Fillin' in the holes

Since we didn't have any structured projects this summer, I decided to try and fill in some of the odonata "holes" of the counties surrounding Wayne County, Michigan.

Macomb County's list is short so I've made a few visits to a couple locations that have potential. In this post, I'll highlight Chesterfield State Game Area (SGA).

This SGA is located between a subdivision and some agricultural areas. The creek running through the property doesn't appear to be high quality. I found very few odes immediately in the vicinity of the creek. The remainder of the property includes some forest, scrubby area and hay fields.

I only made a couple visits here but did find new county records. Here are some of the photos:

male Skimming Bluet (Enallagma geminatum):


female Common Green Darner (Anax junius):


male Slaty Skimmer (Libellula incesta):


female Twelve-spotted Skimmer (Libellula pulchella):


male Halloween Pennant (Celithemis eponina):

Another year, another Comet Darner!

On August 1, 2009, Nannothemis and I visited the south end of the Humbug Marsh unit of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge. Relatively few odes were found, but we were pleased to find a female Comet Darner (Anax longipes).

Feeling Blue

On July 28, 2009, I visited the Novi Wetlands (off of West Rd, east of West Park Dr) over my lunch hour. I was surprised to find this fully blue Lance-tipped Darner (Aeshna constricta).