Survey of Dragonflies (Odonata: Anisoptera) in Ponds of Central Texas

Dragonflies (Odonata: Anisoptera) were collected for five quarters, from Oc tober 1994 through December 1995, from 12 ponds located in Erath County, Texas. Nymphs were collected from each of the ponds quarterly, while adults were taken whenever possible. Other collection records from Erath County are also noted. A total of 38 dragonfly species were identified. Nymphs of 28 species were collected from the ponds, while the remaining 10 species were determined from adult collections. Thirty-six species of adults were collected. Two species were found as nymphs, but not collected as adults. Peak dragonfly abundance in ponds occurred during the third quarter?July through September. Information on the distribution of dragonflies (Odonata: Anisoptera) within the state of Texas is limited. Needham and Westfall (1954) list 98 species that occur in Texas, but no details about their range within the state are given. Young and Bayer (1979) reported collecting nymphs of four additional species from the Guadalupe River in central Texas and Williams (1982) reported collecting adults of another spe cies in McLennan County. This brings the reported total of anisopteran dragonflies found in Texas to 103. The only other reports of significance on the range of Odonata in Texas are by Williamson (1914), Kennedy (1921), and Gloyd (1958). All of these reports are from collections made within relatively small areas; however, they serve to help establish ranges of certain dragonfly species both within the state and na tionally. This report provides further information about the distribution of dragonfly species from collections made in Erath County, Texas. Seasonal abundance of nymphs collected from ponds is documented and notes made of natural history.