Great Blue Skimmer dragonfly (immature male)

Description:

A Great Blue Skimmer dragonfly spotted along "Heron Trail" at Huntley Meadows Park. This individual is an immature male, as indicated by the pale blue pruinescence that does not cover its body completely. Related Resource: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pruinescenc... Notice that the immature male Great Blue Skimmer dragonfly resembles the female of the same species. http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/112... "Males often go through an immature stage in which they are patterned much like females but then change dramatically at maturity by adding a layer of pruinosity (a powdery bloom much like the one we see on plums) to part or all of their thorax and abdomen. Most pruinosity is whitish to pale blue." Source Credit: Paulson, Dennis (2011-12-19). Dragonflies and Damselflies of the East (Princeton Field Guides), Princeton University Press.

Habitat:

Huntley Meadows Park, a 1,425 acre wetland area in Fairfax County, Virginia USA. Related Resource: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/huntl...

Notes:

Copyright © 2012 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved. www.wsanford.com Editor's Note: This Great Blue Skimmer was one of two dragonflies that participated in an insect hatch feeding frenzy that was the topic of my recent spotting, "Swamp Darner dragonfly (insect hatch feeding frenzy)" http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/113...