Delaware to choose state dragonfly, hold art and essay contests for kids

The Delaware state bug is the ladybug. The state butterfly is the tiger swallowtail. The state bird, of course, is the blue hen.

Delaware doesn’t have a state dragonfly, but that’s about to change.

Many Delaware groups, including conservation organizations, state agencies and Sen. Stephanie Hansen (D-Middletown), are launching the State of Delaware Dragonfly Project. For school-age kids, the project includes grade level-specific lesson plans and essay and art contests. Find out more about the contests at delawarenaturally.org/dragonflies.

Voters will choose from six species starting Tuesday, April 15, with the winner to be announced Monday, May 5 and codified into Delaware law as the official state dragonfly.

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Here’s a little about each species, according to the project website:

• The common green darner is quite large and conspicuous. It eats small flying insects and spends most of the day flying back and forth over water.
• The dragonhunter is the largest dragonfly in Delaware. It feeds on large insects, such as butterflies, and lives on large rivers.
• The tiger spiketail is an extreme habitat specialist. It is only found in tiny streams and is one of Delaware’s rarest, most localized dragonflies.
• The calico pennant is one of Delaware’s most beautiful small dragonflies. It is usually found perched low to the ground waiting for prey to fly by.
• The blue-faced meadowhawk is considered one of Delaware’s most beautiful dragonflies. It lives in vernal pools deep in the forest.
• The blue dasher is one of the most common and widespread dragonflies in North America. It is found at almost every body of water.

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Shannon Marvel McNaught reports on southern Delaware and beyond. Reach her at smcnaught@gannett.com.

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