Where are July's dragonflies? #phenology

This morning was cool and misty as we walked our dog. There wasn't much breeze, so the multitudes of deer flies could, and did, descend on us with a vengeance. As we headed back to the safety of the house, the aspiring naturalist pondered why there aren't more, and more effective, deer fly predators. The fly-bitten dog pondered why the aspiring naturalist didn't get his butt in gear and walk faster.

Late June: Chalk-fronted Corporal (on left)
Common Whitetail [female] (on right)

Photo by J. Harrington

Dragonflies feed on deer flies, mosquitos and other insects. We notice, though, each Summer there seem to be many more dragonflies in June than in July. We only have one picture of a July dragonfly, but quite a few in June, August and September. Where have the dragonflies gone in July? Have we simply been distracted by other fauna or flora? From predator/prey relationship papers we recall skimming, the prey usually peaks prior to that of predators. That patterns doesn't seem to fit Minnesota dragonflies and their deer fly prey.

One of our field guides, Kurt Mead's Dragonflies of the North Woods, has charts on when each species is most likely to be seen on the wing. We may see what it looks like when those observation bars are aggregated for all the species. Is there a notable decline for July or is it just our little microhabitat?

That's about it for today. We're enjoying the kind of sunshine and warm weather that will leave us feeling quite grateful come October's cooler days. Even we can only enjoy so much lethargy and lolling about.

After the Dragonflies

by WS Merwin

Dragonflies were as common as sunlight
hovering in their own days
backward forward and sideways
as though they were memory
now there are grown-ups hurrying
who never saw one
and do not know what they
are not seeing
the veins in a dragonfly’s wings
were made of light
the veins in the leaves knew them
and the flowing rivers
the dragonflies came out of the color of water
knowing their own way
when we appeared in their eyes
we were strangers
they took their light with them when they went
there will be no one to remember us

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