Patuxent Research Refuge on May 17th and 19th

[odona...@comcast.net]

Last Sunday (May 17th) I visited the North Tract for 4 ½ hours and last Tuesday (May 19th) I visited the Central Tract with Hal White for 3 hours.  As I stated in early accounts, odonate numbers are way down this year, but with many species setting new early records for adult occurrence. This is most likely due to the extensive early spring drought coupled with short periods of below average temperatures occurring at or just after the peak of emergences. Even some of the most common species are, so far, showing massive reductions in their expected population numbers. Individual numbers shown in the list are a sum of both days.

 DRAGONFLIES AND DAMSELFLIES SEEN:

Ebony Jewelwing (Calopteryx maculata) -- 4

American Rubyspot (Hetaerina americana) -- 3

Common/Sweetflag Spreadwing (Lestes australis/forcipatus) – 2 – mature males

Slender Spreadwing (Lestes rectangularis) – 18 -- tenerals

Blue-tipped Dancer (Argia tibialis) – 6 – young adults & tenerals

Azure Bluet (Enallagma aspersum) – 4 – See: Male Azure Bluet | Azure Bluet (Enallagma aspersum). Patuxen… | Flickr 

Turquoise Bluet (Enallagma divagans) – 1 – See: Turquoise Bluet | Turquoise Bluet (Enallagma divagans). Patu… | Flickr 

Skimming Bluet (Enallagma geminatum) – 8 – See: Skimming Bluets | Skimming Bluet (Enallagma geminatum) in wh… | Flickr 

Fragile Forktail (Ischnura posita) -- 8

Eastern Forktail (Ischnura verticalis) -- 1

Black-shouldered Spinylegs (Dromogomphus spinosus) – 1 (cast skin) – See: Black-Shouldered Spinyleg Cast Skin | Cast skin of a Black-s… | Flickr 

Lancet Clubtail (Phanogomphus exilis) – 2 adults & 2 cast skins

Ashy Clubtail (Phanogomphus lividus) – 6 adults & 1 cast skin – See: Ashy Clubtail on Territory | Male Ashy Clubtail (Phanogomphu… | Flickr 

Rapids Clubtail (Phanogomphus quadricolor) – 1 cast skin – See: Rapids Clubtail on the Little Patuxent River | Cast Skin of … | Flickr 

Common Green Darner (Anax junius) -- 6

Swamp Darner (Epiaeschna heros) -- 6

Cyrano Darner (Nasiaeschna pentacantha) -- 1

Stream Cruiser (Macromia transversa) -- 1

Common Baskettail (Epitheca cynosura) -- 8

Calico Pennant (Celithemis elisa) – 3 – young adults — See: Young Adult Calico Pennant | Calico Pennant (Celithemis elis… | Flickr 

Eastern Pondhawk (Erthemis simplicicollis) -- 8

Blue Corporal (Ladona deplanata) – 110+

Spangled Skimmer (Libellula cyanea) – 5

Widow Skimmer (Libellula luctuosa) – 2 – young adults

Painted Skimmer (Libellula semifasciata) -- 16

Common Whitetail (Plathemis lydia) -- 16

Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) -- 2

Carolina Saddlebags (Tramea carolina) -- 4

 

BUTTERFLIES SEEN:

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail – 9

Zebra Swallowtails – 9

Cabbage Whites – 4

Clouded Sulphur – 2

Orange Sulphur – 1

Summer Azure – 2 — See: Summer Azure on Mountain Laural | Summer Azure (Celastrina n… | Flickr 

Eastern Tailed Blue – 1

Pearl Crescents – 2

Eastern Comma – 2

American Lady – 1

Red-spotted Purple – 6

Juvenal’s/Horace’s Duskywing – 2

Sachems – 2

Zabulon Skipper – 1

Dusted Skipper -- 3

 

Richard Orr