Dragonflies of North America

A comprehensive, fully illustrated guide to every dragonfly species found in North America Dragonflies are large and beautiful insects, diverse in color and pattern and often best found in daylight and good weather. This premier field guide provides all the information you need to identify every male and female dragonfly found in North America, whether in the field, in the hand, or under the microscope. The extensive illustrations are the heart of the book. Close-up color portraits of each species, often several times life size, show the best possible specimens for close examination. Each sex is depicted using multiple images, with postures and viewpoints consistently maintained to aid comparison. Dragonflies of North America is the ultimate guide to these extraordinary insects. Covers all 329 North American species, including distinctive subspecies and variations Features nearly 1,900 highly detailed paintings and drawings, providing clarity and consistency that photographs cannot match Illustrates each species with multiple views for easy identification and comparison Gives an invaluable introduction to dragonfly anatomy, behavior, and life cycle Offers additional guidance for the most challenging species that defy field identification, highlighting anatomical characteristics to aid identification in the hand Includes a distribution map for every species