Seaside Dragonlet

Description:

Dark blue dragonfly. Was caught in a spiderweb assumed to be dead, then saw it move. It was cold and rainy so I bought it in and misted it with warm water, then put a plant light near it so it could heat up like they do in sunlight. 5 minutes later it was ready to fly and it took off to the trees! Length: 28-35 mm Erythrodiplax berenice is a small skimmer found in salt marshes along the east coast of North America and the Gulf coast. On rare occasions it has been found near Lake Erie, and has even strayed into inland areas such as northern New Mexico and north Georgia. In mature males both the abdomen and thorax are dark blue to black, and the eyes are a dark reddish-brown. Females and immature males are patterned in school bus yellow and blackish, with the thorax in particular darkening with age. There is commonly a large amber area at the center of the wings. Males perch horizontally or diagonally on marsh plants, or on the ground, maintaining territories as they wait for females. Ovipositing takes place in tandem, with eggs laid into mats of algae or other aquatic plants. Erythrodiplax berenice larvae have the most unusual trait of being able to survive and even flourish in seawater.