Autumn Meadowhawk dragonflies (mating pair, in tandem)

Sympetrum vicinum

Description:

A mating pair of Autumn Meadowhawk dragonflies spotted at Meadowood Recreation Area. The dragonflies shown in the preceding photo are "in tandem," in which the male (top) uses "claspers" (terminal appendages) at the end of his abdomen to hold the female (bottom) by her head. In this stage, the dragonflies are either going to copulate in wheel or they are resting between periods of oviposition in tandem; experience has shown the latter is more probable than the former. Related Resource: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oviparity

Habitat:

Hidden Pond, a small lake located at Meadowood Recreation Area in Fairfax County, Virginia USA. Related Resource: Meadowood Recreation Area Trail Map (PDF) http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib/b...