Lasley
Austin
Subject: Shadowdragons 0 at Neches River
From: "Tripp" <tripp.davenport AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 07 Aug 2010 03:34:27 -0000
Back in Uvalde after 3 days in Southeast Tex. Hardin County was really slow 
today as was Harris County on the way home. I think the "yet to be identified, 
close to smoky shadowdragon species" has ended it's flight season. First stop 
was at the Neches River boat ramp where the shadow dragon was flying in June 
and July. There I saw 2 common pondhawk, 3 powdered dancer, and 2 smoky 
rubyspot...searched the heavy canopy for an hour and half with no 
shadowdragons, also noted that all of the catocala moths and small moths were 
absent and the swamp cicada were gone as well, the forest floor was silent with 
the exception of thousands and I mean thousands of giant spider webs and 
spiders (banana spiders I call them) I have a bit of arachniphobia so it was 
not a pleasant experience for me. On to Village creek, much the same, Searched 
for 40 minutes or so for the shadowdragon there. I saw slaty skimmer, wandering 
glider, blue dasher and great blue skimmer along with powdered dancer, smoky 
rubyspot, and common pondhawk. Hardin County total of 7 species...very slow 
day. On the way home I stopped in at Sheldon Lake to check on a spot that 
Martin had sent me to look for the lilypad forktail, did not see any damsels at 
all but the spot was good, I think the day was too hot and the season getting 
late...once again species diversity was very poor...Swamp Darner 1, Common 
Pondhawk many many many, blue dasher several, and four-spotted pennant 
1...Harris County total 5 species (includes a couple of Hyacinth glider I saw 
while at a stop sign in Houston) Hunting odes in Uvalde in the morning before 
heading to Big Bend on Sunday for 3 days.
Subject: Re: Mystery Ode @ estero Llano Grande
From: Joshua Stuart Rose <opihi AT mindspring.com>
Date: Fri, 6 Aug 2010 21:37:02 -0400 (GMT-04:00)
Hi Mary Beth - in addition to Ed's two IDs, your final critter is *not* a 
Hyacinth Glider as currently labelled. My best guess would be female Erythemis 
plebeja, Pin-tailed Pondhawk, though seeing that species overhead is downright 
peculiar... Field marks for that species are the disproportionately long, 
skinny abdomen, even more constricted where it joins the thorax, with 
alternating dark and light bands; and the shape of the dark patch at the base 
of the hindwing, which in Hyacinth Glider would be longer, running along the 
edge of the wing down to the rear corner. 


Cheers,

Josh


-----Original Message-----
>From: Ed Lam 
>Sent: Aug 6, 2010 6:52 PM
>To: MiriamEagl AT aol.com, TexOdes AT yahoogroups.com
>Subject: Re: [TexOdes] Mystery Ode  AT  estero Llano Grande
>
>
> Hi, Mary Beth,
>
>Your mystery ode is a male Seaside Dragonlet (Erythrodiplax berenice). It is 
indeed smaller and darker than a pondhawk. Compare it to your other photograph 
of a Eastern Pondhawk and note the differences in the color of the eyes and 
face. 

>
>Your darner is a female Blue-faced Darner (Coryphaeshna adnexa). It has pale 
markings along the top of the abdomen that Common Green Darners lack. It also 
doesn't have the "bullseye" mark on the top of the frons that Common Green 
Darners have. 

>
>Best wishes,
>Ed Lam
>
>
>
> 
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: MiriamEagl AT aol.com
>To: TexOdes AT yahoogroups.com
>Sent: Fri, Aug 6, 2010 6:30 pm
>Subject: [TexOdes] Mystery Ode  AT  estero Llano Grande
>
>
>Hi, all!
>
> 
>
>It's probably a weird Eastern Pondhawk, but along the Ibis Pond boardwalk I 
>
> had a dark blue ode that appeared to be smaller and slimmer than the 
>
>Eastern  Pondhawks, with large black eyes.  Any comments would be appreciated!
>
> 
>
>_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/image/127225654_ 
>
>(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/image/127225654) 
>
> 
>
>(there are two images; you can click "next" for the next one...)
>
> 
>
>Everything else was pretty straight-forward, although I'm guessing on the  
>
>very last pic, as the bug was way up in the tree in lousy light!  I was  
>
>very excited when a pretty darner caught a bug and landed in a tree in front 
of 

>
> me, but consulting the books later she turned out to be a plain ol' female 
>
> Common Green...
>
> 
>
>Token bird is the goofy-looking Green Heron...
>
> 
>
>All pics are posted here:
>
> 
>
>_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/Friday_ 
>
>(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/Friday) 
>
> 
>
>Enjoy!  MB  
>
>
>
>Mary Beth  Stowe
>
>McAllen, TX
>
>_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 
>


Joshua Stuart Rose
opihi AT mindspring.com
Amherst MA

http://www.facebook.com/opihi
http://bugguide.net/user/view/2399
Subject: Re: Mystery Ode @ estero Llano Grande
From: Ed Lam <azurebluet AT aol.com>
Date: Fri, 06 Aug 2010 18:52:03 -0400
 Hi, Mary Beth,

Your mystery ode is a male Seaside Dragonlet (Erythrodiplax berenice). It is 
indeed smaller and darker than a pondhawk. Compare it to your other photograph 
of a Eastern Pondhawk and note the differences in the color of the eyes and 
face. 


Your darner is a female Blue-faced Darner (Coryphaeshna adnexa). It has pale 
markings along the top of the abdomen that Common Green Darners lack. It also 
doesn't have the "bullseye" mark on the top of the frons that Common Green 
Darners have. 


Best wishes,
Ed Lam



 

-----Original Message-----
From: MiriamEagl AT aol.com
To: TexOdes AT yahoogroups.com
Sent: Fri, Aug 6, 2010 6:30 pm
Subject: [TexOdes] Mystery Ode  AT  estero Llano Grande


Hi, all!

 

It's probably a weird Eastern Pondhawk, but along the Ibis Pond boardwalk I 

 had a dark blue ode that appeared to be smaller and slimmer than the 

Eastern  Pondhawks, with large black eyes.  Any comments would be appreciated!

 

_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/image/127225654_ 

(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/image/127225654) 

 

(there are two images; you can click "next" for the next one...)

 

Everything else was pretty straight-forward, although I'm guessing on the  

very last pic, as the bug was way up in the tree in lousy light!  I was  

very excited when a pretty darner caught a bug and landed in a tree in front of 


 me, but consulting the books later she turned out to be a plain ol' female 

 Common Green...

 

Token bird is the goofy-looking Green Heron...

 

All pics are posted here:

 

_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/Friday_ 

(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/Friday) 

 

Enjoy!  MB  



Mary Beth  Stowe

McAllen, TX

_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 







[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]







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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Mystery Ode @ estero Llano Grande
From: MiriamEagl AT aol.com
Date: Fri, 6 Aug 2010 18:30:34 EDT
Hi, all!
 
It's probably a weird Eastern Pondhawk, but along the Ibis Pond boardwalk I 
 had a dark blue ode that appeared to be smaller and slimmer than the 
Eastern  Pondhawks, with large black eyes.  Any comments would be appreciated!
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/image/127225654_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/image/127225654) 
 
(there are two images; you can click "next" for the next one...)
 
Everything else was pretty straight-forward, although I'm guessing on the  
very last pic, as the bug was way up in the tree in lousy light!  I was  
very excited when a pretty darner caught a bug and landed in a tree in front of 

 me, but consulting the books later she turned out to be a plain ol' female 
 Common Green...
 
Token bird is the goofy-looking Green Heron...
 
All pics are posted here:
 
_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/Friday_ 
(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/Friday) 
 
Enjoy!  MB  

Mary Beth  Stowe
McAllen, TX
_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Slow day San Jacinto and Polk Counties, Help with Ischnura id!
From: "Tripp" <tripp.davenport AT yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 06 Aug 2010 03:37:41 -0000
Second day in Southeast Texas, started in Polk County, Big Sandy dozens of 
swamp spreadwing but no elegant this time...then on to Big Creek and Double 
Lakes trying to outrun the rain, diversity low, did finally see a bluet (E. 
civile) oh well....Took this photo of a forktail at Double lakes, 


 http://www.flickr.com/photos/tdavenport/4865138746/

probably just another form of ramburii but I was thrown off by the raised 
stripes on the thorax and the indents between them, thought this was odd...the 
eyes looked really plain and green as well...any input will be appreciated, 
finished the day by stopping in at Lake Livingston and returning to Big Sandy 
for more shots of Spreadwings...headed towards Uvalde via Houston (Martin set 
me on a spot for lilypad forktails)...todays total a paltry 27 species...trip 
total so far is 44 species 


list:

San Jacinto County-
Argia moesta (Powdered Dancer) 
Argia tibialis (Blue-tipped Dancer) 
Boyeria vinosa (Fawn Darner) 
Calopteryx maculata (Ebony Jewelwing) 
Celithemis eponina (Halloween Pennant) 
Celithemis fasciata (Banded Pennant) 
Dromogomphus spinosus (Black-shouldered Spinyleg) 
Enallagma civile (Familiar Bluet) 
Erythemis simplicicollis (Common Pondhawk) 
Hagenius brevistylus (Dragonhunter) 
Ischnura posita (Fragile Forktail) 
Ischnura ramburii (Rambur's Forktail) 
Libellula incesta (Slaty Skimmer) 
Libellula vibrans (Great Blue Skimmer) 
Macromia taeniolata (Royal River Cruiser) 
Pachydiplax longipennis (Blue Dasher) 
Pantala flavescens (Wandering Glider) 
Pantala hymenaea (Spot-winged Glider) 
Perithemis tenera (Eastern Amberwing) 
Plathemis lydia (Common Whitetail) 
Progomphus obscurus (Common Sanddragon) 
Tramea carolina (Carolina Saddlebags) 
Tramea onusta (Red Saddlebags)

Polk County-
Anax junius (Common Green Darner) 
Argia moesta (Powdered Dancer) 
Argia tibialis (Blue-tipped Dancer) 
Brachymesia gravida (Four-spotted Pennant)
Erythemis simplicicollis (Common Pondhawk) 
Ischnura posita (Fragile Forktail)*
Lestes vigilax (Swamp Spreadwing) *
Libellula incesta (Slaty Skimer)*
Libellula vibrans (Great Blue Skimmer) 
Orthemis ferruginea (Roseate Skimmer)*
Pachydiplax longipennis (Blue Dasher) 
Pantala flavescens (Wandering Glider) 
Plathemis lydia (Common Whitetail) 
*not recorded on OC for Polk Co.
Subject: Jasper and Tyler Counties August 4 2010
From: "Tripp" <tripp.davenport AT yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 05 Aug 2010 05:41:24 -0000
Fairly good day today (36 species total) despite the incredible heat. I started 
the day at Beaver Ponds in the Angelina Forest and moved on to Boykin Springs 
around mid morning. I saw several Sprites at the Beaver Ponds but all were 
Southern Sprite. Saw Amanda's pennants at both places. Other noteables were a 
Comet Darner flying over Boykin lake, pictures did not turn out but that was a 
life bug for me. I also photographed a two-striped forceptail at Boykin and 
submitted it to OC, as that record was not yet recorded for Jasper County, Also 
noted that Mocha Emerald was not submitted so I put that one in as well...On to 
the afternoon, I spent it at BA Steinhagen lake looking on every lilypad for 
the lilypad forktail, saw everything on lily pads but...I took an interesting 
photograph of a four-spotted pennant hanging like an emerald under the canopy 
of a lily pad frond, I guess it had enough of the sun! I also had luck getting 
a regal darner to hang up for me in the heat, I was surprised to see a 
Broad-striped forceptail among the numerous Two-striped, submitted that bug to 
OC with regal darner and needham's skimmer (no record for county)...list for 
both counties follows...on to Big Thicket in the morning 


Jasper Co. 30 species

Anax junius (Common Green Darner) 
Anax longipes (Comet Darner) 
Aphylla williamsoni (Two-striped Forceptail)
Argia moesta (Powdered Dancer) 
Argia tibialis (Blue-tipped Dancer) 
Brachymesia gravida (Four-spotted Pennant) 
Calopteryx maculata (Ebony Jewelwing) 
Celithemis amanda (Amanda's Pennant) 
Celithemis eponina (Halloween Pennant) 
Celithemis fasciata (Banded Pennant) 
Enallagma signatum (Orange Bluet) 
Epiaeschna heros (Swamp Darner) 
Epitheca princeps (Prince Baskettail) 
Erythemis simplicicollis (Common Pondhawk) 
Erythrodiplax minuscula (Little Blue Dragonlet) 
Hagenius brevistylus (Dragonhunter) 
Ischnura posita (Fragile Forktail) 
Ischnura ramburii (Rambur's Forktail) 
Libellula axilena (Bar-winged Skimmer) 
Libellula incesta (Slaty Skimmer) 
Libellula vibrans (Great Blue Skimmer) 
Macromia sp. (Unidentified Cruiser) 
Nehalennia integricollis (Southern Sprite) 
Pachydiplax longipennis (Blue Dasher) 
Pantala flavescens (Wandering Glider)
Pantala hymenea (Spot-winged Glider)
Perithemis tenera (Eastern Amberwing) 
Somatochlora linearis (Mocha Emerald)
Tramea lacerata (Black Saddlebags)
Tramea carolina (Carolina Saddlebags) 

Tyler County 27 species

Aphylla angustifolia (Broad-striped Forceptail)
Aphylla williamsoni (Two-striped Forceptail) 
Argia fumipennis (Variable Dancer) 
Argia moesta (Powdered Dancer) 
Argia tibialis (Blue-tipped Dancer) 
Brachymesia gravida (Four-spotted Pennant) 
Calopteryx maculata (Ebony Jewelwing) 
Celithemis eponina (Halloween Pennant) 
Celithemis fasciata (Banded Pennant) 
Coryphaeschna ingens (Regal Darner)
Enallagma signatum (Orange Bluet) 
Epiaeschna heros (Swamp Darner) 
Epitheca princeps (Prince Baskettail) 
Erythemis simplicicollis (Common Pondhawk) 
Erythrodiplax minuscula (Little Blue Dragonlet) 
Ischnura hastata (Citrine Forktail) 
Ischnura posita (Fragile Forktail) 
Ischnura ramburii (Rambur's Forktail) 
Libellula incesta (Slaty Skimmer) 
Libellula needhami (Needhams Skimmer)
Libellula vibrans (Great Blue Skimmer) 
Macromia illinoiensis (Swift River Cruiser) 
Pachydiplax longipennis (Blue Dasher) 
Perithemis tenera (Eastern Amberwing) 
Tramea carolina (Carolina Saddlebags) 
Tramea lacerata (Black Saddlebags) 
Tramea onusta (Red Saddlebags)
Subject: Canon Road, Cameron co. 8-4-10
From: Antshrike1 AT aol.com
Date: Wed, 4 Aug 2010 17:40:34 EDT
With most of the best Valley oding places under water, this morning I  
headed over to Canon Road in SW Cameron County hoping to find some darners. I 

saw at least two species.  Here's a couple of Blue-faced  Darners.
 
_http://i37.tinypic.com/2mngjk3.jpg_ (http://i37.tinypic.com/2mngjk3.jpg) 
 
_http://i35.tinypic.com/2mha5ch.jpg_ (http://i35.tinypic.com/2mha5ch.jpg) 
 
This one was huge, maybe five inches long.  Is it a Regal Darner?  Swamp 
Darner? Or just a Turquoise-tipped?
 
_http://i34.tinypic.com/awrszm.jpg_ (http://i34.tinypic.com/awrszm.jpg) 
 
_http://i35.tinypic.com/sblg5x.jpg_ (http://i35.tinypic.com/sblg5x.jpg) 
 
I know this is a bad pic but it's all I got.  I'm leaning toward  
Broad-striped Forceptail because of the tail pattern.
 
_http://i38.tinypic.com/qq7qf8.jpg_ (http://i38.tinypic.com/qq7qf8.jpg) 
 
Does the black flange on the club mean this is a Ringed  Forceptail?
 
_http://i38.tinypic.com/sl7cs1.jpg_ (http://i38.tinypic.com/sl7cs1.jpg) 
 
Thanks for your comments.
 
Dan Jones in Weslaco
 


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: San Antonio River (Bexar Co.)
From: "Jerry" <dragonflywatcher1029 AT yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 04 Aug 2010 13:38:01 -0000
Hello All,

Yesterday I spent afternoon at Breckenridge Park near SA Zoo walking the SA 
River. Here's the list of what I saw: 


Smoky Rubyspot 12
American Rubyspot 7
Kiowa Dancer 5
Dusky Dancer 6 (several in tandem)
Powdered Dancer (many)
Common Green Darner (1 male)
Swift Setwing (5 males, 1 female)
Eastern or Common Pondhawk (several)
Broadstriped Forceptail (5 males, 1 female)
Slough's Amberwing (5 males)

Jerry K. Hatfield
Subject: Gonzales and Luling, 2 August 2010
From: "GregL" <glasley AT earthlink.net>
Date: Tue, 03 Aug 2010 01:46:34 -0000
Dear TexOdes,

Jerry Hatfield and his wife came down from their normal Lubbock-area haunts to 
visit family in San Antonio and he and I poked around Gonzales and Luling 
(Gonzales and Caldwell Cos) today. Spent a while at Independence Park in 
Gonzales and with directions from Tripp Davenport, we located the Coral-fronted 
Threadtails he had last Sunday. We also found a couple of Blue-faced Ringtails. 
From there we made a brief stop at Palmetto State Park (but did not refined 
Tripp's Leonora's Dancer), then stopped by the San Marcos River just west of 
Luling. Below is the day's list. 43 species. 


American Rubyspot (Hetaerina americana) - many
Smoky Rubyspot (Hetaerina titia) - many
Southern Spreadwing (Lestes australis) - about 10 or so at Palmetto
Coral-fronted Threadtail (Neoneura aaroni) - 2 or 3 at Gonzales
Blue-fronted Dancer (Argia apicalis) - many
Variable Dancer (Argia fumipennis) - a few
Powdered Dancer (Argia moesta) - many
Blue-ringed Dancer (Argia sedula) - many
Dusky Dancer (Argia translata) - many
Double-striped Bluet (Enallagma basidens) - a few
Familiar Bluet (Enallagma civile) - several
Citrine Forktail (Ischnura hastata) - a few
Fragile Forktail (Ischnura posita) - about 10
Rambur's Forktail (Ischnura ramburii) - a few
Desert Firetail (Telebasis salva) - many
Common Green Darner (Anax junius) - 2 or 3 in flight
Flag-tailed Spinyleg (Dromogomphus spoliatus) - 8 or 10
Eastern Ringtail (Erpetogomphus designatus) - 10
Blue-faced Ringtail (Erpetogomphus eutainia) - 2
Dragonhunter (Hagenius brevistylus) - 1 in flight over Guadalupe River
Five-striped Leaftail (Phyllogomphoides albrighti) - 4 or 5
Common Sanddragon (Progomphus obscurus) - 6
Russet-tipped Clubtail (Stylurus plagiatus) - many
Swift (Georgia) River Cruiser (Macromia illinoiensis) - 3
River Cruiser species (Macromia sp.) - 5 in flight only, probably Bronzed
Pale-faced Clubskimmer (Brechmorhoga mendax) - 5
Gray-waisted Skimmer (Cannaphila insularis) - 2 or 3
Checkered Setwing (Dythemis fugax) - a few
Swift Setwing (Dythemis velox) - several
Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis) - many
Great Pondhawk (Erythemis vesiculosa) - 2
Neon Skimmer (Libellula croceipennis) - 6
Slaty Skimmer (Libellula incesta) - 4
Widow Skimmer (Libellula luctuosa) - several
Great Blue Skimmer (Libellula vibrans) - about 10
Carmine Skimmer (Orthemis discolor) - 6
Roseate Skimmer (Orthemis ferruginea) - many
Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) - many
Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens) - several
Spot-winged Glider (Pantala hymenaea) - several
Eastern Amberwing (Perithemis tenera) - several
Common Whitetail (Plathemis lydia) - several
Black Saddlebags (Tramea lacerata) - several
Red Saddlebags (Tramea onusta) - several


Greg Lasley
Austin
Subject: Gonzales County July 31
From: "Tripp" <tripp.davenport AT yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 02 Aug 2010 04:39:08 -0000
The wife had a class reunion in Gonzales on Saturday so I got a bit of time at 
Palmetto State Park and a few minutes at Independence to look around between 
morning BBQ and evening dancing. Did not see the Blue-faced that day but did 
see a Leonora's Dancer at Palmetto State Park on one of the shallow ponds along 
the trail, that was a new county record on OC,Gonzales county. Good numbers of 
river cruisers (all bronzed as far as I could tell) and good numbers of 
gray-waisted skimmer at Palmetto. There were also 7 coral fronted threadtail 
scattered along the banks below the bridge at Independence Park. 35 species 
total 


Anax junius (Common Green Darner) 
Aphylla angustifolia (Broad-striped Forceptail) 
Argia apicalis (Blue-fronted Dancer) 
Argia immunda (Kiowa Dancer) 
Argia leonorae (Leonora's Dancer)
Argia moesta (Powdered Dancer) 
Argia sedula (Blue-ringed Dancer) 
Argia translata (Dusky Dancer) 
Brechmorhoga mendax (Pale-faced Clubskimmer) 
Cannaphila insularis (Gray-waisted Skimmer) 
Dromogomphus spoliatus (Flag-tailed Spinyleg) 
Dythemis nigrescens (Black Setwing) 
Dythemis velox (Swift Setwing) 
Enallagma basidens (Double-striped Bluet) 
Epiaeschna heros (Swamp Darner) 
Erpetogomphus designatus (Eastern Ringtail) 
Erythemis simplicicollis (Common Pondhawk) 
Erythemis vesiculosa (Great Pondhawk) 
Erythrodiplax umbrata (Band-winged Dragonlet) 
Hetaerina americana (American Rubyspot) 
Hetaerina titia (Smoky Rubyspot) 
Libellula luctuosa (Widow Skimmer) 
Libellula vibrans (Great Blue Skimmer) 
Macromia annulata (Bronzed River Cruiser) 
Neoneura aaroni (Coral-fronted Threadtail) 
Orthemis discolor (Carmine Skimmer) 
Orthemis ferruginea (Roseate Skimmer) 
Pachydiplax longipennis (Blue Dasher) 
Pantala flavescens (Wandering Glider) 
Perithemis tenera (Eastern Amberwing) 
Phyllogomphoides albrighti (Five-striped Leaftail) 
Plathemis lydia (Common Whitetail) 
Stylurus plagiatus (Russet-tipped Clubtail) 
Tramea lacerata (Black Saddlebags) 
Tramea onusta (Red Saddlebags)
Subject: Back from Minnesota
From: "Terry Hibbitts" <thibb AT swtexas.net>
Date: Sat, 31 Jul 2010 20:27:35 -0500
Just got back from Minnesota by way of Colorado, Nebraska, Wisconsin, and
back through Colorado on the way back.  I got around 88 species plus or
minus and 45 plus or minus new species. I am still sorting through all of
the photos.

 

I can list all of them here if that is appropriate.  I am with Dan.  Where
are all of the odes in the mountains of Colorado?

 

Troy is on his way up to Minnesota as I write this.

 

Terry Hibbitts

Camp Wood, TX

www.thehibbitts.net

 

 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Trip Report, Goliad Co., 30 July 2010
From: "GregL" <glasley AT earthlink.net>
Date: Sat, 31 Jul 2010 15:56:45 -0000
Hello All,

Eric Isley and I spent the morning and early afternoon of Friday, 30 July 2010 
in Goliad Co., about 135 miles south of Austin on U.S. 183. Goliad is along the 
San Antonio River and only had 25 species of odonates recorded for the county 
so we thought we would try to add a few things. We spent the first few hours in 
Goliad State Park along the San Antonio River, then headed east a little to 
some brushy fields at Coleto Creek Reservoir. Our cumulative total for the day 
is below. New county records are marked with an asterisk. These were documented 
by photo and/or specimen. I think this county deserves much more work as I 
suspect there are some interesting records that will be turned up here. 


Smoky Rubyspot (Hetaerina titia) - many
Blue-fronted Dancer (Argia apicalis) - several
Powdered Dancer (Argia moesta) - many
Citrine Forktail (Ischnura hastata) - several
Rambur's Forktail (Ischnura ramburii) - several
Common Green Darner (Anax junius) - several
Broad-striped Forceptail (Aphylla angustifolia) - 1*
Narrow-striped Forceptail (Aphylla protracta) - 3*
Flag-tailed Spinyleg (Dromogomphus spoliatus) - 8*
Eastern Ringtail (Erpetogomphus designatus) - several
Four-striped Leaftail (Phyllogomphoides stigmatus) - 20*
Russet-tipped Clubtail (Stylurus plagiatus) - 25
Red-tailed Pennant (Brachymesia furcata) - 1*
Four-spotted Pennant (Brachymesia gravida) - many*
Halloween Pennant (Celithemis eponina) - many*
Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis) - many*
Great Pondhawk (Erythemis vesiculosa) - 1
Widow Skimmer (Libellula luctuosa) - many*
Needham's Skimmer (Libellula needhami) - 8*
Great Blue Skimmer (Libellula vibrans) - 3*
Roseate Skimmer (Orthemis ferruginea) - many
Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) - many*
Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens) - many
Eastern Amberwing (Perithemis tenera) - several
Common Whitetail (Plathemis lydia) - several
Black Saddlebags (Tramea lacerata) - several (would be new but could not photo 
or catch one) 

Red Saddlebags (Tramea onusta) - several*

* = new county record

So, nothing earth shattering, but a fun day in the heat and sun!

Greg Lasley
Austin
Subject: Regal Darner new for Uvalde County
From: "Tripp" <tripp.davenport AT yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 30 Jul 2010 02:30:34 -0000
Spent the day looking around Cook's Slough and Tom Nunn. Most noteable was a 
female regal darner ovipositing at Tom Nunn in the still water where the lily 
pads are (submitted to OC). I also saw numbers of Straw-colored Sylph at Cook's 
Slough (8). Cook's also yielded Mexican Wedgetail today, Tony had gotten that 
bug earlier in the summer while looking for Shadowdragon. Great Blue Skimmer 
showed up at Cook's today, We have seen them all over the county this year. Tom 
Nunn still has good numbers of Antillean Saddlebags, I counted 6 today and also 
counted 8 Mexican Wedgetail (2 females) at the seep springs spot. We are seeing 
Gray-waisted Skimmer in good numbers all up and down the Nueces in Uvalde 
county, they seem to show up anywhere there is shady spots, still water, and 
lots of overhanging vegetation. Two Ivory-striped Sylph males patrolling the 
gravel bar at Tom Nunn today as well. 


Today's list 51 species

Acanthagrion quadratum, Mexican Wedgetail
Anax junius,  Common Green Darner
Aphylla angustifolia, Broad-striped Forceptail
Aphylla protracta, Narrow-striped Forceptail
Argia apicalis, Blue-fronted Dancer
Argia immunda, Kiowa Dancer
Argia moesta, Powdered Dancer
Argia rhoadsi, Golden-winged Dancer
Argia sedula, Blue-ringed Dancer
Argia translata, Dusky Dancer
Brachymesia furcata, Red-tailed Pennant
Brachymesia gravida, Four-spotted Pennant
Brechmorhoga mendax, Pale-faced Clubskimmer
Cannaphila insularis, Gray-waisted Skimmer
Celithemis eponina, Halloween Pennant
Coryphaeschna ingens, Regal Darner
Dromogomphus spoliatus, Flag-tailed Spinyleg
Dythemis fugax, Checkered Setwing
Dythemis nigrescens, Black Setwing
Dythemis velox, Swift Setwing
Enallagma basidens, Double-striped Bluet
Epitheca princeps, Prince Baskettail
Erpetogomphus designatus, Eastern Ringtail
Erythemis plebeja, Pin-tailed Pondhawk
Erythemis simplicicollis, Common Pondhawk
Erythemis vesiculosa, Great Pondhawk
Hetaerina americana, American Rubyspot
Hetaerina titia, Smoky Rubyspot
Ischnura posita, Fragile Forktail
Ischnura ramburii, Rambur's Forktail
Libellula comanche, Comanche Skimmer
Libellula luctuosa, Widow Skimmer
Libellula saturata, Flame Skimmer
Libellula vibrans, Great Blue Skimmer
Macromia annulata, Bronzed River Cruiser
Macrothemis imitans, Ivory-striped Sylph
Macrothemis inacuta, Straw-colored Sylph
Miathyria marcella, Hyacinth Glider
Orthemis ferruginea, Roseate Skimmer
Pachydiplax longipennis, Blue Dasher
Pantala flavescens, Wandering Glider
Pantala hymenaea, Spot-winged Glider
Perithemis domitia, Slough Amberwing
Perithemis tenera, Eastern Amberwing
Phyllogomphoides albrighti, Five-striped Leaftail
Phyllogomphoides stigmatus, Four-striped Leaftail
Plathemis lydia, Common Whitetail
Telebasis salva, Desert Firetail
Tramea insularis, Antillean Saddlebags
Tramea lacerata, Black Saddlebags
Tramea onusta, Red Saddlebags
Subject: 3 sylph day Uvalde Co.
From: "Tripp" <tripp.davenport AT yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:39:02 -0000
Good Ode day in Uvalde on Tuesday the 27th. I was joined by Dan and wife from 
Weslaco, Troy met up with us at Montell where we saw good numbers of Sylphs 
both Ivory-striped and Jade-striped. We had a few individuals hang for us and 
got some photos. Dan and I then went on down to Tom Nunn and were sucessful in 
photographing Antillean Saddlebags and Mexican Wedgetails. Dan travelled on to 
San Antonio and I hit Cook's slough to get in the last Sylph. I saw one 
Straw-colored and added several more bugs to the daily list bringing the total 
to 54 species. 


List:

Acanthagrion quadratum, Mexican Wedgetail
Anax junius,  Common Green Darner
Aphylla angustifolia, Broad-striped Forceptail*
Aphylla protracta, Narrow-striped Forceptail *
Argia apicalis, Blue-fronted Dancer*
Argia barretti, Comanche Dancer
Argia immunda, Kiowa Dancer
Argia moesta, Powdered Dancer
Argia rhoadsi, Golden-winged Dancer
Argia sedula, Blue-ringed Dancer
Argia translata, Dusky Dancer
Brachymesia furcata, Red-tailed Pennant
Brachymesia gravida, Four-spotted Pennant*
Brechmorhoga mendax, Pale-faced Clubskimmer
Cannaphila insularis, Gray-waisted Skimmer
Celithemis eponina, Halloween Pennant*
Celithemis fasciata, Banded Pennant
Dromogomphus spoliatus, Flag-tailed Spinyleg
Dythemis fugax, Checkered Setwing
Dythemis nigrescens, Black Setwing
Dythemis velox, Swift Setwing
Enallagma basidens, Double-striped Bluet
Enallagma novaehispaniae, Neotropical Bluet
Enallagma praevarum, Arroyo Bluet
Enallagma signatum, Orange Bluet
Epitheca princeps, Prince Baskettail*
Erpetogomphus designatus, Eastern Ringtail
Erythemis simplicicollis, Common Pondhawk
Hetaerina americana, American Rubyspot
Hetaerina titia, Smoky Rubyspot
Ischnura posita, Fragile Forktail
Ischnura ramburii, Rambur's Forktail*
Libellula comanche, Comanche Skimmer
Libellula croceipennis, Neon Skimmer
Libellula luctuosa, Widow Skimmer
Macromia annulata, Bronzed River Cruiser
Macrothemis imitans, Ivory-striped Sylph
Macrothemis inacuta, Straw-colored Sylph*
Macrothemis inequiunguis, Jade-striped Sylph
Miathyria marcella, Hyacinth Glider*
Orthemis ferruginea, Roseate Skimmer
Pachydiplax longipennis, Blue Dasher
Pantala flavescens, Wandering Glider
Pantala hymenaea, Spot-winged Glider
Perithemis domitia, Slough Amberwing
Perithemis tenera, Eastern Amberwing
Phyllogomphoides albrighti, Five-striped Leaftail
Plathemis lydia, Common Whitetail
Pseudoleon superbus, Filigree Skimmer
Telebasis salva, Desert Firetail
Tramea insularis, Antillean Saddlebags
Tramea lacerata, Black Saddlebags
Tramea onusta, Red Saddlebags

*species seen at Cook's Slough (me only)
Subject: July 25 Uvalde County
From: "Tripp" <tripp.davenport AT yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 26 Jul 2010 03:00:45 -0000
Hit 4 spots in Uvalde County today with Steve Collins. We travelled to Cook's 
Slough, Ft. Inge, Tom Nunn Nueces, and Montell. Found most of the bugs we were 
looking for with the exception of the coppery dancer and ivory sylph. Noteable 
bugs were Antillean Saddlebags, Jade Sylph, Straw-colored Sylph, Mexican 
Wedgetail, Gray-waisted Skimmer and a Pin-tailed Pondhawk. In all, we logged 50 
species for the day...list follows 


Acanthagrion quadratum, Mexican Wedgetail
Anax junius,  Common Green Darner
Aphylla angustifolia, Broad-striped Forceptail
Argia apicalis, Blue-fronted Dancer
Argia immunda, Kiowa Dancer
Argia moesta, Powdered Dancer
Argia rhoadsi, Golden-winged Dancer
Argia sedula, Blue-ringed Dancer
Argia translata, Dusky Dancer
Brachymesia furcata, Red-tailed Pennant
Brachymesia gravida, Four-spotted Pennant
Brechmorhoga mendax, Pale-faced Clubskimmer
Cannaphila insularis, Gray-waisted Skimmer
Celithemis eponina, Halloween Pennant
Celithemis fasciata, Banded Pennant
Dromogomphus spoliatus, Flag-tailed Spinyleg
Dythemis fugax, Checkered Setwing
Dythemis nigrescens, Black Setwing
Dythemis velox, Swift Setwing
Enallagma basidens, Double-striped Bluet
Enallagma novaehispaniae, Neotropical Bluet
Enallagma praevarum, Arroyo Bluet
Enallagma signatum, Orange Bluet
Epitheca princeps, Prince Baskettail
Erpetogomphus designatus, Eastern Ringtail
Erythemis plebeja, Pin-tailed Pondhawk
Erythemis simplicicollis, Common Pondhawk
Hagenius brevistylus, Dragonhunter
Hetaerina americana, American Rubyspot
Hetaerina titia, Smoky Rubyspot
Ischnura posita, Fragile Forktail
Ischnura ramburii, Rambur's Forktail
Lestes australis, Southern Spreadwing
Libellula luctuosa, Widow Skimmer
Macrothemis inacuta, Straw-colored Sylph
Macrothemis inequiunguis, Jade-striped Sylph
Neurocordulia xanthosoma, Orange Shadowdragon
Orthemis ferruginea, Roseate Skimmer
Pachydiplax longipennis, Blue Dasher
Pantala flavescens, Wandering Glider
Pantala hymenaea, Spot-winged Glider
Perithemis tenera, Eastern Amberwing
Phyllogomphoides albrighti, Five-striped Leaftail
Phyllogomphoides stigmatus, Four-striped Leaftail
Plathemis lydia, Common Whitetail
Pseudoleon superbus, Filigree Skimmer
Telebasis salva, Desert Firetail
Tramea insularis, Antillean Saddlebags
Tramea lacerata, Black Saddlebags
Tramea onusta, Red Saddlebags
Subject: Austin trip report, 23 July 2010
From: "GregL" <glasley AT earthlink.net>
Date: Sat, 24 Jul 2010 10:55:12 -0000
Hello All,

I've been pretty lazy about making trip reports recently as I am out at least 
every other day here locally, so thought I'd at least make a brief post from 
yesterday, 23 July. Lee Hoy and I spent the morning making brief visits to 3 
sites, all in the immediate vicinity of the Austin Airport; Hornsby Bend, 
Southeast Metro Park, and Lake Walter E. Long Park. I should also note that a 
few days ago, Eric Isley and I found and photographed the 1st Travis Co. record 
of Narrow-striped Forceptail (Aphylla protracta) at Lake Walter E. Long, and 
although we saw 3 different individuals that day, we have not seen any since. 
The trip Lee and I made yesterday was geared to mainly looking for dragonflies 
that Lee had not photographed before so we did not spend much time on damsels. 
Our combined list for the 3 spots from 8:30 AM till 11 AM included: 


Blue-fronted Dancer (Argia apicalis) - a few
Powdered Dancer (Argia moesta) - many
Blue-ringed Dancer (Argia sedula) - a few
Common Green Darner (Anax junius) - a few
Broad-striped Forceptail (Aphylla angustifolia) - 2
Flag-tailed Spinyleg (Dromogomphus spoliatus) - 2
Eastern Ringtail (Erpetogomphus designatus) - a few
Four-striped Leaftail (Phyllogomphoides stigmatus) - 6
Russet-tipped Clubtail (Stylurus plagiatus) - a few
Royal River Cruiser (Macromia taeniolata) - 3
unidentified river cruiser (Macromia species) - 3
Four-spotted Pennant (Brachymesia gravida) - many
Halloween Pennant (Celithemis eponina) - many
Checkered Setwing (Dythemis fugax) - many
Swift Setwing (Dythemis velox) - many
Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis) - many
Band-winged Dragonlet (Erythrodiplax umbrata) - 1
Widow Skimmer (Libellula luctuosa) - many
Needham's Skimmer (Libellula needhami) - 5
Roseate Skimmer (Orthemis ferruginea) - many
Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) - many
Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens) - many
Spot-winged Glider (Pantala hymenaea) - 3 or 4
Eastern Amberwing (Perithemis tenera) - a few
Common Whitetail (Plathemis lydia) - many
Black Saddlebags (Tramea lacerata) - a few
Red Saddlebags (Tramea onusta) - many

Greg Lasley
Austin
Subject: Uvalde Co. Uncooperative Evening Skimmer and lots of Mexican Wedgetails
From: "Tripp" <tripp.davenport AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 25 Jul 2010 01:54:27 -0000
Started off the morning at Ft. Inge, early in the day flushed an evening 
skimmer, it made several circles and settled back in a few feet away, I backed 
up and circled around to get a shot and flushed it again, this time it did not 
return, dissapearing into the undergrowth, good to know they are still around 
at Ft. Inge even though scarce. Met Mitch from Utopia later in the morning and 
he spotted a Straw-colored Sylph, new county location for that species. Later 
in the afternoon, I went out to the Nueces to check on the Antillean 
Saddlebags, Saw 5 and one set up high for a few long distance photos. Went on 
further down to the seep springs and finally found Mexican Wedgetail (Life Bug 
for Me). I found a sweet spot and counted 8 Mexican Wedgetails, even 2 in 
tandem! Got really crappy photos as the light was bad, got home uploaded the 
photos and after seeing the quality of them, I went back out to the spot to 
photo them again, better luck this time, light was better. While out there I 
also spotted a female Gray-waisted Skimmer and a single Straw-colored Sylph, 
another new county location for Straw-colored...
Subject: Uvalde County-shadowdragons still flying
From: "Tripp" <tripp.davenport AT yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 23 Jul 2010 23:13:54 -0000
The Orange Shadowdragons are still flying at Cook's Slough. I flushed 2 up 
today under the heavy live oak canopy. Everything else today fairly usual 
stuff. Noticeably smaller numbers of pennants this year, all forms, red-tailed, 
Halloween, four-spotted in low numbers and only 1 marl so far this year and 0 
tawny this year. Noticably absent also is band-winged dragonlet, I have only 
seen 2 in the last few weeks. Spot-tailed dasher has not appeared this year and 
thornbush dasher are scarce. I am still awaiting the flight of the late summer 
darners, no blue-eyed or blue-faced so far....todays Cook's Slough list follows 


Dusky Dancer
Blue-ringed Dancer
Golden-winged Dancer
Blue-fronted Dancer
Powdered Dancer
Rambur's Forktail
Fragile Forktail
Desert Firetail
Narrow-striped Forceptail
Broad-striped Forceptail
Orange Shadowdragon
Prince Baskettail
Red-tailed Pennant
Four-spotted Pennant
Halloween Pennant
Checkered Setwing
Black Setwing
Swift Setwing
Eastern Pondhawk
Band-winged Dragonlet
Widow Skimmer
Hyacinth Glider
Roseate Skimmer
Blue Dasher
Common Whitetail
Spot-winged Glider
Eastern Amberwing
Red Saddlebags
Black Saddlebags
Subject: Texas to Colorado Odes 7/11-21/10
From: Antshrike1 AT aol.com
Date: Sat, 24 Jul 2010 17:58:58 EDT
Honey and I recently returned from a trip to Colorado.  We stopped as  much 
as time would allow at various spots to look at odes and butterflies.   Saw 
lots of neat stuff but was disappointed about not seeing much at high  
elevations.  Here are a few pics I could use some ID help with.
 
At Balmorhea Springs I saw this ringtail.  I guess it's just an  Eastern?
 
_http://i32.tinypic.com/b989cw.jpg_ (http://i32.tinypic.com/b989cw.jpg) 
 
There were dozens of these flying around Balmorhea Lake.  Spot-winged  
Gliders?
 
_http://i27.tinypic.com/14e4cix.jpg_ (http://i27.tinypic.com/14e4cix.jpg) 
 
We spent some time at Alamosa NWR in Colorado.  There was quite a bit  of 
stuff along an irrigation ditch passing through arid sage brush at about 7000 
 ft.
 
This was the only Four-spotted Skimmer we saw.  Pretty neat!
 
_http://i32.tinypic.com/15d8acx.jpg_ (http://i32.tinypic.com/15d8acx.jpg) 
 
This meadowhawk has a golden band across the wings.  Band-winged  
Meadowhawk?
 
_http://i29.tinypic.com/k0hufq.jpg_ (http://i29.tinypic.com/k0hufq.jpg) 
 
There were dozens of these little guys around the refuge.  I'm  guessing 
Cherry-faced Meadowhawk?
 
_http://i25.tinypic.com/jjmvs1.jpg_ (http://i25.tinypic.com/jjmvs1.jpg) 
 
_http://i27.tinypic.com/2v28x1h.jpg_ (http://i27.tinypic.com/2v28x1h.jpg) 
 
_http://i31.tinypic.com/34o6gjo.jpg_ (http://i31.tinypic.com/34o6gjo.jpg) 
 
_http://i32.tinypic.com/25zrplg.jpg_ (http://i32.tinypic.com/25zrplg.jpg) 
 
_http://i28.tinypic.com/rb9u1v.jpg_ (http://i28.tinypic.com/rb9u1v.jpg) 
 
Also saw some damselflies.  This looks like Pacific Forktail.
 
_http://i27.tinypic.com/4lst8z.jpg_ (http://i27.tinypic.com/4lst8z.jpg) 
 
Here's a bluet that may just be Familiar but what about Alkali or something 
 else?
 
_http://i27.tinypic.com/vys3yc.jpg_ (http://i27.tinypic.com/vys3yc.jpg) 
 
_http://i25.tinypic.com/f52gif.jpg_ (http://i25.tinypic.com/f52gif.jpg) 
 
Saw this darner (rotated 90 degrees) at Garden of the Gods at Colorado  
Springs.  Is it dentifiable?
 
_http://i26.tinypic.com/2646g6a.jpg_ (http://i26.tinypic.com/2646g6a.jpg) 
 
On the return home we stopped at the Hwy 385 crossing of the Canadian river 
 south of Dalhart.  I'm guessing Common Sanddragon?
 
_http://i31.tinypic.com/r8yqsi.jpg_ (http://i31.tinypic.com/r8yqsi.jpg) 
 
_http://i30.tinypic.com/2qvfq7t.jpg_ (http://i30.tinypic.com/2qvfq7t.jpg) 
 
Thanks for any comments.
 
Dan Jones in Weslaco
 


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Southeast Park, Hornsby Bend, and Walter E. Long Lake Park - Photos with Greg
From: "LeeH" <leehoy AT me.com>
Date: Sat, 24 Jul 2010 20:40:55 -0000
I had a great day yesterday enjoying these three parks with Greg. He has 
already posted a species list and I have uploaded some photos from the day. 



http://texasthroughbinoculars.blogspot.com/2010/07/dragonflies-with-greg-lasley.html 


Lee Hoy
Georgetown, TX
Subject: Austin area field trip report, 23 July 2010
From: Greg Lasley <glasley AT earthlink.net>
Date: Sat, 24 Jul 2010 05:22:41 -0500
Hello All,

I've been pretty lazy about making trip reports recently as I am out at least 
every other day here locally, so thought I'd at least make a brief post from 
yesterday, 23 July. Lee Hoy and I spent the morning making brief visits to 3 
sites, all in the vicinity of the Austin Airport; Hornsby Bend, Southeast Metro 
Park, and Lake Walter E. Long Park. I should also note that a few days ago, 
Eric Isley and I found and photographed the 1st Travis Co. record of 
Narrow-striped Forceptail (Aphylla protracta), and although we saw 3 different 
individuals that day, we have not seen any since. The trip Lee and I made 
yesterday was geared to mainly looking for dragonflies that Lee had not 
photographed before so we did not spend much time on damsels. Our combined list 
for the 3 spots included: 


Blue-fronted Dancer (Argia apicalis) - a few

Powdered Dancer (Argia moesta) - many

Blue-ringed Dancer (Argia sedula) - a few

Common Green Darner (Anax junius) - a few

Broad-striped Forceptail (Aphylla angustifolia) - 2

Flag-tailed Spinyleg (Dromogomphus spoliatus) - 2

Eastern Ringtail (Erpetogomphus designatus) - a few

Four-striped Leaftail (Phyllogomphoides stigmatus) - 6

Russet-tipped Clubtail (Stylurus plagiatus) - a few

Royal River Cruiser (Macromia taeniolata) - 3

unidentified river cruiser (Macromia species) - 3

Four-spotted Pennant (Brachymesia gravida) - many

Halloween Pennant (Celithemis eponina) - many

Checkered Setwing (Dythemis fugax) - many

Swift Setwing (Dythemis velox) - many

Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis) - many

Band-winged Dragonlet (Erythrodiplax umbrata) - 1

Widow Skimmer (Libellula luctuosa) - many

Needham's Skimmer (Libellula needhami) - 5

Roseate Skimmer (Orthemis ferruginea) - many

Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) - many

Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens) - many

Spot-winged Glider (Pantala hymenaea) - 3 or 4

Eastern Amberwing (Perithemis tenera) - a few

Common Whitetail (Plathemis lydia) - many

Black Saddlebags (Tramea lacerata) - a few

Red Saddlebags (Tramea onusta) - many





Greg Lasley

Austin
  



























[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Sylph photos from today
From: "Troy" <alterna2627 AT swtexas.net>
Date: Fri, 23 Jul 2010 02:58:05 -0000
here are the sylph photos that I took today, along withe previous photos . . . 

Ivorys
http://www.thehibbitts.net/troy/photo/odonata/ivory_striped_sylph.htm

Jades
http://www.thehibbitts.net/troy/photo/odonata/jade-striped_sylph.htm

Troy Hibbitts
Camp Wood, TX
Subject: Tale of Jade and Ivory (Montell 7/22)
From: "Troy" <alterna2627 AT swtexas.net>
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 2010 23:28:46 -0000
Ran down to Montell Spring in northern Uvalde County today to search for Sylphs 
from 1:00-3:00. Found both Jade & Ivory Sylphs flying in good numbers, and 
today (unlike previous days) they were mostly males, mostly Ivory, and several 
hung up. I ended up with 3 different male Ivories hung up, 2 pairs (or maybe 
the same male? same pair?) in copula, along with 2 Jade males hung up. I did 
not see any Jade females flying, unlike previous trips to this spot. Possibly 
could have found more Jades hung, but was focused on getting male Ivories, as I 
already have good shots of Jade males (from last year). 


I made on brief foray down the creek, nothing particularly notable. Altogether, 
found: 


(paid almost no attention to damsels, there were almost certainly more species 
present) 

American Rubyspot (Hetaerina americana) lots   
Smoky Rubyspot (Hetaerina titia) 5-6
Blue-ringed Dancer (Argia sedula)  10+ 
Dusky Dancer (Argia translata) lots
Neotropical Bluet (Enallagma novaehispaniae)  10+
Black-shouldered Spinylag (Dromogomphus spinosus) 4  
Bronzed River Cruiser (Macromia annulata) 1
Pale-faced Clubskimmer (Brechmorhoga mendax) 3   
Black Setwing (Dythemis nigrescens)  10+ 
Swift Setwing (Dythemis velox) 10+  
Ivory-striped Sylph (Macrothemis imitans)  10+
Jade-striped Sylph (Macrothemis inequiunguis) 3-4
Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens)   1
Spot-winged Glider (Pantala hymenaea) 10+   
Roseate Skimmer (Orthemis ferruginea) 5-6  
Red Saddlebags (Tramea onusta)  2-3 

Troy Hibbitts,
Camp Wood, TX
Subject: Re: Mystery Odes at Yturria NWR
From: Joshua Stuart Rose <opihi AT mindspring.com>
Date: Wed, 21 Jul 2010 22:57:57 -0400 (GMT-04:00)
Hi Mary Beth - Also, your "very dull Roseate Skimmer" is not any Orthemis that 
I can recognize. 


http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/image/126708487

I think it is actually a Red-tailed Pennant (Brachymesia furcata). That is a 
funny-looking individual, have not seen one with such a pale face before, but 
the body shape and the contrast between the thorax and abdomen seem right on 
for that species. 


Have fun,

Josh

-----Original Message-----
>From: azurebluet AT aol.com
>Sent: Jul 20, 2010 8:44 PM
>To: MiriamEagl AT aol.com, TexOdes AT yahoogroups.com
>Subject: Re: [TexOdes] Mystery Odes at Yturria NWR
>
>Hi, Mary Beth,
>
>Your mystery ode appears to be a Metallic Pennant (Idiataphe cubensis). A good 
bug for Texas - it was first recorded in the 

> State only in 2008. See 
http://www.martinreid.com/Odonata%20website/odonate171.html 

>
>Your mystery clubtail is indeed an Eastern Ringtail. Females have larger pale 
lateral markings on the abdomen than males. 

> Familiar Bluet female is probably correct but there is no way to separate any 
of the lookalikes from the photographs. 

>
>Best,
>Ed Lam
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: MiriamEagl AT aol.com
>To: TexOdes AT yahoogroups.com
>Sent: Tue, Jul 20, 2010 7:54 pm
>Subject: [TexOdes] Mystery Odes at Yturria NWR
>
>Mike Rickard, Ginny Musgrave, Tom Pendelton and I poked along the Yturrias  
>and La Puerta Tracts of the LRGV NWR today and had some nice odes (two 
>lifers for me), but we had this very dark pennant-like critter on the top of a 

>dead  tree; unfortunately it was looking at us head-on for the most part, 
>but the  overall impression was plain dull blackish with a dark brownish 
>thorax, and the wings had a distinctly whitish appearance. We also had a 
couple 

>of things  that we had "best guesses" on but that I was unable to find 
>suitable matches for in the Abbott book: one was a tentative Familiar Bluet, 

>and the other was  a tentative Eastern Ringtail (we had several "for sures" 
>of these, but this one  bug just seemed too pale overall in the thorax and 
>going into the  abdomen).  Two other life bugs for me were Checkered Setwing 
>(several), and  a cool Filigree Skimmer at La Puerta.  We also had a 
>Halloween Pennant (Ginny's favorite ;-)) and a very dull Roseate Skimmer. Tom 

>and I shot a  road-killed Red Saddlebags.
> 
>
>Pics are posted here:
>
> http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/tues  
>
>(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/tues) 
>
>Any other comments or corrections are appreciated!  
>
>Mary Beth  Stowe
>McAllen, TX


Joshua Stuart Rose
opihi AT mindspring.com
Amherst MA

http://www.facebook.com/opihi
http://bugguide.net/user/view/2399
Subject: Gonzales, Cuero, Runge (7/21)
From: "Troy" <alterna2627 AT swtexas.net>
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 2010 02:21:04 -0000
Met Tripp at Gonzales today, hit Independence Park on the Guadalupe River from 
11:30-2:00, mostly to look for Blue-faced Ringtails. The river was a bit high, 
making walking along the edges at some places difficult, but we did OK. Found: 


American Rubyspot (Hetaerina americana)  lots 
Smoky Rubyspot (Hetaerina titia) lots more
Coral-fronted Threadtail (Neoneura aaroni) 1  
Blue-fronted Dancer (Argia apicalis)   lots
Powdered Dancer (Argia moesta)    lots
Blue-ringed Dancer (Argia sedula)  5-6  
Dusky Dancer (Argia translata) 5-6
Stream Bluet (Enallagma exsulans) 1 
Flag-tailed Spinyleg (Dromogomphus spoliatus) 5-6 
Blue-faced Ringtail (Erpetogomphus eutainia)  3
Cobra Clubtail (Gomphus vastus)  4-5
Russett-tipped Clubtail (Stylurus plagiatus) lots    
Swift River Cruiser (Macromia illinoiensis) 1 
Swift Setwing (Dythemis velox)   5-6
Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis) 5-6
Thornbush Dasher (Micrathyria hagenii) 1
Roseate Skimmer (Orthemis ferruginea)   10+
Common Whitetail (Plathemis lydia) 5-6

Next, I stopped at the Guadalupe River where 183 crosses in Northern DeWitt Co 
from 2:30-3:00. There is about 20 acres of unfenced property here. Found: 


Smoky Rubyspot (Hetaerina titia) lots
Powdered Dancer (Argia moesta)    lots
Russett-tipped Clubtail (Stylurus plagiatus) 1
Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis) 5-6
Roseate Skimmer (Orthemis ferruginea)   5-6

I stopped again at the Guadalupe River where Alt 77 crosses it south of Cuero 
from 3:15-4:00. Found: 


Smoky Rubyspot (Hetaerina titia) lots
Powdered Dancer (Argia moesta)    lots
Russett-tipped Clubtail (Stylurus plagiatus) 5-6
Swift River Cruiser (Macromia illinoiensis) 1 
Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis) 5-6
Roseate Skimmer (Orthemis ferruginea)   10+
Common Whitetail (Plathemis lydia) 5-6

I also got a huge (close to 2") black hanging Robberfly here.

My last stop was where hwy 72 crosses the San Antonio River west of Runge. Was 
hopeful that there would be something intersting, but only found: 


Smoky Rubyspot (Hetaerina titia) lots
Blue-fronted Dancer (Argia apicalis)   lots
Powdered Dancer (Argia moesta)    lots
Russett-tipped Clubtail (Stylurus plagiatus) 5-6
Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis) 10+
Roseate Skimmer (Orthemis ferruginea)   5-6
Common Whitetail (Plathemis lydia) 5-6

Troy Hibbitts
Camp Wood, TX
Subject: Southeast Texas Photots
From: "Tripp" <tripp.davenport AT yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 21 Jul 2010 13:08:46 -0000
I have finally posted all of my Southeast Texas trip photos to my flickr 
photostream and have filled in a few gaps on some county records for a few 
counties there as well. If anyone is interested there are some 197 photos from 
Southeast texas on the first 11 pages of my photostream (the first 4 photos are 
from Uvalde on 

 Sunday)...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tdavenport/

I have condensed a list of links to some of the more interesting stuff below

Fawn Darner Copula

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tdavenport/4806229357/

Swamp Darner close

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tdavenport/4806254319/

Russet-tipped Clubtail county record San Jacinto

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tdavenport/4806255339/

Elegant Spreadwing

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tdavenport/4806798707/

Mocha Emerald

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tdavenport/4810608624/

Smoky Shadowdragon

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tdavenport/4811011646/

Swamp Spreadwing

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tdavenport/4810576460/

Regal Darner

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tdavenport/4809929821/

Southern Sprite

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tdavenport/4809922067/

Amanda's Pennant

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tdavenport/4811013138/

Mocha Emerald Copula

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tdavenport/4810379069/

Burgundy Bluet

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tdavenport/4809948173/

Bayou Clubtail

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tdavenport/4810744397/
Subject: Re: Mystery Odes at Yturria NWR
From: azurebluet AT aol.com
Date: Tue, 20 Jul 2010 20:44:32 -0400
Hi, Mary Beth,

Your mystery ode appears to be a Metallic Pennant (Idiataphe cubensis). A good 
bug for Texas - it was first recorded in the State only in 2008. See 
http://www.martinreid.com/Odonata%20website/odonate171.html 


Your mystery clubtail is indeed an Eastern Ringtail. Females have larger pale 
lateral markings on the abdomen than males. Familiar Bluet female is probably 
correct but there is no way to separate any of the lookalikes from the 
photographs. 


Best,
Ed Lam

 


 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: MiriamEagl AT aol.com
To: TexOdes AT yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tue, Jul 20, 2010 7:54 pm
Subject: [TexOdes] Mystery Odes at Yturria NWR


Hi, all!

 

Mike Rickard, Ginny Musgrave, Tom Pendelton and I poked along the Yturrias  

and La Puerta Tracts of the LRGV NWR today and had some nice odes (two 

lifers for me), but we had this very dark pennant-like critter on the top of a 


dead  tree; unfortunately it was looking at us head-on for the most part, 

but the  overall impression was plain dull blackish with a dark brownish 

thorax, and the  wings had a distinctly whitish appearance.  We also had a 

couple 

of things  that we had "best guesses" on but that I was unable to find 

suitable matches for  in the Abbott book:  one was a tentative Familiar Bluet, 

and the other was  a tentative Eastern Ringtail (we had several "for sures" 

of these, but this one  bug just seemed too pale overall in the thorax and 

going into the  abdomen).  Two other life bugs for me were Checkered Setwing 

(several), and  a cool Filigree Skimmer at La Puerta.  We also had a 

Halloween Pennant (Ginny's favorite ;-)) and a very dull Roseate Skimmer. Tom 


and 

I shot a  road-killed Red Saddlebags.

 

Pics are posted here:

 

_http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/tues_ 

(http://www.pbase.com/miriameaglemon/tues) 

 

Any other comments or corrections are appreciated!  



Mary Beth  Stowe

McAllen, TX

_www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) 







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