Here there be dragons
Rare dragonflies found in state's northern area. Watch a video
Northwest Connecticut is home to two species of dragonflies that can be found only in this particular region of the state. Harpoon clubtail and crimson-ringed whiteface dragonflies thrive in ponds, bogs and streams across Litchfield Country.
Jay Kaplan, nature director of Roaring Brook Nature Center in Canton, said the higher elevations and colder temperatures of Northwest Connecticut are ideal conditions for these species to survive.
Crimson-ringed whiteface dragonflies earned their name due to their distinct crimson colored backs and white spotted faces. Harpoon clubtail dragonflies were named based on their distinct tail features. Kaplan said both species are more active in sunny weather when the dragonflies are known to feed on smaller insects.
Kaplan led the "Chasing Dragons" children's program for eight years. The four-day program educates participants about dragonflies and exposes them to the different habitats where they can be found. The 6,000-acre Green Mountain Forest in Norfolk is one of the locations that participants in the program visit to catch dragonflies. Old Man McMullen Pond, nestled along the tall trees of Green Mountain Forest, provides the perfect habitat for these insects.
While no endangered species of dragonflies were encountered on a recent field trip to the Great Mountain Forrest, Kaplan said it's not uncommon to catch dragonflies that have not been documented in Litchfield Country before. To document these insects, the dragonflies must be caught and photographed.
Dragonflies spend years in the water as larva before emerging as adults. As adults, dragonflies have a life span of only a few weeks where they prey on smaller insects, like damselflies. Before dying off, the insects lay their eggs near bodies of water, Kaplan said.
Participants use nets attached to long poles to catch dragonflies. Once caught, the insects are classified by Kaplan through a guide that provides illustrations and in depth information on each species of dragonfly. After careful examination of dragonfly's color, eyes and wings, the insect is released unharmed back into nature.
Not only are clubtail and crimson-ringed whiteface dragonflies rare, they are also listed as threatened on Connecticut's endangered species list. Michael Thomas, biologist with the Connecticut Agricultural Extension Center in New Haven, said that because dragonflies are an aquatic insect, they are a great indicator of water quality.
Pollution from human recreational activities and runoff from construction sites are the biggest threats to all species of dragonflies; however, Thomas said, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is taking steps to protect endangered species from construction projects.
"If construction is taking place, a permit needs to be issued through the DEEP," Thomas said. "If there is a record of state listed species in the area, a survey must be done before construction can begin."
In Connecticut, there are 152 species of dragonflies, which Thomas said outnumbers the species of butterflies. Dragonflies are visual predators, which requires them to have large eyes on the tops of their heads to hunt. Larger dragonflies can eat up to 100 mosquitoes a day, Thomas said. Their long skinny bodies make them aerodynamic, which helps dragonflies migrate as far north as Canada.
Thomas has partnered with David Wagner, a University of Connecticut professor from the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, to keep track of dragonflies species in Connecticut. The duo has been using baseline data that dates back to the 1900s to track the location and migration partners of different dragonfly species.
Due to climate change, Thomas said that he expects dragonflies that are native to southern states will eventually make their way up north.
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