Dragonflies, and their smaller cousins the damselflies, re-appear in VT in May and June. Some migrate in from the south. Others emerge from wetlands after one to several years of maturation as under-water predators.
Naturalist Laurie DiCesare will share macro photos, a bit of biology and field stories about these amazing aerial experts. She’ll also suggest where and when to search for them and how to gently catch-and-release them with a photo op to document your finds on iNaturalist.
Photo Credit: Laurie DiCesare (Shown are: Ebony Jewelwing, Eastern forktail, Cherry Meadowhawk, Aurora Damsel, and Lilypad Clubtail)
Around 2005, while on an insect club field trip, naturalist Laurie DiCesare shared an Algonquin Park dragonfly booklet with a man who helped her identify some common species. Since then, she has studied dragonflies intensively, attended two week-long Odonate classes at Eagle Hill Institute in Steuben, Maine, and spending countless hours kayaking around Lake Arrowhead and other New England wetlands photographing these fascinating creatures.
Laurie DiCesare
