Dragonflies & Damselflies
Comanche Skimmer & Band-winged Dragonlet
Commom Whitetail - male
"ODES" - Dragonflies and Damselflies
Odes, short for the order Odonata, is the order of
insects containing the dragonflies and damselflies.
They are fascinating aerial predators, eating mostly other
insects, and come in a dazzling array of shapes and colors.
They are enjoying a popularity never before known,
and as a result we are learning lots about them.
There are now field guides out about dragonflies,
much like bird field guides so regular people can
identify many of them the first time they see 'em.
There are also many great websites available with
a tremendous amount of information on them, so
even without a book, you can ID what you see.
Find some binoculars that focus closely, and
you'll be amazed the detail and marks you can see.
American Rubyspot
Like butterflies, most odes like the heat of the day,
and are the perfect diversion when birding slows
down mid-day. Since they live a year, two, or more
as larvae underwater, areas with water are usually
the best place to look for them. Most only live
as flying adults for weeks or months.
Some migrate tremendous distances!
I would like to keep a page with current local flying
news, so again, one might ascertain what, when or
where to look for something. I would greatly appreciate
if people who "Ode" in the area send me their local
sightings, i.e., from Lost Maples, down the Sabinal
River Valley to Utopia, and over to Garner State Park.
Roseate Skimmer
Since the suite of species found here is half new to me,
I'll be going through the learning curve
(painfully slowly - especially with damsels)
as their season begins. We'll post regular local
updates of what I'm seeing and where. And, as I get
some decent pictures there will be more of them
up here. The benefit of study is that we'll I'm sure
expand the library of local "ode" records.
We learn and contribute something!
It's best if you visit some of the fantastic Ode sites
out there to see good pictures of all of them.
(Not the fuzzy junk seen here). And get a copy of
"Dragonflies through Binoculars," by S.Dunkle!
Swift Setwing
Argia cuprea (Coppery Dancer)
Yellow-legged Meadowhawk
Spreadwing sp.
Bluet sp.
Springtime Darner
Special thanks to Tony Gallucci, Greg Lasley
Tom Langschied, Dr. John Abbott, and Dennis Paulson
for help in identifying some of these beasts.
I am grateful! ID errors on this site are the sole fault
of the author dingbat, me. :):)
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