Dragonflies and damselflies, those lovely gossamer-winged jewels of summer, are collectively referred to as odonates. Sometimes brilliantly coloured, sometimes drab, these fascinating insects emerge in late April and can be found well into November. As of 2008, 121 species have been recorded in the Ottawa area. A Checklist of the Dragonflies and Damselflies of Ottawa can be found at http://www.ofnc.ca/tandl/Dragonflies-damselflies.php on the OFNC website.