Dragonfly

[Molly Taco]

While I was photographing the Purpurata this morning I snagged a shot of this pretty dragonfly. He had not warmed up yet so I could get really close.
Thanks for looking.
Cin

[clintdawley]

Those "eyes" on the back of his head are really spooky...

[Cjcorner]

At some point, every summer here, our backyard swarms with these wonderful creatures. I'll stand in the swarm and let them land on my hat and arms. I love to see the variety of colors and sizes. It is like something out of a movie to stand and let them buzz quietly by. I studied up on them the first time I saw them in huge numbers and learned the females are called Damselflies.
Connie
Great picture! Love the weird eyes on that one...

[Brutal_Dreamer]

That is an awesome photo. It is so clear. Great job!!

Cheers,
BD

[pavel]

I studied up on them the first time I saw them in huge numbers and learned the females are called Damselflies.
Connie
Great picture! Love the weird eyes on that one...

Er... actually, Connie, damselflies are a separate albeit related species entirely. Female dragonsflies are the same size and about the same shape as the males. Damselflies look like much smaller, more delicately built dragonflies. At rest, dragonflies typically have their wings down at their sides -- like the wings of an airplane. Damselflies, at rest, hold their wings folded above their back -- kind of like butterflies.


And while I'm foraging ahead in the "too much information" category...
Those are eyes on the back of its head. Dragonflies have huge compound eyes. What we're seeing is the way the light reflects off of the multitude of simple eyes (ocelli) which make up the back portion of the compound eyes. Very cool effect, yes?!

[the dragonn]

You are so lucky to have them still around, ours have all died now. We will just have to wait 'til next spring. Here are a few I took this summer.
They are a male Southern Hawker, a female Blue-tailed Damselfly and a female Common Darter.

[Brutal_Dreamer]

WOW, Steve, those shots are amazing! Thanks!

Cheers,
BD

[Tmai]

Very cool pictures. Cin, remember the bright red one we saw at Corkscrew? I'd never seen one that color before. Dragonflies (aka 'skeeter hawks in the south) are fun to watch too.

Tami

[Molly Taco]

Wonderful Shots Steve thank for sharing.
We have dragonflies all year but more prevalent in the spring and fall.
Tami we have had a red DF in our back yard for a couple of days now trying to get a shot.
Cin