Dragonfly

[sandbender]

This landed next to me earlier today, it was only after downloading the photo from the camera that I realized that one of its eyes has taken a knock at some point. Poor chap.

Full size

 

[Toddy]

Dragonflies have been around for about 300 million years, they came before and they have outlasted the dinosaurs Used to be ones with wings over 70cms wide

Scary thought ! :yikes:

Thanks for the photo I know they don't live very long in temperate zones, maybe that one's just getting old in his lifetime ?

cheers,
M

 

[Harvestman]

Dragonflies are not my area of expertise, but I'd wager a groat or two that that is a female common red darter. I'm more sure of the gender than the species though.

Nice pic.

 

[Toddy]

But, but, it's yellow

and I think *plants* are given confusing names



M

 

[Harvestman]

*If* it is what I think, then the male is red, and the female is a sort of brownish, which might look yellow in the right light. Female dragonflies are almost always brown, at least in the smaller species, and this isn't a big one.

I'm assuming UK species, by the way.


As for silly names, I think the No-eyed Big-eyed Spider takes some beating. Genuine species, honest.

 

[sandbender]

"...I'd wager a groat or two that that is a female common red darter....the male is red, and the female is a sort of brownish..."

This might be a male then?

Thanks

 

[Harvestman]

Yup. Thats a male.

 

[Scots_Charles_River]

I saw a large dragonfly today, very fat body with black and white stripes, dark wings. It was over the sea about 30ft from mixed woodland, any ideas what type it was ?

 

[robin wood]

How close did you see it? Could it have been pale blue and black? Male broad bodied chaser?

 

[Scots_Charles_River]

It was about 4ft away, so definite black white striped body, like a bee.

 

[Dave]

Dragonflies have been around for about 300 million years....

Yep. Theyre pretty amazing really. As are the Mayflies.

 

[squishy]

I love seeing dragonflies, I saw my first one this year last week down by the canal. I always remember my mum telling me to get inside if a dragonfly was outside when I lived in Germany.. I'm still not quite sure why!

 

[Harvestman]

I love seeing dragonflies, I saw my first one this year last week down by the canal. I always remember my mum telling me to get inside if a dragonfly was outside when I lived in Germany.. I'm still not quite sure why!

People apparently believe that the long abdomen is a huge sting, and are terrified of them.

They are harmless, unless you are smaller than them.

 

[squishy]

I do remember them being huge over there.. although I was only a small child at the time so I expect they were really no bigger than the ones we get over here. My mum is not scared of them, and neither am I.. just one of those odd things I guess

People apparently believe that the long abdomen is a huge sting, and are terrified of them.

They are harmless, unless you are smaller than them.

 

[FLaKK]

here are 3 pics i took recently Sunday 05 August 2012 around the ponds here at Cuerden Valley park Lancashire... firstly a mating pair of Blue Tailed Damselflies, the female is the brownish one: -

Around the same pond i saw a female Emperor Dragonfly egg laying in some rotten wood low down near the edge of the pond.

And lastly i had to get the BDS to identify this one because i was stumped! it threw me completely... apparently it's an immature female Migrant Hawker.

 

[sandbender]

Those are gorgeous!

 

[MSkiba]

Here is one I took in spain

 

[FLaKK]

oh now that's a nice one,.. never seen such interesting colours, we don't get anything like that in the UK i don't think

 

[FLaKK]

thanks sandbender, the diagnostic feature of the migrant hawker i was told was the triangle just below the wings but i was still scratching my head until an expert told me no it's a golf tee! then it was a case of aaahh now i see it!

 

[woodspirits]

lovely pictures Flakk, pin sharp too. you guys will have to post more up!