The Michigan Odonata Survey (MOS) is dedicated to providing a better understanding of the distribution, biology, and taxonomy of the Michigan Odonata fauna. To this end, MOS participants will be collecting in a wide variety of habitats all across the state of Michigan. Collected specimens are required to voucher the presence of a species at a particular locale, and the collection may comprise adults, larvae, exuviae, or all three stages. Collection of specimens forms the basis of a permanent record of the fauna at a particular place and time. The specimens and their associated data can then be checked later for authentication or verification. They also may be useful to any future taxonomic studies. Therefore, collection of Odonata specimens is a very important aspect of the survey.
MOS collectors are urged to collect no more specimens than necessary to document a species in a given area, with the exception of exuviae. However, due to the number of similar-looking species, certain genera such as Somatochlora, Gomphus, Aeshna, Argia, Enallgma, and Sympetrum may require more extensive sampling. Species that are quite obvious such as Calopteryx maculata, require only a single specimen from a locality. The collection of adults and larvae should be limited to representative sampling, not depleting the population at the area being surveyed. Sight records, especially photographs or video, may be acceptable for certain species that are readily and unquestionably identifiable in the field by trained, reliable observers. Obviously, a majority of the species of Odonata require more careful examination, necessitating collecting.
