Odonata basics - biology and diversity, and identifying Odes: Field marks, look-alikes, and photography for ID, by Michael Blust

Abstract: The first presentation is an introduction to the life history quirks of Odonates and to family level identification. The second presentation explores how many Odes can be identified by sight. Others can be identified from photographs, but only if you managed to catch the correct field marks in the photo. Then there are those best examined in hand and then released. Finally, there are a few troublemakers that need good magnification for safe identification. This presentation gives you a foundation in Odonate ID in field, photos, and lab.

Biography: As a birder from an early age, I obtained a BS in Wildlife Science, and then went on to an MS and PhD in Entomology. My MS research focused on the life history of the Least Clubtail (Stylogomphus albistylus), a small, stream dwelling dragonfly. After a PhD that focused on plant chemistry and grasshoppers, I taught a variety of biology and non-biology courses at Green Mountain College in Vermont. Part way through my 24 year teaching tenure, the college opened up opportunities for faculty to do research. At this point, I returned to Odonata and focused on the poorly known diversity and distribution of Odonates in Vermont. After kicking off this endeavor by attending an Eagle Hill workshop led by Paul Brunelle, and in collaboration with Bryan Pfeiffer, we expanded the Odonate knowledge in VT from 103 species to 142. At that point we published the monograph “Odonata of Vermont”. In my retirement, I continue to enjoy expanding our knowledge through field work. We now have recorded 146 species and average 98 species recorded in each county.