April 9, 2003 Newly emerged blue dasher
The dragonfly photo below is a Twelve-spotted Skimmer (click on photo
for enlargement). When I took this
photo, he had just finished mating with a female a few inches away from my face.
It was quite loud when the dragonflies joined, and then they separated and the female
placed her abdomen in my little pond several times to lay eggs.
Dragonfly larva are sensitive to pesticides that run off from
gardens and farms, so you can help by learning to garden for wildlife.
Please also consider purchasing organic cotton clothing and organic foods,
which are the only ones grown without pesticides.
Four-spotted Pennant perched after eating an insect (click on image
for full size photograph)
Female Four-spotted Pennant eating (click on image for full size)
Halloween Pennant (click on image for enlarged view)
Female Halloween Pennant:
(note: this photo is also now available as a notecard)
Male Blue Dasher (one of our most commonly seen dragonflies)
on Mexican Hat (click on image for full view)
Wandering Glider (click on image for full view)
Dragonflies like the Wandering Glider below often carry their front
two legs up behind their head while flying.
Click here for more pictures of the dragonfly in flight.
The other legs are usually held tight against the body in an aerodynamic form.
Even while perched, dragonflies will sometimes leave their front two
legs up behind their head,
like this "Red Saddlebags" is doing in the picture below. Click on the image for a closer view.
This clubtail dragonfly is also carrying its front legs up behind its
Click on the image below for the full size photo.
Female Checkered Setwing with front legs down while perched:
Female Eastern Amberwing
Male Widow Skimmer with front legs held behind head (click on image
for full view)
Female Widow Skimmer
This female dragonfly landed on my pants while I was taking pictures.
I think she is a Twelve-spotted Skimmer or a Common Whitetail.
I have more photos of dragonflies that I haven't put up yet,
so please come back later to see more dragonflies like roseate and neon skimmers.