Dragonflies: While outside yesterday morning checking on how wet the ground was and if it needed to be watered, without camera, of course, I spotted for the very first time in about 6...

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

While outside yesterday morning checking on how wet the ground was and if it needed to be watered, without camera, of course, I spotted for the very first time in about 6 years, a dragonfly. Walking into the house to get my camera I told myself it would not be there when I got back. But amazingly enough it was right where I had left it. In fact it stayed there while I took a great photograph of it. Then in the next few minutes either it or close relatives flew and landed near me for more photos. I hope you like these.

Dennis

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bcheary Loc: Jacksonville, FL

dennis2146 wrote:

While outside yesterday morning checking on how we... (show quote)

I think that these are damselflies.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

bcheary wrote:

I think that these are damselflies.

Thank you bcheary. I have no idea which and could not think of the name, damselfly. Most likely you are correct. I don't know the difference. Folks here in this part of the forum are so incredible I am always sure someone will let me know that these things REALLY are. Truthfully, and I mean no disrespect to those with the correct answer, I just enjoy photographing these things. Their proper name is not that important, if that makes sense.

Dennis

bcheary Loc: Jacksonville, FL

dennis2146 wrote:

Thank you bcheary. I have no idea which and could not think of the name, damselfly. Most likely you are correct. I don't know the difference. Folks here in this part of the forum are so incredible I am always sure someone will let me know that these things REALLY are. Truthfully, and I mean no disrespect to those with the correct answer, I just enjoy photographing these things. Their proper name is not that important, if that makes sense.

Dennis

No problem Dennis. I am a retired entomologist so I can give a little help there. Dragonflies always have their wings extended when sitting whereas damselflies have theirs folded back and they are usually smaller than dragonflies. As you say the photographs are what it is all about. Cheers, Brian

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

bcheary wrote:

No problem Dennis. I am a retired entomologist so I can give a little help there. Dragonflies always have their wings extended when sitting whereas damselflies have theirs folded back and they are usually smaller than dragonflies. As you say the photographs are what it is all about. Cheers, Brian

Now I know what you are talking about. A few months back I submitted a photo of a much larger blue dragonfly with wings extended. These I submitted have their wings back. Thank you very much.

Dennis

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

dennis2146 wrote:

While outside yesterday morning checking on how we... (show quote)

Fantastic set!! Dennis

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Manglesphoto wrote:

Fantastic set!! Dennis

Thank you very much Frank. I don't see them very often so this one or two was a treat.

Dennis

bcheary Loc: Jacksonville, FL

dennis2146 wrote:

Now I know what you are talking about. A few months back I submitted a photo of a much larger blue dragonfly with wings extended. These I submitted have their wings back. Thank you very much.

Dennis

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

A great set, Dennis. I see them so often that I forget how awesome they are.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

kpmac wrote:

A great set, Dennis. I see them so often that I forget how awesome they are.

Thank you kpmac. I have seen them in abundance other places but not here.

Dennis

JimmyTB

Beautiful, Both the damselfly and the photos

Mark Sturtevant Loc: Grand Blanc, MI

Very nice pictures! I can't give an ID (damselflies are pretty challenging), but I think they are the same species. I can tell you that both are females. Male damselflies and dragonflies will have a distinct bump near the base of the abdomen that house a secondary set of genitalia used in mating.
https://www.livescience.com/43206-animal-sex-dragonflies.html
Males tend to be more colorful, but the one female has more blue than the other. One reason could be age. But another could be that some females take on male colors in order to reduce harassment from males (males are always pestering them). I don't know the particular story here.
Although dragonflies and damselflies must return to water to reproduce, they can venture far away from that.

docshark Loc: Millersville, PA

Dennis this is a spectacular set! Very sharp. What you have here is a female Tule Bluet (Enallagma carunculatum). Well done! It is teneral (just emerged) so the colors will take a few hours to emerge.
>i< Doc

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

JimmyTB wrote:

Beautiful, Both the damselfly and the photos

Thank you very much Jimmy. I appreciate your fine comments.

Dennis

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Mark Sturtevant wrote:

Very nice pictures! I can't give an ID (damselflie... (show quote)

Thank you Mark for the information and the link. Very interesting. I am about six blocks from the Snake River. Maybe I will go down to the riverwalk and maybe see more.

Dennis