Friday Night Photos Damsels And Dragons Edition
Happy Friday everyone. I hope everybody is doing well. Post any photos, memes, or music you like.
I love going to Santee Lakes from late fall through early spring for all the migratory birds. From late spring to early fall the birding is not so good since all the migratory birds are all gone, but in their place are Dragonflies and Damselflies.
I spent a couple of hours at the Lakes the last two mornings walking the shoreline hoping to get some dragons in flight. Unfortunately the little boogers wouldn't cooperate and all I was able to get were stationary shots. Some days you bite the bear and some days the bear bites you. The last two mornings the bear bit me. The one inflight shot posted here was from last year.
Pop quiz. How do you tell the difference between a Damselfly and a Dragonfly? See answer below. No cheating.
Pop quiz answer. The Damsel fly is much smaller and folds it's wings back when not in flight. The dragonfly is much larger and their wings remain extended when not in flight.
Comments
I have learned so much
from your photographs. And they're beautiful.
Thank you Linda
Compared to dystopian I don't know much, but I try to pass along what little I do know.
I was going to take a Viking river cruise until I found out they don't let sack and plunder the towns and villages along the way.
You're the best, SP.
Always gorgeous photos. Wish I had the equipment and talent.
But you sate that wish every Friday.
Thanks.
Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.
Thanks, E1
When things go sideways and the shit hits the fan my talent won't be worth much. Your talent for growing food will serve you well.
I was going to take a Viking river cruise until I found out they don't let sack and plunder the towns and villages along the way.
Hi pixelators
Hi all, Hey SP!
Awesome ode photos SP!
In case ID;'s are of interest...
1. Green Darner - Anax junius - male
2. Flame Skimmer - Libellula saturata - male
3. Rambur's Forktail - Ischnura ramburii
4. Blue Dasher - Pachydiplax longipennis - male
5. Flame Skimmer - brownish tone seems female
6. Bluet (Enallagma) sps. probably Familiar (E. civile)
Tule Bluet would be another option...
7. Common (Western) Pondhawk - Erythemis simplicicollis
(binomial for when lumped with Eastern Pondhawk)
8. Blue Dasher Pachydiplax longipennis - male
specific epitaph means long winged people...
9. Rambur's Forktail - Ischnura ramburii
I just love Rambur's... gorgeous beastie!
Great photos SP! I love odes as subjects. My local town park has a 3 acre pond with spillway and stream below it (when running - not now). In maybe 400 yards on one bank I have recorded over 50 species of dragons and damsels. Most locals ask, "there is more than ONE TYPE???"
In our world of exceptions to every rule... there is ONE family of damselflies that sit with wings spread, the spreadwings, most genus Lestes. Most areas have a type or two but they are scarcer in general. I would say damsel abdomens are about thick as an uncooked piece of spaghetti. Dragons are stout-bodied, nearly like a 1/4" rope. There are some tiny dragons, smaller than the longer damsels, but they are still thick bodied, all the damsels have a thin pin of an abdomen.
Plateau Spreadwing - wings barely visible here, but held out, like a dragon.
In damsel ID ... note how yours has wings along body, when a blue and black type this means Enallagma sps. in Bluet group. Forktails also hold wings along body. If its wings are held OVER seperate from the body it is a Dancer, eg. Argia sps. Note also if it is perched on substrate, like soil, rock, branch or root, it is most likely an ARgia dancer. Bluets and Forktails perch on vegetation, not substrate, as a rule.
Dancers (Argia sps.) hold wings over abdomen, not along it like Bluets and Forktails.
You can sign up to say iNauturalist or BugGuide and post your pics that are un-ID'd, and experts will find and ID them for you usually. Just put in profile, not a bug guy, just photo them... OdeCentral is THE place for ode records, and check the photos out there... Weewow! Note Greg Lasley's work.
a couple dragons
Widow Skimmer - these look crazy awesome whilst in flight...
Neon Skimmer
Thanks for the pixels and thread SP!
I gotta fly... happy trails all!
We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein
Hi, dystopian
Thanks for identifying and for all the info. I do have a link for Damselfly and Dragonfly ID. I just got lazy. I'd love to see a Spreadwing. I saw what looked like your Neon Skimmer but it wouldn't come close enough to get a shot to know for sure.
I was going to take a Viking river cruise until I found out they don't let sack and plunder the towns and villages along the way.
a spreadwing
Hi SP,
You should maybe have California and another Spreadwing in your area.
Here is a poor photo of a Great Spreadwing, which are huge for a damsel.
'
Some Flame Skimmer can get pretty red, but not as bright as a Neon. The key ID point is that the basal half of the wing on a Flame Skimmer has red tint. On a Neon only basal 20% is tinted, wing is 80% clear without color.
enjoy your odes!
We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein
Hi Social
You must be happy with those beautiful grounded damsel and dragonflies! All the delicate and colourful detail in the specimens is a treat to see and examine. Now I have another name for you - the digital Audubon of SD ; ).
I lost internet connection until now. I'll post photos next week.
Be well all and enjoy the weekend
Hi, Janis
Thanks for the new name. It's more family friendly than what I normally get called.
Looking forward to your photos next Friday.
I was going to take a Viking river cruise until I found out they don't let sack and plunder the towns and villages along the way.
Incredible bug pics, Sp! Appreciate the
info and pics, dystopian.
What's the scoop on the Giant Pandas? Good bug news from ECFL: I've seen Monarchs and a Swallowtail flying around in my yard in the last few days. I live in an urban area, but there are a lot of flowered trees and bushes here. Hurricane Alleys are quiet right now. There's a lot Sahara sand in the atmosphere keeping it dry. Storms do not like it. 
Rec'd!!
Inner and Outer Space: the Final Frontiers.
Hi OBF
Hey OBF,
You probably have Giant Swallowtail there among others, which is the one the caterpillar is called the Orange Dog, for the same reason Tomato Hornworm is called that... they ravage Orange trees.
I don't know much about those Bamboo Bears (I don't know why they don't let me name animals) ;). Grew some bamboo once but it did not bring any in.
Did see was it Ling Ling and Sing Sing or somesuch at the National Zoo in D.C. in 1973, that first pair loaned to Nixon. Very neat animals!
And yeah, that dust is a real 'cane killer keeping it quiet right now.
be well!
We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein
Hi, orlbucfan
I just received an email from the zoo yesterday letting zoo members know that the Pandas will be on display starting August 8th. Good to hear you're seeing butterflies in your yard. They're important pollinators.
I was going to take a Viking river cruise until I found out they don't let sack and plunder the towns and villages along the way.