Page 32 - 2020 May/June Outdoor Oklahoma

ome Oklahoma insects are impossible
not to notice, either due to their appear-
ance or because of their behavior.
S Dragonflies and damselflies (collectively

called ‘odes’) stand out for both reasons. Who hasn’t
noticed a large colorful dragonfly conspicuously
perched on a twig on a hot summer’s day? Or noticed
dozens of them at dusk swooping around high in the
sky as they hunt for mosquitoes? These remarkable
insects, with common names such as jewelwings,
spiketails, meadowhawks, and darners, are extremely
interesting and highly beneficial insects.
In the United States, 478 species of odes have

been documented, with 176 of those species found
in Oklahoma. With 12 ecoregions and centrally
located on the continent, Oklahoma has one of the
highest species counts of any state in the country.

30 OUTDOOR OKLAHOMA