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Friends of Dyke Marsh -- Quarterly Meeting
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The FODM Quarterly Meeting, open to all, will be held at 7:45 p.m.,
Wednesday, March 7, 2007, at the Huntley Meadows Park Visitors Center
located off Lockheed Boulevard south of Alexandria, Virginia (phone 703
768-2525). =20
TOPIC:
Dragonflies and Damselflies
SPEAKER:
Dr. Richard Smythe
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Drawing by Margaret Wohler
Join the Friends March 7 as we welcome Dick Smythe:
"About sixty years ago I fell into a fish pond. And I wasn't even =
fishing. I
fell in while trying to capture a gorgeous dragonfly. I was captivated =
by
its flashing white and dark wings, the rustling sound they produced, and =
the
incredible agility of its flight. I just had to catch it. . . . "
"Many of us have seen dragonflies. Fewer have seen their small cousins =
the
damselflies. Fewer still have seen their aquatic immature forms or have =
any
idea what they look like. While we may be aware of dragonflies and
damselflies, we typically know little about their wondrous life cycle
beginning with an egg deposited either directly into the water or =
inserted
into the stem of an aquatic plant. The egg hatches into an aquatic =
nymph
that looks nothing like the adult. After a period ranging from several
weeks to several years, the nymph amazingly transforms into a winged =
adult
without ever passing through a pupal stage which, for example, is =
required
for a butterfly larva to transform into an adult."
Dr. Smythe has had a life-long interest in bugs, butterflies, and birds,
beginning at age four when he began collecting feathers, butterflies and
other insects. He has a BA in Biology and a Ph.D. in Entomology from =
the
College of Wooster and the University of Wisconsin respectively. He =
spent
37 years working for the U.S. Forest Service - nine years as a Research
Scientist and 28 years in various administrative positions.
Dr. Smythe volunteers his knowledge and time to the Audubon Society of
Northern Virginia, the Organization of Tropical Studies (a consortium of =
60
universities and institutions primarily in the U.S. and Costa Rica =
dedicated
to research, conservation, and education in the tropics), and the
Wintergreen Nature Foundation.
Dick Smythe continues:
"As with many other groups of wildlife, we don't know how many dragonfly =
and
damselfly species we have. The known world-wide fauna consists of about
6,000 species, a number we know is well below the actual number. The =
United
States is home to about 435 species, roughly twice as many dragonflies =
as
damselflies. Our immediate four-county area (Arlington, Fairfax, Loudon, =
and
Prince William) is home to about 100 known species, a remarkably high
percentage of the total U.S. fauna."
"Unfortunately, while we may not know exactly how many species we have, =
we
do know that we have damaged or destroyed much valuable dragonfly and
damselfly habitat. Isn't it ironic that one of the oldest groups of =
flying
insects - whose ancestors antedated the dinosaurs - are becoming =
casualties
of modern agriculture and development. Loss of habitat currently =
threatens
about sixty-five of our known 435 species. Fortunately, even those of =
us
who do not farm or even live in the country can help to increase public
awareness of these magnificent creatures and conserve appropriate =
habitat."
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Directions to Visitor Center from the Beltway
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Take Beltway Exit 177a (Richmond Hwy., Route 1) south 3.5 miles. Turn =
right
on Lockheed Blvd. Go 0.5 miles to the park entrance on the left at =
Harrison
Lane. (See Map below)
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For up-to-date FODM information visit our web-site fodm.net
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On behalf of the board of the Friends of Dyke Marsh
Georg Morduch, FODM Treasurer and Membership Chair__._,_.___=20
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