A male Clearspot Bluewing dragonfly, Zenithoptera lanei on a pond near Lorato, Ecuador, in the Amazon Basin. Also called Morpho Dragonfly. A highly reflective blue upper wing and a shiny black under wing that can have red, purple and even yellow spectral highlights. Female upper wings are a bit duller blue than males. Both sexes periodically close both wings in a quick clap several time per minute. Occasionally they will hold the forewings forward displaying the upper surface while folding the hind wings and holding them folded. The first time I observed this display was a female immediately after copulation, before ovipositing. Nearby males ignored her. We have also observed males exhibiting this same display behavior. Both sexes orient themselves relative to other nearby individuals. https://academic.oup.com/biolinnean/article/133/1/179/6188452

A male Clearspot Bluewing dragonfly, Zenithoptera lanei on a pond near Lorato, Ecuador, in the Amazon Basin. Also called Morpho Dragonfly. A highly reflective blue upper wing and a shiny black under wing that can have red, purple and even yellow spectral highlights. Female upper wings are a bit duller blue than males. Both sexes periodically close both wings in a quick clap several time per minute. Occasionally they will hold the forewings forward displaying the upper surface while folding the hind wings and holding them folded. The first time I observed this display was a female immediately after copulation, before ovipositing. Nearby males ignored her. We have also observed males exhibiting this same display behavior. Both sexes orient themselves relative to other nearby individuals. https://academic.oup.com/biolinnean/article/133/1/179/6188452

A male #ClearspotBluewing #dragonfly #Zenithoptera-lanei on a pond near Lorato, Ecuador

#Odonata #Insect #Anisoptera #Libellulidae #Skimmer #Invertebrate #Anisoptera #Libellulidae #Entomology #SteveValleyPhotography #photography #SciArt #NikonD700 #180mmSigma #BugPics #DragonflyPhotography #Science