The latest issue of Bulletin of American Odonatology, the DSA's peer-reviewed research journal, is available today on the DSA website and includes: "Perithemis mooma Kirby, 1889, is a synonym of P. tenera (Say, 1840)” by D Paulson. DSA members can log in to download the issue.
DSA News Alert — April 9, 2020
2020 DSA Annual and Southeast Gatherings Postponed
As you might have expected, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the DSA has postponed its annual gathering in Oklahoma until next year. Our intent is to reschedule for late June of 2021 in Oklahoma. Similarly, the Southeast Regional meeting has been moved to April of 2021 in Tallahassee, Florida.
The DSA regional meeting and workshop in Colombia, from 29 June to 3 July, is still scheduled to happen, although we will evaluate conditions on the ground and update participants on the meeting's status.
We hope our members and other supporters safely get outside with Odonata this season. Watch our website for news and updates.
Swamp Spreadwing (Lestes vigilax)
Argia Vol. 32 No. 1 is Available for Download
Argia Vol. 32 No. 1 is Available for Download
The latest issue of Argia, newly redesigned, is now available for download from the DSA website. Among this issue's 30 pages you will find: news about the amazing overhaul of Odonata Central, reports from DSA officers, accounts of the surprising odonate diversity in Oklahoma, DSA meeting updates, stellar photography, and other adventures in Odonata. DSA members can log in to download the issue.
Please note: This issue's articles were written before most of us came to realize the scope of the COVID-19 pandemic. We're advising DSA members to watch the website's News feed, and the DSA's Facebook page, Twitter and Instagram for updates on meetings and other DSA events. In the meantime, please be aware, cautious, responsible, and safe.
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President, Dragonfly Society of the Americas
www.dragonflysocietyamericas.org
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2020 DSA SE Regional Meetings
2020 DSA SE Regional Meeting
by Jerrell J. Daigle jdaigle@nettally.com
The 2020 DSA SE Regional Meeting will be held in Tallahassee, Florida from April 24-26. I am staying at the Sleep Inn University (850/575-5885) and I recommend attendees reserve a room here as it will be our base of operations. Folks may want to arrive earlier on the 23rd. Other nearby hotels in Midway are Country Inn & Suites/Radisson (850/514-2222), Baymont Inn ( 850/574-8888 ), Comfort Inn (850/391-1927), and Palmer's Motel (850/445-9679). Prices for all hotels appear to be cheaper when booked online. Chinese restaurants and Wal-Mart are nearby. The target species will be several rare Florida damselflies like Enallagma davisi, E. daeckii, E. dubium, E. sulcatum, E. pallidum, E. concisum, and Lestes vidua. We will cross our fingers for Enallagma cardenium, E. durum, Telebasis byersi, Progomphus bellei, and Phanogomphus cavillaris brimleyi. Other odonates in the area are Anax longipes, Phanogomphus australis, andArigomphus pallidus. We will explore the Lost Lakes chain, Trout Pond, and have a picnic at Silver Lake/Andrew Lake. A photo trip for the Golden-Banded Skipper is possible. A DeLorme Florida Gazeteer or map would be helpful. If possible, please let me know where you would be staying and if there is any particular dragonfly or damselfly you would like to see. For more information, please contact me at jdaigle@nettally.com. Hope to see you there!
New Gynacantha species Described from Costa Rica
News of Gynacantha vargasi, newly described from Costa Rica by Bill Haber, and published in Zootaxa: http://www.sci-news.com/biology/gynacantha-vargasi-07774.html
Announcing Eagle Hill Institute's seminar on Odonata in 2019
Eagle Hill has a Dragonfly and Damselfly class July 21-27, 2019. They also have several other natural History classes that you can take if you find yourself in the North East! Check out their calendar here.
Miami Univerisity and Earth Expeditions
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Now accepting applications for 2019 Earth Expeditions
OXFORD, Ohio (Sept. 10, 2018) – Miami University’s Project Dragonfly is accepting applications for 2019 Earth Expeditions graduate courses that offer extraordinary experiences in 16 countries throughout the world. http://EarthExpeditions.MiamiOH.edu/informaledusa
Earth Expeditions can build toward the Global Field Program (GFP), a master's degree that combines summer field courses worldwide with web learning communities so that students can complete the GFP master's part-time from anywhere in the United States or abroad. http://GFP.MiamiOH.edu/informaledusa
Project Dragonfly also offers the Advanced Inquiry Program (AIP) master's degree that combines web instruction from Miami University with experiential learning and field study through several AIP Master Institutions in the U.S. Applications for Miami's 2019 cohorts are being accepted now with place-based experiences provided at zoos in Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Denver, New York, San Diego, Seattle and St. Louis. http://AIP.MiamiOH.edu/informaledusa
Graduate tuition for all programs is greatly reduced because of support from Miami University.
The DSA's Correction to The Washington Post
The Washington Post published an article on August 13, 2018, blaming rainfall and mosquitoes for elevated dragonfly activity this summer. Here’s the DSA’s response to the article’s misinformation.
To the Editor:
As The Post reported on August 13, dragonflies may indeed be more active this summer. But rainfall and mosquitoes probably have nothing to do with it.
Dragonflies spend most of their lives not on the wing but underwater as nymphs. So the destiny of this summer’s dragonflies was actually set in motion a year or more ago — in rivers, wetlands, lakes and ponds where dragonflies grew up. Rather than rain and mosquitoes, what determined the fate of this summer’s dragonflies was:
how many dragonflies were on the wing last summer (or summers before) to mate and produce eggs that would go on to become this summer’s dragonflies;
availability of aquatic prey (mostly other insects) for nymphs to feed on while they matured in our waters;
the rate of predation on the nymphs by fish or even by other nymphs (yeah, they sometimes eat one another); and
water conditions where the nymphs matured: pollution, temperature and winter freezing, for example.
Yes, once on the wing, adults might live a bit longer if they find mosquitoes, but I doubt it. It’s not as if these insects sit around and mope over a lousy mosquito crop. They find other insects to eat.
Any perception of increased activity could be explained by the regular summer abundance of a few conspicuous species, including Common Green Darner (Anax junius), Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens), Black Saddlebags (Tramea lacerata) and others that frequent urban and suburban habitats.
Associating rainfall to dragonfly activity is like crediting Hurricane Harvey with the Houston Astros’ 2017 World Series victory. The Astros won because of the talent they raised in their farm system (and, of course, the late-season trade for Justin Verlander). Dragonflies are no different. To keep them healthy, we need to protect the rivers, lakes and wetlands where they grow up.
Bryan Pfeiffer
President, Dragonfly Society of the Americas
Montpelier, Vermont