[Odonata-l] Hanna aftermath--only one small Sympetrum to be seen

[Martha Smith]

Hi!

We got lots of rain and so I was quite optimistic for our local dragonfly
populations.  We usually have a bit of a last farewell with a small
resurgence in mid September, especially, after a tropical storm.

Yesterday, didn't see one near our pool or high up in the trees.  I just
happened to sit in a chair near the pool and started calling our cats, and I
felt a light flutter and saw a bit of reddish brown out of the corner of my
eye.  A very small type of Sympetrum had landed on the little clothesline I
had strung around some posts for a dragonfly perch.  He couldn't have been
more than 5" away from the side of my face!  He even waited while I called
to my husband to get the camera for me.  I was able to get some nice closeup
action--I caught him sticking something out of his anus and dropping it.  As
soon as, the newer camera comes, I will, hopefully, be able to upload those
pictures and others I want to share.

Funny thing, now we know for sure that while they do respond to human sounds
and seem to love the splashing sounds of water, it isn't necessarily "What's
in a name..."

The rather ominous note is this, while the stream bed received much needed
rain---there were absolutely NO Pachydiplax lonpennis--there are almost
always 6 or 7.  This year, they decided to plant tobacco in the field at the
end of the street--I have seen and heard the crop dusters in the early
evening.

Hopefully, next year will be better  for them.

Sincerely,

Martha Edwards Smith
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