Summer Has Finally Arrived

I saw my first dragonfly of the summer yesterday. For me, that is the first sign of real summer here in Maine. Once the big black ones (Canada Darner?) start cruising the yard, there is a noticeable drop in the mosquito population during the hours of dusk when both of them like it best. 

Dragonflies and their shadows, the Damselflies are found all over the planet. Worldwide, there are approximately 5500 to 6000 species of Dragonflies and Damselflies. The United States has a healthy percentage at around 450 species, with Maine coming in at or damn close to being the top location with 36% of those 450. New species are discovered on a regular basis up here, some of which are only found in or around a specific lake, pond or marsh.

Other than being generally smaller now, Dragonflies and Damselflies are relatively unchanged over the millions of years they have been around. They both are members of the Odonata Order that dates back 325 million years at least. That puts them here many millions of years before dinosaurs began stomping around. They can fly forward, backwards, and hover. Efficient hunters, they can turn on a dime to snatch the flying food around them.

Very cool insects.

While Dragonflies and Damselflies are both of the Odonata Order, there are real differences between them. Damselflies as a rule tend to be smaller than Dragonflies. The easiest way to tell the difference when seeing them is to catch them not flying and look at their wings. Damselflies fold their wings to their bodies when still, Dragonflies don't.

So there you have it; another crude attempt on my part to convey to the world that I still pay attention to the comings and goings of the creatures that surround my little patch of Heaven here in the pucker brush of southern Maine.

Ya'll have a wonderful day now...... Ya hear?

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Never heard of this young lady. Her voice and simple tune caught my attention. Please enjoy "Dragonfly" by Kasey Chambers.