Dragonflies and Damselflies of California (California Natural History Guides, #72)

The Exclamation Damsel, Bison Snaketail, Powdered Dancer, Black Meadowhawk, and Sedge Sprite are just a few of the dragonflies and damselflies identified in this complete guide to California’s abundant Odonates. o Species accounts discuss identification in the field and in the hand, behavior, habitat associations, geographic distribution, and flight season o Includes 40 vivid full-color plates and supplemental black-and-white drawings o Provides a general overview of dragonfly anatomy, behavior, life history, and a complete set of range maps CONTENTS PREFACE INTRODUCTION Adult Dragonfly Anatomy Dragonfly Behavior Family and Subfamily Key to Dragonfly Larvae Distribution Watching Dragonflies Identifying Dragonflies Taxonomy and Nomenclature About the Maps Family and Subfamily Key to Adult Dragonflies S P E C I E S ACCOUNTS BROAD-WINGED DAMSELS (Calopterygidae) SPREADWINGS (Lestidae) POND DAMSELS (Coenagrionidae) PETALTAILS (Petaluridae) DARNERS (Aeshnidae) CLUBTAILS (Gomphidae) SPIKETAILS (Cordulegastridae) SKIMMERS, EMERALDS AND BASKETTAILS, AND CRUISERS (Libellulidae) CHECKLIST OF CALIFORNIA DRAGONFLIES AND DAMSELFLIES SPECIES OF HYPOTHETICAL OCCURRENCE GLOSSARY REFERENCES INDEX ABOUT THE AUTHOR PLATES

A book that will both educate and delight anyone who wants to know more about these fascinating insects. Packed with facts but written in a straightforward style, the book makes California's 108 dragonfly and damselfly species easily accessible. . . . It will engender a renewed appreciation of the value of our wetlands.—Dennis Paulson, author of Dragonflies of Washington

This is now the book on all the California Odonates and should ride in the pack of every naturalist, butterflier, and birder in the American west.—Rich Stallcup, Point Reyes Bird Observatory

The Exclamation Damsel, Bison Snaketail, Powdered Dancer, Black Meadowhaw and Sedge Sprite are just a few of California's abundant dragonflies and damselflies. This reference is a complete guide to finding and identifying all 108 of the state's dragonfly and damselfly species.