Dragonflies and Damselflies of the West is the first fully illustrated field guide to all 348 species of dragonflies and damselflies in western North America. Dragonflies and damselflies are large, stunningly beautiful insects, as readily observable as birds and butterflies. This unique guide makes identifying them easy--its compact size and user-friendly design make it the only guide you need in the field. Every species is generously illustrated with full-color photographs and a distribution map, and structural features are illustrated where they aid in-hand identification. Detailed species accounts include information on size, distribution, flight season, similar species, habitat, and natural history. Dennis Paulson's introduction provides an essential primer on the biology, natural history, and conservation of these important and fascinating insects, along with helpful tips on how to observe and photograph them. Dragonflies and Damselflies of the West is the field guide naturalists, conservationists, and dragonfly enthusiasts have been waiting for. Covers all 348 western species in detail Features a wealth of color photographs Provides a color distribution map for every species Includes helpful identification tips Serves as an essential introduction to dragonflies and their natural history

Delicate aerial predators love to dine on mosquitoes. Dragonflies and damselflies are small but striking aquatic creatures found in the desert climates of the Southwest. These carnivorous insects are among the world's fastest, oldest, and most beautiful creatures. A newcomer to the Natural History Series, Dragonflies & Damselflies of the Border Southwest provides naturalists with an attractively illustrated overview of the history, symbolism, life stages, metamorphosis, habitats, and behavior of dragonflies and damselflies, along with spectacular photographic images for easy identification. 85 color photos.

Photographic identification field guide to the common dragonflies of the southwest. Contains decriptions of male and female, size, haitat, flight period and distribution by common and scientific name for 106 species. Checklist and information on dragonfly life cycle, viewing dragonflies included.

This book brings these insects to life. As well as providing a broad introduction to their natural history, it features profiles of sixty of the most interesting and beautiful species from around the world.

The definitive single-volume fully illustrated guide This is the first fully illustrated guide to all 336 dragonfly and damselfly species of eastern North America—from the rivers of Manitoba to the Florida cypress swamps—and the companion volume to Dennis Paulson's acclaimed field guide to the dragonflies and damselflies of the West. Dragonflies and Damselflies of the East features hundreds of color photos that depict all the species found in the region, detailed line drawings to aid in-hand identification, and a color distribution map for every species—and the book's compact size and user-friendly design make it the only guide you need in the field. Species accounts describe key identification features, distribution, flight season, similar species, habitat, and natural history. Paulson's authoritative introduction offers a primer on dragonfly biology and identification, and also includes tips on how to study and photograph these stunningly beautiful insects. Illustrates all 336 eastern species Features hundreds of full-color photos Includes detailed species accounts, line drawings to aid identification, and a color distribution map for every species Offers helpful tips for the dragonfly enthusiast

"A book that will both educate and delight anyone who wants to know more about these fascinating insects. Packed with facts but written in a straightforward style, the book makes California’s 108 dragonfly and damselfly species easily accessible. . . . It will engender a renewed appreciation of the value of our wetlands."—Dennis Paulson, author of Dragonflies of Washington "This is now the book on all the California Odonates and should ride in the pack of every naturalist, butterflier, and birder in the American west."—Rich Stallcup, Point Reyes Bird Observatory

This is the first guide to dragonflies and damselflies of the south-central United States. The book covers 263 species, representing more than half of the North American fauna. The area of coverage significantly overlaps with other regions of the country making this book a useful aid in identifying the dragonflies and damselflies in any part of the United States, Canada, or northeastern Mexico. More photographs of damselflies in North America appear here than in any other previously published work. All 85 damselfly and 178 dragonfly species found in the region are distinguished by photographs, numerous line drawings, keys, and detailed descriptions to help with identifications. Features include: Discussions of habitats, zoogeography, and seasonality Details on dragonfly and damselfly life history and conservation An introduction on studying and photographing dragonflies and damselflies An entire section devoted to the external anatomy of dragonflies and damselflies Species accounts organized by family into sections on size, regional and general distribution, flight season, identification, similar species, habitat and biology and ecology Range maps for each species, as well as an extensive bibliography and a list of resources for further study