Staten Island Dragonfly Atlas: Aug. 24, 2008

On Sunday, August 24, 2008, Paul Lederer lead a group of 4 members of the Nature Section on a dragonfly study at Pouch Camp. With nets in hand the group walked to the edge of Lake Orbach to look for some dragonflies. The day was cloudy, with the threat of rain looming over head which unfortunately meant lessened dragonfly activities. Mr. Lederer took the moments of slow activity to engage the group in discussion about general dragonfly knowledge which led to discussion of specific identification. At some point, Paul did net one of the few Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis), allowing the group to get close up looks of this very common species.

Above: Blue Dasher (Platydiplax longipennis), Aug 24, 2008. Photo by Jarred Sutton
Left:

Paul Lederer, founder and lead-researcher of the Staten Island Dragonfly Atlas
Photo by Jarred Sutton, Aug. 24, 2008

Above: Group studying on the dock at Pouch Camp. Paul Lederer (left), Seth Wollney (standing, middle), Tom Dulski (sitting, middle), Catherine Barrons (right). Photo by Jarred Sutton.

After a while, the sun finally broke through enough to inspire some male blue dasher to patrol the edges of the lake, joined a few minutes later by a smaller number of slaty skimmer (Libellula incesta). Mr. Lederer was able to knock one the slaty skimmers with his net which made it possible for the group to get another in-hand study of these beautiful insects. While recovering, the bug allowed the group to use a loop for a magnified study of his cerci.

Right: Slaty Skimmer (Libellula incesta), Pouch Camp, Staten Island,

August 24, 2008, Photo by Jarred Sutton

Other species noted were: eastern amberwing (Perithemis tenera), common green darner (Anax junius), and single, female, yellow-legged meadowhawk (Sympetrum vicinum) was found by Seth Wollney, and Tom Dulski on the opposite side of the pond before the group met.