Upland Habitats
Occasionally dragonflies will be seen visiting dry land habitats, this generally
occurs when the newly developed odonate leaves the water and begins to mature into
an adult. At other times, odonates will frequent these habitats for feeding
and mating. Below are just a few descriptions of these commonly known areas.
FOREST EDGES
A forest edge is the meeting place between two different landscape types.
For instance, a meadow or field encompassed by a hardwood forest, or wetland area
such as a stream, pond, or marsh. Under story trees and shrubs grow taller
here because they get more light. Unfortunately, the process of fragmentation
entails the creation of a forest edge where there was no edge previously.
There is usually an increase in insect abundance and diversity at the forest edge
usually of smaller insects with larger insects feeding on them. species within
the Darner Family (Aeshnidae)and Emerald Family (Corduliidae) frequent
these areas in swarms to feed.
HEDGEROWS
Hedgerows are living fences. Hedgerows can consist of a single row of trees
and shrubs or a pyramid of plant heights, from low grasses and flowers to very high
trees separating one area of land from another. They are mainly found in fields,
and are a good way of telling where one field stops and another starts. Hedgerows
are essentially man-made.
POWER LINE CUTS
Although not considered a "type" of habitat, it is an area where odonates
seem to be observed in feeding swarms. Power line cuts are areas cut through
forests specifically for the accommodations of power line towers. They can
be a rather narrow or wide cut through valleys, mountain ranges and ridges.
|