Introducing the Dragonflies of British Columbia and the Yukon

Book excerpt: Birding and butterfly watching have been popular outdoor activities for decades. Now, dragonfly watching is catching on as a fascinating and enjoyable pursuit. Dragonflies are large, colorful insects with amazing and easily observed behavior. Noted entomologist Dr Robert Cannings introduces students, naturalists and outdoor enthusiasts to the world of dragonflies. In this compact book, he shows readers where to find dragonflies and how to watch and study them in the field. In the introduction, Dr Cannings outlines the natural history of these insects - their structure, life cycles, habitats and behavior. Then he describes the 88 species known in British Columbia and the Yukon, noting habitat preferences and distribution. To make identification easy, each description has one or more color photographs and comparisons with similar species.