Guardian Nature School Team Contact Blog Project Noah Facebook Project Noah Twitter

A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife

Join Project Noah!
nature school apple icon

Project Noah Nature School visit nature school

Blue Dasher dragonfly (male)

Pachydiplax longipennis

Description:

Spotted in the wetlands area of Huntley Meadows park at approximately noon."The obelisk posture is a handstand-like position that some dragonflies and damselflies assume to prevent overheating on sunny days. The abdomen is raised until its tip points at the sun, minimizing the surface area exposed to solar radiation. When the sun is close to directly overhead, the vertical alignment of the insect's body suggests an obelisk." Related Resource: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obelisk_pos...

Habitat:

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/huntl...

Species ID Suggestions



Sign in to suggest organism ID

1 Comment

Geodialist
Geodialist 11 years ago

Dragonflies perching in the obelisk position remind me of a noon mark sundial.

Louisa
Spotted by
Louisa

Virginia, USA

Spotted on Jul 16, 2012
Submitted on Jul 18, 2012

Related Spottings

Blue Dasher dragonfly (blue dasher) Pachydiplax longipennis Blue Dasher Blue Dasher

Nearby Spottings

Crayfish burrow (chimney) Great Egret (catches a fish) Blue Flag Irises Common Whitetail dragonfly (teneral female)

Reference

Noah Guardians
Noah Sponsors
join Project Noah Team

Join the Project Noah Team