I've been trying to find out more about the dragonflies - I don't have any reference materials that deal with dragonflies in any depth, so i've been doing a lot of googling
I've found out that a country name for dragonfly in the US is 'devil's darning needle' and sometimes they were called "Horse Stingers' in parts of the UK which was something I didn't know before.
I've seen one similar to this identified as Aeshna isoceles which is the latin name for the Norfolk Hawker dragonfly but when I've loooked at the British Dragonfly Society site it didn't look like their Norfolk Hawker -so mysterious at the moment.
I think it looks remarkably like a military helicopter perched on this lavender stalk.
Dragonflies catch insects in flight -they eat a lot of mosquitoes ansd pests - but a lot of people are freaked out by their size and speed [they can fly at speeds of up to 25 mles an hour]
This one I think is a female Darter dragonfly - i'm not sure if its the Vagrant Darter Sympetrum vulgatum or the Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum as they are very similar.
It had a wingspan and body larger than my hand.
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17 comments:
Beautiful photos Alison. You've really managed to capture the delicacy of the "darning needles" wings.
That photo really DOES look like a helicopter. Weird!
Dr. John sent me
Thanks for the info on dragonflies. Dr. John sent me, a guy who randomly selects blogs for his readers to enjoy in his effort to take over the world....
I've always thought dragonflies were the coolest of insects, but I didn't know they ate mosquitos.
Came over from Dr. John's.
Another Dr. John visitor here !!
As amazing as those photo's are, they were way too up close and personal, scary creatures that look almost alien.
I came from Dr John's.
You have found out some amazing facts on the dragonflies. the pictures are excellent.
Hi! Dr John sent me. Very interesting...I am scared of them though...but I do hope they eat up all the pesky misquitoes!!!!
When I was 8 or 9 (over 40 years ago)we made several trip each summer to Isle Royale. There were more dragonflies there than anywhere else I've ever been. We see a few here in the UP of Michigan but not as many as there was before. We could use a few more to get rid of the mosquitoes
Dr. John sent me.
Nice photos, I have never had an up close look at a dragonfly. They are beautiful but I'm still a little wary of them.
Sent your way by the wonderful Dr. John. Take care!
Hi From Dr. Johns I use to thinks Dragan flys Bite now I not So Afraid
One of these flew into my bus this afternoon and got caught in my hair- photographing him never crossed my mind, I was too busy trying to get him out of my hair and back out the window as well as trying to keep my bus on the road without scaring my passengers to death. I got here by way of Dr. John...
I love dragonflys..they have such sharp beauty.
Dr John sent me:)
It is good that you were able to get photos of the dragonfly. It's even difficult to catch them. They're really fast. We used to have them around vacant lots but presently all lots have houses on it already so goodbye dragonflies.
Hi! I'm here from Dr. John.
What beautiful photo's u have taken! I luv dragonflies!!!
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:)
Thanks for your comment. I lov e your pictures. I hope you enjoyed our visits. Everyday I put up a new link. People who go there and leave a comnment with the words Dr. John in it get usless JCPOINTS and every Monday we have a drawing for pricless ( worthless) prizes. Some of the blogs we visit become blog friends. We invite you to join the adventure and do a new blog every day with us.nofew
Did you know that dragonflies are a potent symbol of rebirth :-)
Great pics. Growing up I used to call dragonflies 'helicopters'! Looks like I am not the only one who spotted the likeness.
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