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Libellula vibrans
A Great Blue Skimmer dragonfly spotted near the suspension bridge over Accotink Creek, Accotink Bay Wildlife Refuge. This individual is an old female, as indicated by its gray-brown coloration, the flanges beneath its eighth abdominal segment (used to scoop and hold a few drops of water during oviposition), and by the terminal appendages at the end of its abdomen. "Females become duller and darker with age, eyes may become blue." Source Credit: Paulson, Dennis (2011-12-19). Dragonflies and Damselflies of the East (Princeton Field Guides) (Kindle Locations 9196-9197). Princeton University Press. Kindle Edition. Contrast the appearance of this old female Great Blue Skimmer with a young female of the same species: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/125...
Accotink Bay Wildlife Refuge, a 1,200 acre preserve located at Army Garrison Fort Belvoir, Fairfax County, Virginia USA. Related Resources: Accotink Bay Wildlife Refuge http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accotink_Ba... http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/vbwt/site.a...
Copyright © 2012 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved. www.wsanford.com
2 Comments
Nope, doesn't hurt the dragonfly to hold it gently by the wings. In fact, only the first few veins (costa and subcosta) along the front of each wing is living tissue; the rest of each wing is dead.
Holding them like this doesn't harm them? I love dragonflies, they fascinate me!