Customer Reviews

Damselflies of the Northeast: A Guide to the Species of Eastern Canada & the Northeastern United States

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Meticulously illustrated in great detail. The binding needs to be changed however. I've purchased 2 and both have lost pages. A spiral bound, flat lying guide would be a big improvement.

This is the field guide to damselflies of the Northeast that I've dreamed of. Ed Lam's artwork is stunning, as he illustrates each species in full detail. The book is concise and very well organized. He lets the reader know whether each species and sex can be identified in the field or whether it needs to be caught and inspected more closely. He gives critical field marks for accurate identification. Even if the reader never goes into the field to ID these beautiful creatures, the artwork alone is worth the price of admission. All species native to the northeast are covered including detailed range maps to the county level and both common and scientific names. I purchased this book directly from the publisher for $20 + S&H.

This is the best damselfly field guide available for anyone interested in the odonates. This guide has been very helpful to me in my identification of species for the New York State Dragonfly and Damselfly survey for which I am a volunteer surveyor. This book has also come in handy for my job as a Wildlife Biologist during site surveys.

As an life long active birder, I am pretty familiar with field guides in general. This one is simply a masterpiece and not only is this the best field guide for damselflies, I think it may be the best field guide of any kind I have ever seen. The artwork is superb, but the organization and presentation of field marks is what sets this guide apart. For example, at first glance all bluets look alike, but the guide clearly points out the differences and makes it almost effortless to identify the different species with confidence. I am also impressed with the fact that there is a lot of technical detail for experts, but the guide is very accessible for beginners. My only complaint is I wish the book had wider coverage. I am fortunate to live in the area covered by this guide, but its hard to go to other areas and not have Ed's book to guide me! How about it Ed? A national guide? Extremely highly recommended for beginners through experts.

Ed Lam has done a masterful job in creating this guide. Although putatively a guide to species from Virginia north through New England, I've found it to be my "go-to" book for identifying the damselfly species found in my area of the Missouri Ozarks, as well.

Beautiful illustrations, and an excellent description and depiction of species characteristics help to make identification of even pesky types (bluets) much easier.

This book would be a bargain at three times its small cost. I recommend it without reservation

A fabulous field guide to the damselflies with amazing illustrations. Although there is no table of contents Ed Lam begins with a brief introduction and then explains what damselflies are, their life cycle, anatomy, how to identify & collect them and how to use the information for each species account. The book is organized taxonomically with the most primitive family Calopterygidae followed by Lestidae and finally Coenagrionidae. Each genus has its common name listed, some notes and brief identification characteristics. Each species entry has a commonn and scientific name with brief defining characteristics, excellent illustrations of the male and female including close-ups of the genitalia, distribution map with the most common times to find them in particular states and a similar species section. There are 2 appendicies in the back with microscopic cerci images illustrating the difference between northern and vernal bluets and the different species of American bluets.

Great guide to Damselflies. Good for Dragons too.
While directed to Mass. it serves most of the NE US as well.
Pictures are among the best available.

Damselflies and Dragonflies are ancient life forms that also happen to be some of the most colorful and interesting species of insects in Northeast America and throughout the world. Breathtaking and painstakingly accurate illustrations and identification knowledge invaluable. Page for page one of the most accurate and valuable field books you can own.

Ed Lam is an incredibly fine artist.His work is clear,colorful and accurate.He helps me to understand the differences between dragonflies and damselflies.This is far from easy,as they are very small,and are best viewed with binoculars,and they fly very fast out of sight!Before I bought his book,I had little knowledge of the anatomy of these charmers,and really had no ability to guess what they are.Now I can sit by the pond with Damselflies of the Northeast,and bit by bit,I'm learning!