Outdoor Ontario

Photography => Nature => Topic started by: paul_reeves on June 27, 2013, 10:48:59 AM

Title: ID Help Please.
Post by: paul_reeves on June 27, 2013, 10:48:59 AM

I have finally ordered an insect ID book on Amazon but it won't arrive until mid-July. In the mean time I have some shots I took over the last couple of weeks that I need some ID help with please.

The first one I know is a Damslefly of some sort.
(http://www.paulreeves.ca/images/nature/insects/eastern_forktail/eastern_forktail_2567.jpg)

I believe the next two are the same species of Dragonfly.
(http://www.paulreeves.ca/images/nature/insects/widow_skimmer/widow_skimmer_2138.jpg)
(http://www.paulreeves.ca/images/nature/insects/widow_skimmer/widow_skimmer_2553.jpg)

Other than being dragonflies, I don't know if these are the same as the ones above or a different species; I suspect different.
(http://www.paulreeves.ca/images/nature/insects/unknown/dragonfly_2162.jpg)
(http://www.paulreeves.ca/images/nature/insects/unknown/dragonfly_2182.jpg)

Thanks,

Paul

Title: Re: ID Help Please.
Post by: newfoundlander61 on June 29, 2013, 07:17:23 AM

I believe the 1st is an Easten Forktail.

Title: Re: ID Help Please.
Post by: BetCrooks on June 29, 2013, 08:29:52 AM

The first dragonfly looks like a female Widow Skimmer, but I'm no expert.
(If you search for female widow skimmer images you should find many to compare.)

I like Stokes Beginner's Guide to Dragonflies (which includes many damsels too) for common ones. The photos are large and sharp.
Your library might have a copy.

Good luck!

Title: Re: ID Help Please.
Post by: paul_reeves on June 30, 2013, 05:13:51 AM

Thanks for the help.

Paul

Title: Re: ID Help Please.
Post by: Brian Bailey on July 07, 2013, 10:56:36 PM

I'm a little late to the party, but I think the first one is a female bluet of some type.  (They're fiendishly difficult to distinguish.)  The first dragonfly is a female Widow Skimmer.  The next one looks like a female Whiteface.  There are several species all looking quite similar, but if this was shot in the GTA, it's almost certainly a Dot-tailed Whiteface.  The last one appears to be a skimmer, probably a female, but I can't quite place it.

BB

Title: Re: ID Help Please.
Post by: paul_reeves on July 08, 2013, 04:15:07 AM

The shots of the Damselfly and Widow Skimmer Dragonfly were taken at the pond on the east side of Reesor Road just north of Finch. The last two dragonflies were taken up at Luthor Marsh.

Thanks for the help Brian; with a Google search I think you are right that one dragonfly is a Dot-tailed Whiteface.

Cheers.

Paul