Dragonflies and Damselflies of the West (Princeton Field Guides)

Basics: 2009, 535 pages, softcover, 850+ color photos of all 348 species in western US and Canada, range mapsThis is an exceptional book for any dragonfly enthusiast with a focus on identification. This is the most complete and best quality of any related book available.As noted in the title, the "West" refers to all species found in (a) Alaska, (b) Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Nunavut and all provinces west, and (c) N/S Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and all other states west. This region encompasses 348 species, all of which are shown in this book.All photographs are in color and of very good quality and size. All but 4 or 5 of the species are shown with at least 2 photos. Many species have 3 or 4 photographs. The photos show differences between male and female, adult and immature, and variations due to pruinose and heteromorphs. These photographs will be very helpful with the identification of most odonata you encounter - except for those frustratingly similar species. This is where the detailed text will be very informative and useful.The text, ranging from ½ to a full page for each species, consists of 6 distinct sections. The bulk of the material is found in Description, Identification, and Natural History. A single, yet potent, sentence is given to each of the other three sections of Habitat, Flight Season, and Distribution.The identification section does a good job of comparing similar species, giving pointers of how to differentiate between the finer points. The description of each can often be very detailed, which might be a bit too detailed for the novice or a person with a passing interest to know what to call that dragonfly flitting around the garden. To truly identify down to the species level, the book often describes the individual with terms of lateral thoracic stripes, postocular spots, abdomen black above S2-7, and other necessary "scientific" descriptors.Expanding on this detail are wonderful drawings of the abdominal tips and appendages, which are sometimes the only means for identification.The book has other brief sections on research, collecting, naming, anatomical labels (to help with terms in the identification section), and natural history.Lastly, a distribution map is supplied for each individual. Where relevant, the maps zoom in to the restricted ranges for many of the species. The boundaries for the states and provinces are shown, which help with better detail.This is, by far, the best odonate book available for the US. I certainly hope an eastern companion will follow in the near future.I've listed several related books below...1)  Common Dragonflies of the Southwest  by Biggs2)  Dragonflies and Damselflies (Odonata) of Texas, Volume I  by Abbott3)  Dragonflies and Damselflies of Texas and the South-Central United States  by Abbott4)  Dragonflies and Damselflies of California  by Manolis5)  Dragonflies & Damselflies of the Border Southwest  by Behrstock6)  Dragonflies of Alaska  by Hudson7)  Dragonflies through Binoculars  by Dunkle8)  Dragonflies And Damselflies of Georgia And the Southeast  by Beaton(written by Soleglad at Avian Review or Avian Books, May 2009)

There are serious amateurs who have a tremendous curiosity about dragons and damsels. There are those who need a quick reference book with photographs that make ID easier. And then there are those whose interest waxes and wanes with the dragon and damsel season (summer around here). At times, I'm all three, but primarily my interest peaks when the meadowhawks come back in droves or the darners, darters, and skimmers are present because of an abundance of water (as we had in this part of the San Francisco Bay Area in 2010).Mind you, there are 7-9 months when the damsels and dragons are gone, so no matter how my interest peaks while they're present, I forget much of what I've read and knew the previous year. Kathy Biggs book is a handy pocket book that I can carry with me, but I've come to know just enough so that I can wait to get home and look up what I've photographed. Unlike some, I only carry field guides when I'll be gone away from home for a week or more. Then, after a day of shooting (photographically speaking) I need a field book.Dennis Paulson's book is really a bit heavy for a field guide (though I've seen field guides that weigh up to 3 pounds!), but it's thorough and absolutely necessary if you're going to be in the Sierras or the deserts or in other areas where the dragons and damsels are not what you normally see at home. What you see at home you should be able to remember. But when you run into a pinkish-purple dragonfly that you've never seen before, THIS is the book. It's laid out beautifully, and when you track down the pink-purple dragonfly (a Roseate Skimmer which we do not have near my home), there is a great description of habits and ranges.It is extremely well written, and the first 40 pages will draw you into the world of dragons and damsels (although it may not prepare you for your first meeting with a dragonfly fanatic!).If I have one fault to find, it is a small one: the "West" as defined in the title could be a dot on a map of southwestern Arkansas or southeast North Dakota. Now, I'm fairly sure I'm never going to find myself in either state again, let alone where the dot is. On the other hand, I'd probably complain that it should have had part of Arkansas as the "West." Nah. The "West" to me will always be everything west of the Rockies where I spend 99% of my time. So, those of you east of the Rockies, take heart. This book covers it all ... even itty-bitty parts of the East!

This is a wonderful guide to western odonates. I'd hesitate to call it a 'field guide' becuase, despite its superb content it is very heavy!To save yourself backache, leave it at home and perhaps take some field notes on expected species where you're going.Onto the content: each species is described in clear, concise detail, and the photographs are very good, although a lateral and dorsal photograph for each species would have been helpful, rather than one or the other which is the norm here. The individual diagnostic details are nice and clear, with useful comparison with other species, sometimes accompanied by line drawings of appendages, etc.This is easily the best book on dragonflies of the west. Perhaps there will be an equally good eastern volume one day.

A beautifully produced reference book on excellent quality paper with comprehensive contents including good quality photographs. It doesn't tag itself as a field guide and I'd go along with that, given the weight. Mind you, these days I suspect that most, like myself, operate in the field with a digital camera then try to identify the subjects back at home base. I hope to get a chance to try this out in anger, one day.

Great reference book. Had everything I was looking for covering all odonates in my geographic region.

---Well laid out and easy to use....

I'm a bug fan and like to know what I am looking at, these flies eat the mosquitoes and are truly beautiful to watch.