Photo: Autumn Meadowhawk, Judy Gallagher
During the pandemic we’ve had to cancel our regular wildlife surveys but some long-time participants are going out individually on an ad hoc basis to continue collecting data. Judy Gallagher is one of those folks who also captures photos of what she sees, in particular the less common species. Here are two observations from her most recent survey.
You wouldn't expect to see dragonflies after Thanksgiving in Virginia, yet survey members have seen Autumn Meadowhawks at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge and at a location on Mason Neck on several occasions since Thanksgiving. During the day they bask in the winter sun and warm their flight muscles, then fly around catching insects that are still flying at this time of year, mostly small flies. At night they perch low in vegetation which protects them from the cold and they will survive until there have been several hard frosts. The late flight record for Autumn Meadowhawks in Virginia is January 3, so keep your eyes open for a sight of this small, bright red dragonfly which blends in surprisingly well on autumn leaves.
Autumn Meadowhawk, Judy Gallagher
Collared Water Scavenger Beetles are aquatic. Adults feed on algae, detritus and animal remains, and the larvae are important predators of mosquito larvae. This adult was seen in a pond near Meadowood in late November.
Collared Water Scavenger Beetle, Judy Gallagher