Permits are not required to catch and release, or collect, adult Odonata in Virginia except on protected lands. The local committee will obtain a group permit to allow for limited collecting at selected state parks and natural area preserves.
To collect Odonata larvae or the aquatic life stages of other insects in Virginia, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries requires possession of a scientific collection permit. Anyone who desires to collect Odonata larvae during the DSA meeting must submit a “research plan” and pay a fee of $40.00 to be considered for approval by this agency. Visit these websites for more information about scientific collection permits in Virginia: