Access
keys and pages by clicking on below:
Suborders of Odonata - Beginning Key (28.8.98)
ANISOPTERA -
Dragonflies
Aeshnidae
Aeshna
Anax
(01.7.98)
Basiaeschna (30.7.98)
Boyeria (15.7.98)
Epiaeschna (03.8.98)
Gomphaeschna (25.9.98)
Nasiaeschna
Cordulegastridae
Cordulegaster (14.8.98)
Corduliidae
Cordulia
Dorocordulia
Epitheca (17.7.98)
Neurocordulia
Somatochlora
Williamsonia (29.6.98)
Gomphidae
Arigomphus
Dromogomphus (17.7.98)
Gomphus-complex
Hagenius (24.6.98)
Ophiogomphus (02.9.98)
Progomphus (15.7.98)
Stylogomphus (14.7.98)
Stylurus
Libellulidae
Celithemis (18.8.98)
Erythemis (15.7.98)
Ladona (16.7.98)
Leucorrhinia
Libellula
Nannothemis (06.04.99)
Pachydiplax (23.6.98)
Pantala
Perithemis
Plathemis (16.7.98)
Sympetrum
Tramea
Macromiidae
Didymops
Macromia
Petaluridae
Tachopteryx (15.7.98)
ZYGOPTERA -
Damselflies
Calopterygidae
Calopteryx
Hetaerina
Coenagrionidae
Amphiagrion
Argia
Coenagrion
Chromagrion
Enallagma
Ischnura
Nehalennia
Lestidae
(Archilestes, Lestes)
Dragonfly Humor
Bibliography
Odonata
Links and other sites:
Cape Cod Odonata
European Odonata (Antoine's
Dragonfly-HP)
IORI
Thomas
Artiss' Odonate Links
Swedish
Dragonflies
Biosis
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Accessing The Keys
Identification keys are
accessed by simplying clicking on the choices on the
navigation fram to the left. For those unfamilar with the
larvae of Odonata, we recommend beginning the sequence from
the beginning (Odonata).
Introduction and Web Page
Organization
This project is part of an
effort to utilize the resources of the UMMZ's large Odonata
collection and to help educate the public about an
interesting and important part of our entomological
fauna.
The intent of these web pages
is to simplify the use of keys which are not always
available to the public using the power of the computer to
neatly organize text, figures and pictures as well as
conveniently provide information regarding terminology,
distribution, taxonomy and biology. This is an on-going
project, and this web site will be continually updated and
revised.
Information is usually
organized into four sections: 1) Notes (on distribution,
taxonomy and systematics, biology and ecology, etc.); 2)
State Species List; 3) Larval Key; and 4) References.
(Bibliography for the entire project can be accessed from
this page (see left)). Interesting and useful sites on the
WWW pertinent to larval odonate biology or ecology for each
family or genus will be hotlinked on their respective pages.
Please notify us
of any links that should be added, or dead links
removed. We hope these changes
will greatly improve this project's usefulness and aesthetic
appearence.
We follow the usual layout of
dichotomous keys to allow one to identify individuals
on-hand. If one is unfamiliar with Odonata, it is best to
begin at the beginning page that distinguished the user
between dragonflies and damselflies. Then, simply click on
highlighted name that matches the preceeding description(s)
until you arrive at the desired taxonomic level (family,
genus, species etc.).
Tables eventually will be
provided to conveniently list species' characters to verify
any identification (e.g. see Somatochlora).
Tips on Use
Larvae are most easily
identified to species when mature larvae (later or last
instar individuals) are on hand, as diagnostic characters
are not always fully developed. However, immature specimens
usually can be identified to family and genus. Experienced
individuals can often rear collected larvae to later stages
for identification using inexpensive equipment (aquaria,
pumps, substrate and food). With luck and experience, one
can also observe the moment when the adult emerges, and a
definite species identification can be made.
Future Goals and Improvements
Hopefully this is just the
beginning, and we hope to secure resources in which to
implement additional improvements and projects:
- establish a page for each
species, with a summary of their biology (particularly
data from Michigan and the Great Lakes region) and a
table of morphological characters to allow for
species-level comparisons and other diagnostics;
- create distribution maps
that permit collection locality information to be
accessed via a database interface;
- update existing
information with the many expected corrections from
reviewers and users, and add new data from the many
Odonata enthusiasts in Michigan and elsewhere;
- extend this project to
include other aquatic insect orders, in particular
Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera, Heteroptera and
Diptera (Chironomidae).
Web Page Design
This web page was designed
with Claris Home Page 2.0. Most images were directly
digitized with with a Sony digital video camera mounted on a
Wild M5 dissecting scope.
This project has been
conceived and written by Ethan Bright, who is responsible
for larval identification, literature research and web page
design. Mark O'Brien assisted with layout design, page
editing as well as file and server compatibility.
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