Counting Dragonflies

With more than 164 species identified in Ohio alone, dragonflies and damselflies are an important indicator of the health of our wetlands and water. The Ohio Dragonfly Project, a joint effort between the Ohio Odonata Society and the Ohio Division of Wildlife, is currently underway (through July 10) to update a survey completed between 1991 and 2001.

Conservancy properties Forrest Woods, Little Auglaize Wildlife Reserve and Water’s Edge Preserve are among the locations being surveyed. Volunteer entomologist Jim Lemon visited Little Auglaize during our sneak peek June 8, and found 25 different species on the property. He was impressed: “It takes a pretty diverse high-quality site to support more than 20 species.”

In addition, he said the Spangled Skimmer (shown above) is a new species of record for Paulding County, and eight of the species he identified hadn’t been recorded in the county since the 1940s, 50s or 60s.

Learn more about the Ohio Dragonfly Project survey, as well as how you can become involved in documenting these interesting creatures throughout the state.

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