|
Rare Species:
Uhler's Sundragon (Helocordulia uhleri)
Another state endangered species thrives in
Scioto Brush Creek
March 2010
More common in the Eastern United
States, Uhler's Sundragon is endangered in Ohio. Several
locations in the Scioto Brush Creek Watershed, however, are home
to the rare dragonfly.
Uhler’s sundragon
(Helocordulia uhleri) is widespread in the Eastern United
States and Canada, but is less common to the west and south.
Records report the dragonfly being found as far as Oklahoma to
the west and Georgia to the south, but accounts of Uhler's
sundragon in these locations are rare. The Ohio
Division of Wildlife lists Uhler’s sundragon as a state
endangered species, and records in Ohio show the dragonfly to
only be in Adams, Scioto, Hocking, and Ross Counties. Lake
Metro Parks in Lake County have also reported the dragonfly at
the park's Hell Hollow Wilderness Area.
Despite its rare status, Uhler’s Sundragon seems to be doing
well in the Scioto Brush Creek Watershed. Surveys of the
watershed have found the rare dragonfly in 22 different
locations, mostly on the South Fork and main stem of Scioto
Brush Creek. Several of the stream's smaller tributaries also report
records of the dragonfly.
See a
distribution map of Uhler’s Sundragon in The Scioto Brush Creek
Watershed (1 mb file)
Scioto Brush
Creek's excellent water quality and forested riparian corridors
help preserve a healthy habitat for Uhler's Sundragon and other
stream dwelling dragonflies. By keeping trees and other
plants along the stream's edge, runoff pollution can be filtered
from the water before entering the stream and reduce
contaminants that may otherwise drain into Scioto Brush Creek.
Identifying
Uhler's Sandragon - A medium-sized dragonfly, Uhler’s
sundragon looks similar to Selys’ sundragon – pale yellow face,
brown thorax, black legs – but has small orange spots adjacent
to the darker basal spots in the wings. It flies with great
speed, usually within two or three feet of the water’s surface,
closely following the shoreline. It prefers small, rapid flowing
forest streams, but can occasionally be found on lakes.
For more details about Uhler's sundragon, visit the links below.
|
