Like her fellow odonate hunter, Briggs has also long been interested in insects. Nina Briggs has combined her artistic talents and scientific knowledge to study Rhode Island’s odonate species. But also forest is extremely significant in buffering the aquatic habitats that they live in … buffers them from runoff, pollution, maintains water quality, water temperature, all of those things that are required for dragonflies and damselflies and other aquatic animals.” First of all, dragonflies and damselflies don’t just live in the water, they live most of their life in the water, but they also fly around on land. “Well, forest is important for a number of reasons. You know, like why would forests be important?” she said. “The relationship between aquatic insects and forest might seem like a strange thing. … Even after we have protected the forests, meadows, and wetlands we care about, our job is not done.”ĭuring a 30-minute conversation we had before going hunting, Brown commented further about the importance of forestland when it comes to the insects and other wildlife she and Briggs care so much about. “We have to preserve our forests if we care about nature. “Forests have a profound effect on the health of watersheds and aquatic habitats,” Brown wrote. The solution? The longtime friends and collaborators stressed the importance of conserving and thoughtfully stewarding open space to protect biodiversity. Development that leads to forest loss and degradation of wetlands is a huge issue for these insects and for so many other organisms that are a part of our lives,” she wrote. But, “despite the successes of conservation agencies, significant threats to our odonate fauna still exist, even on protected land. In the book’s preface, Brown noted she was trying to “paint a positive picture of the future” for dragonflies and damselflies. Another new species for Rhode Island, the unicorn clubtail, turned out to be much more common than expected. A species from farther north, the crimson-ringed whiteface, was also a surprise discovery. She said each illustration took her about 10 hours.Īmong the findings highlighted in the book was the discovery of several species never before recorded in New England, including the southern sprite and coppery emerald, both of which are southern species that Brown didn’t expect to find this far north. Briggs, a Wakefield resident and talented artist, created a beautiful illustration for each dragonfly and damselfly. The 384-page book features profiles of each species, including habitat characteristics, range, behaviors, dates when they are active locally, and a map indicating where they have been observed. It is a common dragonfly species in Rhode Island. 2 ‘hunt’ through the Great Swamp Management Area. Since the book was published, Brown and Briggs have documented two more species in Rhode Island.Ī Nina Briggs illustration of a blue dasher. Her more recent book - 2021’s Dragonflies and Damselflies of Rhode Island - teaches readers about the natural history, distribution, and abundance (or lack of it) of the Ocean State’s 138 odonate species - two-thirds of which are dragonflies, the rest damselflies. She has authored two books about odonates, the insect order that includes dragonflies and damselflies. These insects are going to react sooner.”īrown - better known as Ginger than Virginia the latter is only used when she authors a book or submits scientific data - is the state’s leading dragonfly expert. I think looking at invertebrates is probably far better than waiting for the canary in the coal mine to die. And maybe most importantly, is they’re good indicators of ecosystem health. “Watching them go through their life, watching them catch other insects, watching them meet, lay eggs, everything is just fascinating. “Watching them is fascinating,” she said. Their unique skill set makes dragonflies and damselflies a captivating study. They are also “well equipped to be predators,” according to Brown. … They’re drop-dead gorgeous you can’t argue with that. “Dragonflies and damselflies are kind of like the raptors of the insect world. “I’ve been a birder for a long time, and I’ve always been particularly fond of raptors,” Brown said. They reminder her of some other winged creatures. She also has a fondness for birds, particularly birds of prey. With a degree in wildlife biology - she calls herself a conservation biologist - Brown has long been fascinated with insects. Virginia Brown, whose hat aptly captures her fondness for dragonflies and damselflies, has a keen eye for finding her favorite insects.
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