The American Beekeeping Federation has announced the 2000 Essay. The Mississippi Contest deadline is December 1, 1999. Mississippi contest winners also receive cash awards for the top 3 essays from Mississippi, compliments of the Mississippi Beekeepers Association. Summer days, early in the morning or late in the afternoon are ideal times to chase the ever elusive dragon flies. They and their cousins the damsel flies are almost always associated with water and can be found around both large and small bodies.
Dragonflies are probably the ideal insect to begin with to learn identification skills.
They are relatively large and usually brightly and distinctively colored. They can easily be observed with the naked eye or a pair of close focus binoculars on warm summer days. I'm not saying that identification is trivially easy, many of the damselflies need close inspection to be sure of the species, but they are certainly easier to identify than beetles many of which look very similar indeed. Dark net may be preferable to a light one. This will allow you to position yourself most advantageously.