Just a list
I keep going back and updating my list of ever-observed odes and that's tedious. It just is. And I'm thinking about what might be more useful than Just A List. I mean, an ever-observed-even-once list is more helpful than no list at all.
But... is Just-A-List sufficient? Is that the endgame?
I don't think so. You can get some information from that list, but you can do even better with different sorts of observation.
Look at, for example, how many of a given species do you see per day? If you only ever see one, once, maybe that's not a species that is very important or relevant. Maybe that's a random, wind-blown odonate who's transiently at your wetland. You see like six or seven Ladona julia every time you go to the dock at the lodge for a month-long period? Probably they're there and healthily so.
How about species observed eclosing, in tandem, or ovipositing? Those are good indicators that the species is breeding in the habitat.
Interesting would be a "Seen This Year" list, perhaps a "Seen This Year" list with checks for each DAY SEEN that seeing was attempted. Also should be included Days Not Seen where seeing was attempted. That'd give a better indication of emergence time and prevalence and flight period for each species.
I can't observe odes every day. I do not have time. I have a non-odes job and several non-odes interests. But, I can do a bit better than Just A List. I should do a bit better than Just A List.
But, Just A List is a good place to start. When you're starting from nothing, Just A List is something.
This is the current Just A List for my area, asterisks for the ones I am the only county record for...
Tachopteryx thoreyi, Grey Petaltail
Sympetrum vicinum, Autumn Meadowhawk
Stenogomphurus rogersi, Sable Clubtail
*Somatochlora tenebrosa, Clamp-tipped Emerald
Plathemis lydia, Common Whitetail
Perithemis tenera, Eastern Amberwing
*Phanogomphus spicatus, Dusky Clubtail
Phanogomphus lividus, Ashy Clubtail
Phanogomphus exilis, Lancet Clubtail
Pachydiplax longipennis, Blue Dasher
*Libellula vibrans, Great Blue Skimmer
Libellula semifasciata, Painted Skimmer
Libellula pulchella, Twelve-Spot Skimmer
Libellula luctuosa, Widow Skimmer
Libellula incesta, Slaty Skimmer
Libellula cyanea, Spangled Skimmer
*Libellula axilena, Bar-winged Skimmer
Lestes vigilax, Swamp Spreadwing
*Lanthus vernalis, Southern Pygmy Clubtail
Ladona julia, Chalk-fronted Corporal
*Ladona deplanata, Blue Corporal
Ischnura verticalis, Eastern Forktail
Ischnura posita, Fragile Forktail
*Ischnura kellicotti, Lilypad Forktail
Hagenius brevistylus, Dragonhunter
Erythemis simplicicollis, Eastern Pondhawk
Epiaeschna heros, Swamp Darner
Epithaca cynosura, Common Baskettail
Epitheca princeps, Prince Baskettail
*Enallagma vesperum, Vesper Bluet
Enallagma signatum, Orange Bluet
*Enallagma geminatum, Skimming Bluet
Enallagma divagans, Turquoise Bluet
Enallagma aspersum, Azure Bluet
Dromogomphus spinosus, Black-shouldered Spinyleg
Didymops transversa, Stream Cruiser
*Cordulegaster obliqua, Arrowhead Spiketail
Cordulegaster maculata, Twin-Spotted Spiketail
Cordulegaster bilineata, Brown Spiketail
Chromagrion conditum, Aurora Damsel
Celithemis elisa, Calico Pennant
Calopteryx maculata, Ebony Jewelwing
Boyeria vinosa, Fawn Darner
Basiaeschna janata, Springtime Darner
Argia moesta, Powdered Dancer
Argia fumipennis, Variable Dancer
Anax junius, Common Green Darner
Aeshna umbrosa, Shadow Darner
That's 48. I think we can do better than that yet still. Bluets, clubtails, and darners -- my game is weak. But for ten of those I am the only record on OC for the species in my county. Go me.
Seriously if you live in a rural county somewhere in the heart of Greater Rednecklandia, you can totally Improve The Scientific Record with a net and a digital camera and a couple of summer weekends. Like, it's THAT EASY. Go!
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