This is a very detailed and thorough field guide for all levels of damselfly enthusiast. There are literally dozens of illustrations of abdominal appendages and abdominal markings covering all of the relevant species. Extraordinary photographs, mostly by Mike Reese, show most (all?) of the different morphs.
Introductory chapters cover all aspects of damselfly life history. Well written.
Pocket sized and very portable.
Covers N Minnesota, N Wisconsin, the UP and N michigan and most of the wooded portions of Ontario. Covers many of the species east into New England.
Contributed by Kurt Mead on 31 March, 2006 - 7:05pm
By Cynthia Berger, Amelia Hansen Stackpole Books, 2004
An introduction to odonate life history and identification, illustrated with good-to-excellent color artwork. There is one especially useful illustration of abdominal appendages. Has species accounts for 45 notable species (6 damselflies and 39 dragonflies) from the Great Lakes area. These accounts are illustrated with excellent paintings by Amelia Hansen. These are portraits, showing life-like postures, and not meant to be detailed enough for fine points of identification. The species accounts give life history information as well as detailed explanations of scientific names--not seen in other popular works.
Contributed by Cotinis on 1 December, 2005 - 1:16pm
Dragonflies and Damselflies of Texas and the South-Central United States
By John C. Abbott Princeton University Press, 2005
Has color photos plus extensive species accounts, range maps, anatomic diagrams. Covers 85 damselfly, and 178 dragonfly, species found in New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas.
Good photos, with discussion of identification and very brief discussion of range, flight season, and habitat. A companion web site (http://southwestdragonflies.net/) has more detailed range maps. The book covers about 70 species of dragonflies and about 40 species of damselflies.