PROGRAM: Dragonflies & Damselflies of Chicagoland:

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Tuesday, November 27, 2012

A macro-photographic journey through the Life History of Odonates. The order Odonata dates back over 325 million years to a time when dragonflies with two and a half foot wingspans filled the air. Today these successful aquatic insects represent a diverse group of animals with a complex life cycle. The 100 plus species known for Chicagoland act as good wetland indicators but are also just plain fascinating to observe. Many a birder's gaze has been led astray by the aeronautical dexterity and stunning color patterns of these winged predators. Marla Garrison, Biology Facutly member at McHenry County College and author of Damselflies of Chicagoland: A Photo Field Guide (published online by the Field Museum of Natural History), offers an image intensive, up close and personal, presentation of this intriguing, and visually splendid, group of insects.