River Bend Nature Center naturalist and former PWLC intern, Heather Rickerl examines aquatic Odonata larvae during the Damsels and Dragons workshop at the PWLC. (Photo by Molly Stoddard, 6/14/08)

During the Dragons and Damsels workshop at the PWLC, Erica presents the northern bluet damselfly she netted to Dianne Rowse, Minnesota Odonata Survey Project. (Photo by Molly Stoddard, 6/14/08)

Odonata can be easily examined in clear bags as shown by Erica during the Dragons and Damsels workshop at the PWLC. (Photo by Molly Stoddard, 6/14/08)

Fifteen adults and children from Minnesota gathered together Saturday, June 14 in search of dragons and damsels at the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center (PWLC) in Fergus Falls, MN.  Fire-breathing dragons?  Damsels in distress?  Actually, this free public workshop was a more modern venture searching for members of the insect order Odonata, dragonflies and damselflies, in partnership with the Minnesota Odonata Survey Project (MOSP), http://www.mndragonfly.org. 

MOSP offers hands-on workshops designed to give participants an in-depth introduction to the identification of the dragonflies and damselflies, as well as the specifics of how to participate in the MOSP.  The June 14^th workshop was led by Dianne Rowse, Interim Coordinator for the MOSP.

Participants thoroughly enjoyed capturing and closely examining the gorgeous colors and fascinating anatomical features of these creatures.  They further delighted in making history.  After about 4 hours of field work, specimens of three damselfly species previously undocumented in Otter Tail County were collected and preserved for further study under a microscope.  They were later verified and added to the county record:

·       Boreal bluet (Enallagma boreale)

·       Sedge sprite (Nehalennia irene)

·       Amber-winged spreadwing (Lestes eurinus)

Other species collected included the green darner, dot-tailed whiteface, and northern bluet, Odonates which have previously been recorded in the county.

Besides engaging in field work, Dianne presented a PowerPoint on Odonata biology and demonstrated specimen preservation techniques.  All specimens will be permanently curated at the University of Minnesota’s Bell Museum.  She also provided participants with the MSOP volunteer manual.

According to the MOSP, experienced odonatists can identify only about 50% of the species they see without capturing them. Another 20-30% of species can be identified in the field by capturing and examining them live with a hand-held magnifying lens. Specimens that are captured and examined in the field can usually be released unharmed.  However, some species can be identified only by examining them with a microscope.

The MOSP is a volunteer effort to determine the ranges and distributions of Minnesota’s dragonfly and damselfly populations. Citizen-scientists catch and identify dragonflies and damselflies in Minnesota and report their findings to the MOSP. There are many species, some considered rare, in Minnesota whose ranges are not known. Finding a new county record is a common occurrence and there are many new state records to be found as well.

Thirty-three damselfly and dragonfly species are now recorded for Otter Tail County.  For various geographic listings, visit www.odonatacentral.org.  According to MOSP, Minnesota has the distinction of being one of the most unstudied states when it comes to Odonates. We have counties with no records of dragonflies or damselflies. Odonates live in those counties, but no one has recorded any data from them.  One of the missions of the MOSP is to fill in the distributions of these insects. 

Support for this project was received from the USFWS State Wildlife Grants Program, the Minnesota Game and Fish Heritage Enhancement Fund, and the Minnesota Nongame Wildlife Fund through the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Ecological Resources.