Last Friday, September 21, a Black Meadowhawk dragonfly (Sympetrum danae), was captured, photographed, and released by Loren and Babs Padelford and Rick Schmid at the dipping pond
off Pond Trail in Fontenelle Forest’s wetlands.
At that time, at least three other male Black Meadowhawks were present.
On Saturday, September 22, Brian Peterson photographed Black Meadowhawks at Heron Haven (near 120th & Maple Streets). He also collected a specimen, which will be submitted to the state record keeper for official verification and recording.
On Sunday, September 23, Loren and Babs Padelford spotted five male Black Meadowhawks and one lone female, again in Fontenelle Forest’s wetlands. One of the males was mating with the female, and the hope is that they will reproduce successfully and be present in the Forest again next year.
Black Meadowhawks are normally found in the Black Hills of South Dakota, throughout the mountain west, southeastern Alaska, Canada, eastern North Dakota, most of Minnesota and Wisconsin, and the extreme northeastern part of the U.S.
There is at least one record for this dragonfly in northwestern Iowa.
