We’re under a frost advisory for tonight. If it comes to pass, it will be the first one of the season. Despite the dip in temperatures, though, there have still been plenty of insects active in the past few days, including dragonflies. (The Ozarkian did warn me that odonates are addictive…)
These small hyperactive red guys have been everywhere. I think this is a Ruby Meadowhawk, Sympetrum rubicundulum. Never mind, it’s a White-faced Meadowhawk, Sympetrum obtrusum. They move around so much that this (above) was the best photo I could get, and this is with my camera all the way zoomed in and held at arm’s length, and the result cropped.
I had better luck with this one, who, after I’d stalked it patiently for a couple minutes, obliged by perching against a nice leafy backdrop in the late afternoon light. Look at those colors! The bronze-y wing patches, the neon orange chevrons running down its back! The kind folks at BugGuide identified it as a Calico Pennant, Celithemis elisa.
As it starts to get colder I know I’ll be seeing fewer and fewer insects, to the point where I’ll have to wait until next April or May to get my next fix. Oh well… winter has charms all its own.
4 replies on “Dragonflies Before the Freeze”
…makes me think of hearts running up his back. He should be called a Valentine Pennant instead! :-)
Funny, I was thinking of Halloween because of the colors! Regardless of the holiday, it’s certainly a festive insect!
They are addictive, aren’t they :-)
They’ve been my favorites this year
I know very little about identifying dragonflies, but I was able to pick up the basics of butterflies without too much trouble, so maybe odonates will be next.