26 May 2012

Record Early Dates in SE MI

The 2011/12 winter and 2012 spring gave us incredibly warm weather. We've seen many plants blooming early and trees leafing out. Generally, here in Wayne County the real ode season doesn't kick in until late May or early June. However, this year a great variety of dragonflies were present in early May and allowed for vouchers of some new early dates. (The notes about early dates are based on the existing data in the MOS database and doesn't include any vouchers by others in 2012)

May 6th at Crosswinds Marsh phase I in SW Wayne County 

8+ Dot-tailed Whiteface (Leucorrhinia intacta)

3 Twelve-spotted Skimmers (Libellula pulchella) : I spent an hour trying to catch one, with no luck. I do believe they are one of the more difficult common species to capture.

3 Painted Skimmers (L. semifasciata) = new early date for MI
Here is a male:


5 Common Whitetails (Plathemis lydia) = new early date for MI (However, I did see a female at our house in Dearborn the day before)
Here is a female:


May 12th at Lower Huron Metropark in Wayne County 

2 Ashy Clubtails (Gomphus lividus) = new early date for SE MI
Here is a teneral male:


8+ Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicolis) = new early date for MI
Here is a teneral female:


May 13th at Crosswinds Marsh phase I in SW Wayne County 

1 Ebony Jewelwing (Calopteryx maculata) = new early date for SE MI
Here is a teneral female:


3 Twelve-spotted Skimmers (Libellula pulchella) = new early date for MI
1 Four-spotted Skimmer (L. quadrimaculata)

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Unfortunately, we haven't been able to get out in the latter half of May as I would have liked. However, there were several species observed in passing:
- Marsh Bluet (Enallagma ebrium) at UM-Dearborn on 5/19
- Unicorn Clubtail (Arigomphus villosipes) at UM-Dearborn on 5/19
- Sedge Sprite (Nehalennia irene) west of Ann Arbor on 5/20
- Prince Baskettail (Epitheca princeps) west of Ann Arbor on 5/20
- Black Saddlebags (Tramea lacerata) in Farmington Hills on 5/25

03 May 2012

Variegated Meadowhawks in Michigan

Today during lunch, I found a single Variegated Meadowhawk (Sympetrum corruptum) at my workplace in Farmington Hills, Michigan. I know this species has also been observed this spring in Ohio and Ontario this spring. Maybe this will the year to add this species to several Michigan County lists?