Blue Dasher - female

Description:

An incredible fact about dragonflies is that they are among the first living creatures, more than 300 million years ago, predating dinosaurs by over 100 million years. The Blue Dasher is a small to medium sized dragonfly common throughout the U.S. in areas of low elevation. The female can be recognized by narrow parallel stripes on the abdomen. (Compare to male: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/125...) Adults feed on soft-bodied flying insects including mosquitoes, flies, butterflies, moths, mayflies, and flying ants & termites.

Habitat:

Southern Canada - U.S. also found in the Bahamas. Lakes, ponds & slow streams at low elevations.

Notes:

This beautiful female spent the weekend in the garden capturing prey. A male Blue Dasher can be seen here: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/125...