Lyriothemis pachygastra, a skimmer dragonfliy species that lives in eastern Asia. This individual is an immature male. This species has a distinctively broad abdomen. His compound eyes are brown, thorax and abdomen are black. His four wings are transparent, and the bases are tinted amber. Like other skimmer dragonfly species, its abdomen becomes covered with pale blue wax particles as it matures. Shot in Fukuoka prefecture, Japan. July 2021.

Another male individual in the maturing process. His abdomen is slightly blue. Lyriothemis pachygastra In Japan. July 2021

Another nearly matured male individual. He has a grayish-blue abdomen, but the tip is still black. Lyriothemis pachygastra In Japan. July 2021

#ハラビロトンボ のオス。　太い。　
はじめは黄色い #トンボ だけど性成熟すると体が黒くなって、さらにお腹が水色になっていく。　シオカラトンボと同じで青白い粉を吹くらしい。

黒いオスばかりいる草むらがあったんだけど、なぜなのかしら。　あんまり逃げなくて、そろっと近づけば翅を触らせてくれた。

福岡県にて、2021年7月撮影。
#自然観察 #昆虫 #insect #dragonfly #Libellulidae #CC0

​Thorn & Amberwing ​This is a high-resolution, full-color macro photograph taken from a slightly elevated perspective, looking down at a dragonfly perched on a leafy plant. The main subject is a dragonfly, positioned horizontally across the center of the image. The dragonfly has a slender, yellow-orange body and head, with a segmented abdomen. Its thorax appears a bit more brownish-yellow. The head is large with prominent, dark compound eyes. The four transparent wings, characteristic of the order Odonata, are spread out and have a delicate network of veins. They reflect a subtle iridescent sheen. The wings are longer than the body, and the total wingspan occupies a significant portion of the image. The dragonfly is likely from the family Libellulidae, commonly known as skimmers. A possible genus could be Sympetrum, the "darter" dragonflies. ​The dragonfly is resting on a plant with numerous green leaves and thorny stems. The leaves are a vibrant green, with a slightly glossy texture. The plant appears to be a species of rose, genus Rosa. The thorns are sharp and reddish-brown, scattered along the stems, which are in focus directly beneath and around the dragonfly. The background is a soft-focus blur of more green leaves and some patches of brownish soil or mulch, creating a bokeh effect that makes the dragonfly and its immediate surroundings stand out sharply. ​In the bottom left corner, there is a watermark: "@ahaktekin". Another, similar watermark appears in the bottom right corner: "©ahaktekin". These are likely the photographer's social media handle and copyright notice. The lighting is bright and even, suggesting it was taken outdoors on a sunny day. The overall impression is one of a detailed, close-up nature photo that highlights the beauty and intricacy of the dragonfly.

Thorn & Amberwing / ​Diken & Kehribar Kanat

#Dragonfly #MacroPhotography #NaturePhotography #Odonata #Sympetrum #Libellulidae #InsectPhotography #Rose #Rosa #GardenLife #WildlifePhotography #NatureLover #Botanical #InsectsOfInstagram #Photography #Bokeh #CloseUp #NatureIsBeautiful

A photo of a black, yellow, brown, and grey skimmer dragonfly on the end of a small pole

Another photo of a black, yellow, brown, and grey skimmer dragonfly on the end of a small pole

#libellulidae #odonata #insects #bugs #photos

A photo of a greenish grey, brown, and black skimmer dragonfly on a purple paracord string

Another photo of a greenish grey, brown, and black skimmer dragonfly on a purple paracord string

Another photo of a greenish grey, brown, and black skimmer dragonfly on a purple paracord string

Another photo of a greenish grey, brown, and black skimmer dragonfly on a purple paracord string

#libellulidae #dragonflies #odonata #insects #bugs #photos

A photo of a white/grey, brown, black, and blue skimmer dragonfly on the end of a metal car jack handle

Another photo of a white/grey, brown, black, and blue skimmer dragonfly on the end of a metal car jack handle

Another photo of a white/grey, brown, black, and blue skimmer dragonfly on the end of a metal car jack handle

Another photo of a white/grey, brown, black, and blue skimmer dragonfly on the end of a metal car jack handle

Beautiful skimmer dragonfly!

#libellulidae #odonata #dragonflies #insects #bugs #photos

A photo of a black, brown, and yellow widow skimmer dragonfly perching on a thin green plant stem

Libellula luctuosa, the widow skimmer dragonfly!

#libellulidae #dragonfly #odonata #insects #bugs #photos

Libellula quadrimaculata, four-spotted chaser or four-spotted skimmer, a dragonfly of the family Libellulidae found widely throughout Europe, Asia, and North America.
#Libellulaquadrimaculata #fourspottedchaser #fourspottedskimmer #fyrfläckigtrollslända #trollslända #libellulidae #insectphotography

Cute little dragonfly
#MacroMonday
#Nature #Biodiversity
#Libellulidae
#EastCoastKin

The #variegatedmeadowhawk is a #dragonfly of the family #Libellulidae, native to North America. #macromonday #insectphotography #macrophotography dragonflies are just #awesome

A lone Blue Dasher Dragonfly sits on a dry leaf in the sun

The #Pachydiplax longipennis (Blue Dasher) has a really cool resting position

#entomology #bugs #anisoptera #libellulidae #odonata #dragonfly #naturalist #photography #naturephotography

A mature male Desert Whitetail dragonfly, Plathemis subornata at Twin Hot Springs, White Horse Ranch Road, Malheur County, Oregon. This species is normally found in the Desert Southwestern US, in SE Oregon they are always associated with hot springs that are common throughout the geologically active region. Note pruinosty on abdomen and inner wings and how the dark pigment has filled in the wing patches.

A mature male #DesertWhitetail #dragonfly #Plathemis-subornata #MickeyHotSprings, #Alvord #MalheurCo,Oregon

#Odonata #Insects #Anisoptera #Libellulidae #Invertebrate #Entomology #SteveValleyPhotography #photography #SciArt #NikonD700 #200mmMicro-Nikkor #BugPics #DragonflyPhotography #Macro #Science

An immature male Desert Whitetail dragonfly, Plathemis subornata at Mickey Hot Spring, Alvord Area, off the Mann Lake/Fields Road, Malheur County, Oregon. This species is normally found in the Desert Southwestern US, in SE Oregon they are always associated with hot springs that are common throughout the geologically active region.

An imm. male #DesertWhitetail #dragonfly, #Plathemis-subornata #MickeyHotSprings, #Alvord #MalheurCo,Oregon

#Odonata #Insects #Anisoptera #Libellulidae #Invertebrate #Entomology #SteveValleyPhotography #photography #SciArt #NikonD700 #200mmMicro-Nikkor #BugPics #DragonflyPhotography #Macro #Science

Vandaag mijn eerste nieuwe soort voor dit seizoen, de Noordse Witsnuitlibel 😊....

#dragonfly #witsnuitlibel #libellulidae

Scarce chaser
Libelulla fulva

#macrophotography #macronature #macro #photography #nature #wildlife #entomology #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #macrophotofriday #odonata #damselfly #demoiselle #anisoptera #libellulidae

A male Varigated Meadowhawk dragonfly, Sympetrum corruptum on Cox Creek, Albany, Oregon.

A male #VarigatedMeadowhawk #dragonfly, #Sympetrum-corruptum Cox Creek #Albany,Oregon,USA

#Odonata #Insects #Anisoptera #Libellulidae #Invertebrate #Entomology #FocusStacking #NikonD810 #ZereneStacker #Macro #BugPics #DragonflyPhotography #Science #SteveValleyPhotography #photography #SciArt #Art

A male Varigated Meadowhawk dragonfly, Sympetrum corruptum on Cox Creek, Albany, Oregon.

A male #VarigatedMeadowhawk #dragonfly, #Sympetrum-corruptum Cox Creek #Albany,Oregon,USA

#Odonata #Insects #Anisoptera #Libellulidae #Invertebrate #Entomology #FocusStacking #NikonD810 #ZereneStacker #Macro #BugPics #DragonflyPhotography #Science #SteveValleyPhotography #photography #SciArt #Art

Gewone Oeverlibel #libellente

#dragonfly #oeverlibel #libellulidae #natuurfotografie #beautyiseverywhere
@libellenjan.bsky.social
@vlinderstichting.bsky.social

Week 1, image #6, New Clue: Males and females fly around in tandom, until the male finds a spot he likes and releases the female to drop down and tap her abdomen on the water, releasing eggs. She then flies back up, the males grasps her head with his anal appendages and the continue looking for another spot. This MALE looks quite different from the female. Note that the top of the frons and vertex have strong structural colors and those same colors can also be seen in the eyes. I AM STARTING A WEEKLY MYSTERY MONDAY DRAGONFLY CONTEST. I am looking for Species (scientific name), sex, maturity (teneral, immature, mature, senescent). Click my name and send me your answer, without revealing it in a comment. Winners will be announced next week. I don't know if we have enough dragonfly enthusiasts, on Blue Sky, who know also know taxonomy to support this sort of contest, but if everyone who is still on Facebook could encourage the active members in the Facebook groups like Western Odonata, etc. to join Blue Sky, maybe we can get more Odonatologists and other entomologists to join our community.

#MysteryMondayDragonfly, week 1, image 6, FINAL CLUES, this shot is a male. See alt text for more details.
#Odonata #Insects #Anisoptera #Invertebrate #Libellulidae #Entomology #FocusStacking #NikonD850 #ZereneStacker #BugPics #DragonflyPhotography #Science #SteveValleyPhotography #SciArt

Week 1, image #5, New Clue: this MALE looks quite different from the female. Note that the top of the frons and vertex have strong structural colors and those same colors can also be seen in the eyes. I AM STARTING A WEEKLY MYSTERY MONDAY DRAGONFLY CONTEST. I am looking for Species (scientific name), sex, maturity (teneral, immature, mature, senescent). Click my name and send me your answer, without revealing it in a comment. Winners will be announced next week. I don't know if we have enough dragonfly enthusiasts, on Blue Sky, who know also know taxonomy to support this sort of contest, but if everyone who is still on Facebook could encourage the active members in the Facebook groups like Western Odonata, etc. to join Blue Sky, maybe we can get more Odonatologists and other entomologists to join our community.

Week 1, image #, New Clue: this MATURE FEMALE looks quite different from the male. Note that the top of the frons has strong blue structural color pattern. I AM STARTING A WEEKLY MYSTERY MONDAY DRAGONFLY CONTEST. I am looking for Species (scientific name), sex, maturity (teneral, immature, mature, senescent). Click my name and send me your answer, without revealing it in a comment. Winners will be announced next week. I don't know if we have enough dragonfly enthusiasts, on Blue Sky, who know also know taxonomy to support this sort of contest, but if everyone who is still on Facebook could encourage the active members in the Facebook groups like Western Odonata, etc. to join Blue Sky, maybe we can get more Odonatologists and other entomologists to join our community.

#MysteryMondayDragonfly, image 5 & 1, New Clues, this shot is a male on the left. See alt text for more details.
#Odonata #Insects #Anisoptera #Invertebrate #Libellulidae #Entomology #FocusStacking #NikonD850 #ZereneStacker #BugPics #DragonflyPhotography #Science #SteveValleyPhotography #SciArt

Week 1, image #3, New Clue: female I AM STARTING A WEEKLY MYSTERY MONDAY DRAGONFLY CONTEST. I am looking for Species (scientific name), sex, maturity (teneral, immature, mature, senescent). Click my name and send me your answer, without revealing it in a comment. Winners will be announced next week. I don't know if we have enough dragonfly enthusiasts, on Blue Sky, who know also know taxonomy to support this sort of contest, but if everyone who is still on Facebook could encourage the active members in the Facebook groups like Western Odonata, etc. to join Blue Sky, maybe we can get more Odonatologists and other entomologists to join our community.

Week 1, image #4, New Clue: Family Libellulidae I AM STARTING A WEEKLY MYSTERY MONDAY DRAGONFLY CONTEST. I am looking for Species (scientific name), sex, maturity (teneral, immature, mature, senescent). Click my name and send me your answer, without revealing it in a comment. Winners will be announced next week. I don't know if we have enough dragonfly enthusiasts, on Blue Sky, who know also know taxonomy to support this sort of contest, but if everyone who is still on Facebook could encourage the active members in the Facebook groups like Western Odonata, etc. to join Blue Sky, maybe we can get more Odonatologists and other entomologists to join our community.

#MysteryMondayDragonfly, images 3&4, New Clues, it is a female and Family #Libellulidae
#Odonata #Insects #Anisoptera #Invertebrate #Entomology #FocusStacking #NikonD810 #ZereneStacker #BugPics #DragonflyPhotography #Science #SteveValleyPhotography #SciArt

A cop pair of Striped Meadowhawk dragonfly, Sympetrum pallipes at Camas Prairie, Mt. Hood National Forest, Oregon, USA. Mid-Summer through Fall S. pallipes numbers build until they seem to be the most numerous insect not just at wet places but tandem pairs fly around dropping their eggs randomly over dry ground too. Sometimes thousands of pairs are active at favored habitat.....When I look through my photo archive I notice that for some of the most common local species I have surprisingly few good shots. I often pass them by in the field, favoring rarer or harder to approach subjects. Despite their densities S. pallipes can be tricky to shoot; they fly often and disturb other pairs......I do not like the wings in this shot. My goal is to have the near wings in focus to the tip but that kind of depth of field can be difficult to achieve. Nikon D700 with a 200mm Micro-Nikkor.

A cop pair of #StripedMeadowhawk #dragonfly #Sympetrum-pallipes at #CamasPrairie #MtHoodNatFor,Oregon,USA
#Odonata #Insect #Anisoptera #Libellulidae #Invertebrate #Anisoptera #Entomology #SteveValleyPhotography #photography #SciArt #NikonD700 #200mmMicroNikkor #BugPics #DragonflyPhotography #Science

A portion of the rear wing of a male Flame Skimmer Dragonfly, Libellula saturata, Cox Creek, Albany, Oregon, USA. Dragonfly wings are not flat 2-dimensional structures, but rather, they are 3-dimensional, with grooves and ridges running lengthwise along the wing making it rigid, but allowing it to flex from base to tip and front to back without breaking. The membrane of each cell surrounded by veins creates a network that is very resistant to shearing forces. Tiny spines along the veins have very subtle, but cumulative affect on how air flows across each wing The whole wing acts as nature's most perfect airfoil. AND there are 4 of them, each independently movable and they can also rotate about 180 degrees. Dragonflies and damselflies are the only insects whose wings are controlled and powered by muscles that are attached directly to the bases of each wing. Independent sets of muscles raise, lower and rotate and un-rotate each wing. Focus stacks shot with a Nikon D810 and a Mitutoyo M Plan APO 5X infinity microscope objective.

A portion of the rear wing of a male Flame Skimmer Dragonfly, Libellula saturata, Cox Creek, Albany, Oregon, USA. Dragonfly wings are not flat 2-dimensional structures, but rather, they are 3-dimensional, with grooves and ridges running lengthwise along the wing making it rigid, but allowing it to flex from base to tip and front to back without breaking. The membrane of each cell surrounded by veins creates a network that is very resistant to shearing forces. Tiny spines along the veins have very subtle, but cumulative affect on how air flows across each wing The whole wing acts as nature's most perfect airfoil. AND there are 4 of them, each independently movable and they can also rotate about 180 degrees. Dragonflies and damselflies are the only insects whose wings are controlled and powered by muscles that are attached directly to the bases of each wing. Independent sets of muscles raise, lower and rotate and un-rotate each wing. Focus stacks shot with a Nikon D810 and a Mitutoyo M Plan APO 10X infinity microscope objective.

A section of the rearwing of a male #FlameSkimmer #dragonfly, #Libellula-satutara

#Odonata #Insects #Anisoptera #Libellulidae #Skimmer #Invertebrate #Entomology #FocusStacking #NikonD810 #ZereneStacker #BugPics #DragonflyPhotography #Science #SteveValleyPhotography #photography #SciArt #Art

A lateral portrait of a male Autumn Meadowhawk dragonfly, Sympetrum vicinum on Cox Cr., Albany, Oregon, USA. S, vicinum is often one of the species that flies the latest in the year. Focus stacks were shot with a Nikon D810 w/50mm Rodenstock Rodagon mounted on Nikon PB-4 Bellows, ~3X.

A male #AutumnMeadowhawk #dragonfly, #Sympetrum-vicinum on Cox Cr., #AlbanyOregon,USA

#Odonata #Insects #Anisoptera #Libellulidae #Meadowhawk #Invertebrate #Entomology #FocusStacking #NikonD810 #ZereneStacker #BugPics #DragonflyPhotography #Science #SteveValleyPhotography #photography #SciArt #Art

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

A male Flame Skimmer dragonfly, Libellula saturata on Cox Creek, Albany, Oregon, USA. Shot with a Nikon D700 w/200mm Micro-Nikkor. Until the late 1980's L. saturata was only known from a few sites in southern Oregon. I encountered my 1st one at a warm spring, Page Springs at the foot of Steens Mtn. in Harney County. They were also reported from the Medford area. In 1986, I discovered a very small population on Burkhart Creek in Albany, OR. Since then the species has established itself at numerous sites west of the Cascade Mtns. all the way up into Washington. The males patrol long beats up and down the stream and interact with other Libellula species they encounter and I often see L. saturata males aggressively chase each other for long distances. The sexes are dimorphic with the gynomorphic females primarily tan rather than red-orange, but there are also andromorphic females that are red-orange like the males. At a distance the only way to ID an andromorph is if she happens to be ovipositing (laying eggs) by tapping her abdomen on the surface of the water.

A male #FlameSkimmer #dragonfly #Libellula-saturata on Cox Creek #Albany,Oregon,USA

#Odonata #Insect #Anisoptera #Libellulidae #Skimmer #Invertebrate #Anisoptera #Gomphidae #Entomology #SteveValleyPhotography #photography #SciArt #NikonD700 #200mmMicro-Nikkor #BugPics #DragonflyPhotography #Science

A portrait of a male Flame Skimmer dragonfly, Libellula saturata on Cox Creek, Albany, Oregon, USA. Focus stacks were shot with a Nikon D810 w/50mm Rodenstock Rodagon mounted on Nikon PB-4 Bellows, ~3.5X. Until the late 1980's L. saturata was only known from a few sites in southern Oregon. I encountered my 1st one at a warm spring, Page Springs at the foot of Steens Mtn. in Harney County. They were also reported from the Medford area. In 1986, I discovered a very small population on Burkhart Creek in Albany, OR. Since then the species has established itself at numerous sites west of the Cascade Mtns. all the way up into Washington. The males patrol long beats up and down the stream and interact with other Libellula species they encounter and I often see L. saturata males aggressively chase each other for long distances. The sexes are dimorphic with the gynomorphic females primarily tan rather than red-orange, but there are also andromorphic females that are red-orange like the males. At a distance the only way to ID an andromorph is if she happens to be ovipositing (laying eggs) by tapping her abdomen on the surface of the water.

A male #FlameSkimmer #dragonfly, #Libellula-saturata on Cox Creek, #Albany,Oregon,USA

#Odonata #Insects #Anisoptera #Libellulidae #Skimmer #Invertebrate #Entomology #FocusStacking #NikonD810 #ZereneStacker #BugPics #DragonflyPhotography #Science #SteveValleyPhotography #photography #SciArt #Art

A male American Emerald dragonfly, Cordulia shurtleffi at Mosquito Swamp, Santiam Pass Hwy 20, Oregon, USA. A focus stacked portrait, lateral view, shot with a Rodenstock Rodagon 50mm mounted on a Nikon PB-4 Bellows on a Nikon D850 ~3.5X

A male #AmericanEmerald #dragonfly, #Cordulia-shurtleffi at Mosquito Swamp, Santiam Pass, Oregon, USA. ~3.5X

#Odonata #Insect #Anisoptera #Libellulidae #Entomology #SteveValleyPhotography #FocusStacking #photography #SciArt #NikonD850 #ZereneStacker #BugPics #DragonflyPhotography #Science #Art

A male Red-veined Meadowhawk dragonfly, Sympetrum madidum Cox Creek, Albany, Oregon, USA. Anterior veiw ~3.5X

A male #Red-veinedMeadowhawk #dragonfly, #Sympetrum-madidum Cox Cr., Albany, Oregon, USA. ~3.5X

#Odonata #Insect #Predator #Anisoptera #Libellulidae #Entomology #SteveValleyPhotography #FocusStacking #photography #SciArt #NikonD810 #ZereneStacker #BugPics #DragonflyPhotography #Science #Art #BadAss

A female Western Pondhawk dragonfly, Erythemis collocata on Cox Creek, Albany, Oregon, USA. Anterior view ~3.5X

A female #WesternPondhawk #dragonfly, #Erythemis-collocata Cox Cr., Albany, Oregon, USA. ~3.5X

#Odonata #Insect #Predator #Anisoptera #Libellulidae #Entomology #SteveValleyPhotography #FocusStacking #photography #SciArt #NikonD810 #ZereneStacker #BugPics #DragonflyPhotography #Science #Art #BadAss

A male Western Pondhawk dragonfly, Erythemis collocara on Cox Creek, Albany, Oregon, USA. Anterior view ~3.5X

A male #WesternPondhawk #dragonfly, #Erythemis-collocara Cox Cr., Albany, Oregon, USA. ~3.5X

#Odonata #Insect #Predator #Anisoptera #Libellulidae #Entomology #SteveValleyPhotography #FocusStacking #photography #SciArt #NikonD810 #ZereneStacker #BugPics #DragonflyPhotography #Science #Art #BadAss