Dragonflies are another one of those insects which virtually everyone has an affinity for. Have you ever heard of someone who didn't like dragonflies? They capture our imagination, like butterflies, with their bright colors and delicate, graceful flight. They don't bite or sting. They tease us, sitting still just long enough for us to get close, then they fly away at the last second. In various cultures around the world, the dragonfly is associated with magic, spirits, or fairies. Their metamorphosis is just as fascinating as the butterflies, beginning as swimmers and emerging to become fliers.
Dragonflies have been very difficult to photograph, our only opportunities seem to be immediately after they've emerged from the water and they're sitting on a perch to dry out before flying away. Here are our top shots...
Green Clearwing (Erythemis simplicicollis)
Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) male
Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) female
Familiar Bluet (Enallagma civile) male
Halloween Pennant (Celithemis eponina) likely a male
Closer shot of a Halloween Pennant, they love our faux prairie
A couple of Dragonfly "skins", shed after crawling out of the water
I love it when they light onto your finger. The Halloween one is delightful!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures, especially the last one!
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