[Odonata-l] Request for Assistance from WV - Places to send larval odonates for ID and good larval odonate guides?

[Marquette_Crockett@fws.gov]

Hello,

My name is Marquette Crockett and I am a wildlife biologist at Canaan
Valley National Wildlife Refuge in Davis, West Virginia. Canaan Valley is
an incredibly unique high elevation wetland complex (and a great place to
visit - FYI).

For the past three years or so our refuge has participated in an odonate
atlas project sponsored by  West Virginia Department of Natural Resources.
To date, the survey has focused primarily on adult odonates. We have
documented over 40 species from the refuge and hope to document many more.

We have been lucky enough to have a student volunteer on the refuge this
summer. We hope to have her (along with myself) focus on expanding our
knowledge about which odonate species are found on the refuge. I hope to
collect larval specimens this year (especially in our numerous stream,
seepage and bog habitats).

I am looking for several pieces of information. First of all, I am looking
for qualified "experts" that  would be willing to identify the specimens
that we collect and give us a species list. We have no funding for the
project, but the specimens could definitely be kept as a part of a museum
collection.

I was also wondering if there are any standard texts to assist with basic
specimen identification (so we can at least keep from overcollecting the
same species again and again). Lastly, I was hoping to find out what
preservation technique is most used for odonate larvae.

Any information that you could provide would be greatly appreciated. I'm
fairly new to the world of odonates, but hope to work hard to make them a
part of the refuge's conservation and planning efforts.

Thanks,

Marquette Crockett
Wildlife Biologist
Canaan Valley NWR
Davis, WV
(304) 866-3858