California DSA/CalOdes dragonfly Blitz 2010
Kathy Biggs <bigsnest@sonic.net>On June 25, twelve intrepid California dragonfly enthusiasts gathered in Trinity County to have fun while attempting to find species that were “MIA” [missing in action]in under-censused Trinity County. This trip was delayed two years because of wildfires in Trinity County and an injury to Dave Biggs. We planned the trip to be early in the season, as many of the “MIA” species were those with early flight seasons. However, Calif.’s Spring was greatly delayed this year, and this tactic may have worked against us! 
Dave Biggs; Ray Bruun, Doug Aguillard, Doris Kretschmer, Doug Vaughan, Gary Suttle Tristan RinehartRay Bruun’s son Steven, Doug Aguillard’s son Tim and fiancé Pat Sherman; Kathy Biggs, Joanie Ball Trinity County is northwest of Redding and only thinly populated. We mostly set up camp along the beautiful Mad River (none of us felt angry at all!), although Gary sought the comforts of a motel room at nearby Ruth Lake. Many of made several stops together on the way into the area, stopping at sites which Kathy and Dave had scouted out late last fall. We weren’t disappointed and in fact 2 county records were recorded en route: California Darner (Rhionaeschna californica) and Swift Forktail (Ischnura erratica). These are both early season fliers, and indeed, all of California was experiencing an unusually late start for the dragonfly flight season. This worked against finding some species, while it was in the favor of others. The trip had been planned early to especially look for those species, and some that would probably have been on the wing mid-June in other years
just weren’t out yet this year. While those of us camping set up our tents, Gary Suttle checked into his room and then had time to stop at the marina at Ruth Lake where he found our 3rd county record: Beaverpond Baskettail (Epitheca canis). He was so kind as to rush to the campsite to let the rest of us know: As it turns out this species was amazingly abundant below the dam of Ruth Lake where we found hundreds and hundreds of them on the wing. By the end of the blitz, Gary was unanimously found to be our “Most Valuable Player”, having been the first to see all but perhaps one of the new county voucher species. Another new county species discovered was the Eight-spotted Skimmer (Libellula forensis) found at the marsh at the south end of Ruth Reservoir,
although we didn’t realized this was a new species until AFTER the blitz. For the whole main part of the blitz we had fun in gorgeous territory with gorgeous weather (70-80), seeing many beautiful dragonflies: 32 species in all. But it wasn’t until we split up and started heading home that any other new species for Trinity County were found! Doug Vaughan and his wife Doris discovered Western Pondhawk (Erythemis collocata) at Ewing Reservoir
in Hayfork but weren’t able to capture even a photo, and then while heading south near Zenia, Gary Suttle also found the species and procured a photo fordocumentation. Doug and Doris also photographed a male Widow Skimmer (Libellula. luctuosa) at Ewing Reservoir for our 6th new record. We hope our next blitz won’t be inadvertently planned for the same weekend as the DSA annual meeting. Many of us look forward to attending the 2011 DSA meeting in Colorado.List of species in ~ order seen (this list available with locality data and photo links at http://southwestdragonflies.net/caphotos/2010.html):
1. Four-spotted Skimmer (Libellula quadrimaculata) – only a fews een
2. Common Whitetail (Plathemis lydia) – common
3. Western Forktail (Ischnura perparva) – common
4. Tule Bluet (Enallagma carunculatum) – common
5. Black Spreadwing (Lestes stultus) – common
6. California Darner (Rhionaeschna californica) – OC#: 320345
7. Swift Forktail (Ischnura erratica) – OC#: 320344
8. Boreal Bluet (Enallagma boreale) – in hand ID
9. Pacific Forktail (Ischnura cervula) – common
10. Vivid Dancer (Argia vivida) – some
11. Bison Snaketail (Ophiogomphus bison) – many
12. Grappletail (Octogomphus specularis) – many
13. Beaverpond Baskettail (Epitheca canis) – OC#: 320347
14. Common Green Darner (Anax junius) – many
15. Pacific Clubtail (Gomphus kurilis) – only 2 found
16. Northern Bluet (Enallagma annexum) – in hand ID
17. Red-veined Meadowhawk (Sympetrum madidum) – abundant, mostly tenerals
18. Eight-spotted Skimmer (Libellula forensis) – OC#: 320399 PHOTO RECORD
19. Twelve-spotted Skimmer (Libellula pulchella) – only a few
20. Emerald Spreadwing (Lestes dryas) – only a few
21. Cardinal Meadowhawk (Sympetrum illotum) – only a few
22. Pacific Spiketail (Cordulegaster dorsalis) – 2 seen on Blitz
23. Emma's Dancer (Argia emma) – 2 seen on Blitz
24. Flame Skimmer (Libellula saturata) – not many seen on Blitz
25. Striped Meadowhawk (Sympetrum pallipes) – 3 seen on entire Blitz
26. Black Petaltail (Tanypteryx hageni) – 4 seen, one male collected for Chris Beatty's DNA study OC#: 320348
27. Blue-eyed Darner (Rhionaeschna multicolor) a few seen
28. *Walker's Darner (Aeshna walkeri) – many seen; in hand ID
29. Western Pondhawk (Erythemis collocata) – OC#: 320401 PHOTO RECORD
30. Dot-tailed Whiteface (Leucorrhinia intacta)
31. Widow Skimmer (Libellula. luctuosa) – OC#: 320413
32. *Mountain Emerald (Somatochlora semicircularis) – 1 found
*=first report for CA in 2010.