Minnesota Dragonfly Society

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Plymouth, MN
Minnesota Dragonfly Society

501(c)(3) organization formed to ensure conservation of Minnesota’s dragonflies and damselflies through research and education.

05/31/2026

MDS has an exciting opportunity for you to get out with other ode enthusiasts next Sunday, 6/7/2026 to explore the MN side of the St Croix River with ode expert Jeff Fischer in search of dragonflies on the wing. Starting place will be within Wild River State Park requiring your vehicle to have a valid MN State Park pass.

DETAILS
Date: Sunday, 6/7/2026
Time: 10:00am
Place: Wild River State Park, 39797 Park Trail, Center City, MN 55012
Meeting site in the park: Nevers Dam Parking Lot. See map below marked with bold arrow to Meeting up lot.

05/16/2026

Are you interested in participating in a St Croix survey for odes on the wing? Join Jeff Fischer for a field trip on Sunday, June 7th at 10am to begin at Wild River State Park. We will meet at the Nevers Dam Parking lot within the park. You will need a valid MN State Park Pass to enter the park. Because some of the field trip stops have limited parking, we will carpool and will leave the unused vehicles in the parking lot where we will return there at the end of the outing.

Date: Sunday, June 7th
Time: 10am
Place: Wild River State Park, 39797 Park Trail, Center City, MN 55012
Meet up at: Nevers Dam Parking Lot

Early June is a bonanza time along the St Croix River (and Sunrise River) especially if you fancy Clubtails. While we can’t guarantee all these species, a glance at the Chisago County records on Odonata Central shows sightings of 20+ Clubtail species from late May to early June. Some of my favs include: Black-shouldered Spinyleg, Splendid Clubtail, Cobra Clubtail, Skillet Clubtail. Pygmy Snaketail, Rusty Snaketail and St Croix Snaketail. Other species likely to see are Springtime Darners, American Emerald, Stream & Swift River Cruisers and possibly all 4 Baskettails (Beaverpond, Common, Prince & Spiny).

You will want to bring along water and pack a lunch or at least a granola bar or two for the outing. Hope to see you there!

05/12/2026

Mark your calendars for the MDS Annual Meeting with Field Trips to be held on June 20 & 21st (Saturday & Sunday) at Chester Woods Park in Olmsted County.

Saturday, 6/20: Check-In time 8:30am
Location: Chester Woods, 8378 Hwy 14, East Eyota, MN
Park Pavilion: #5
Business Meeting: 9am-10am
Following the meeting we will break into 2 groups to begin our field trips lasting from 10am-5pm. We will carpool so bring a bag lunch with you.
Members Picnic: 6pm-8pm back at Pavilion #5

Sunday, 6/21: Gathering time 8:30am
Location: Chester Woods, 8378 Hwy 14, East Eyota, MN
Near Park Pavilion #5
We will again carpool and break into 2 groups for a field trip from 9am to noon and return back to the parking lot at Chester Woods.

If you have any questions, please reach out to [email protected]

Please click the blue link below this line and it will take you into the Reservation Form.

https://forms.gle/F8fgwx5bcdZqBLrJ6

05/11/2026

The City of Duluth Parks and Recreation Department is launching two Dragonfly Discovery days this summer. Nicole Birch, local Duluth dragonfly researcher and photographer (Bellskimmer Studio) will be leading the two events along the banks of the St Louis River at Morgan Park. There is no charge to attend, but you do need to pre-register at duluthmn.gov/parks/.

From that page you can click on the green box Program Registration which will explain how to create an account or register for activities. To the left on that page will be a Search box and if you enter the course number (as shown below) it will take you directly to a page where you can create an account or sign in. To read more about the program you can click the link to the Summer Program catalog and go to page 17 to read the event description. We have listed the date, time, location and course number.

Course # 4524
Saturday 6/27 11am-1pm Morgan Park 1242 88th Av W

Course # 4525
Saturday 7/11 11:30am-1:30pm Morgan Park 1242 88th Av W

05/18/2025

Afternoon walk: Anoka Nature Park

03/03/2025

Florida – Part 10
The Slender Baskettail – Epitheca costalis breeds in ponds and streams. It was formerly called Stripe Winged Baskettail. Some of the females have a dark bar on the wing (maybe the former name came from this?). Males are generally found while perching on twigs or branches a foot or two above the ground along dirt roads or trails. It has a thinner abdomen near the thorax than other Baskettails. It may possibly hybridize with Common Baskettail.
The Umber Shadowdragon – Neurocordulia obsoleta flies in the early morning and in the evening. Its flight is fast and erratic as it cruises low over the water. Prefers swift flowing waters with areas of riffles. Mating appears to happen in the forest.
The Clear Lake Clubtail – Phanogomphus australis is a denizen of sand bottomed lakes that are highly vegetated (often with lily pads). Males perch low to water on sticks twigs or lily pads usually with their abdomens slightly raised. In lakes with good habitat males will tolerate being in close proximity to one another. Patrols are fairly long loops at fast speed.
The dark coloration of the Burgundy Bluet – Enallagma dubium makes them hard to see, especially over dark water. They are found in 12 states from Delaware to Texas. They prefer highly vegetated ponds, lakes, and swamps often with lily pads. Pairs copulate in shrubs then oviposit in tandem, usually on the underside of lily pads through holes in the leaf.

Address

Minnesota Dragonfly Society P. O. Box 46192
Plymouth, MN
55446

Website

http://www.mndragonfly.org/

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