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Daily Bucket - Dragons and Damsels for June [1]
['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']
Date: 2025-06-02
I filmed several species of Dragon and Damselfly since the first week of May. Many in today’s diary were filmed at the University of Mississippi’s Field Research Station (in a single hour and at one pond) during this last week. This photo heavy diary shows some fliers around my area. More will be coming.
Once I learned that June is Odonata (the study of Dragonflies) month, my interest in insects has expanded. Here are some examples of the things I look for this time of year.
The tiny (one inch long bodies) Damselflies must be observed by motion first. The brighter colored ones come later in the Summer. Stripes, spots, tail shapes and sizes, thorax markings and head design are indicators of species. A good photo (unless physically collecting the insect from it’s environment) is one’s best bet for a positive id.
Variable Dancer female
Spreadwing male
Jade Clubtail male
Ebony Jewelwing female
Pond Meadowhawk female
Fragile Forktail female
Twelve-spotted Skimmer female
Taiga Bluet female
Common Whitetail male
Common Whitetail female
Blue Dasher male
Calico Pennant male
Calico Pennant female
I have a gift for Lenny Flank. I got to observe my first water snake (it caused my blood pressure to skyrocket when I almost stepped on it). Thankfully, I calmed quickly after an ID was established. This is the Brown Watersnake I saw. Round pupil, eye close to nostril (both being high on the head) and lack of heat sensor pit, are the best physical items to secure an ID. It was 24 inches long, golf ball circumference (largest part of it’s body) and had no musky odor. Cottonmouths I encounter usually emit a strong aroma when threatened. The Daily Bucket is a nature refuge. We amicably discuss animals, weather, climate, soil, plants, waters and note life’s patterns. We invite you to note what you are seeing around you in your own part of the world, and to share your observations in the comments below. Each note is a record that we can refer to in the future as we try to understand the phenological patterns that are quietly unwinding around us. To have the Daily Bucket in your Activity Stream,visit Backyard Science’s profile page and click on follow.
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