Since the eyes are touching, it can't be a petatail. Any darner in the NE in spring is an Anax (Green Darner), Basiaeschna janata (Springtime Darner), Rhionaeschna mutata (Spatterdock Darner), or one of two Gomphaeschna species. This certainly looks like Gomphaeschna to me. Probably Gomphaeschna furcillata (which is more common in the NE), but it may be Gomphaeschna antilope (which would be a great find in MA!). Perhaps someone with more Gomphaeschna experience can discern the species from the photos.
5 Comments
Since the eyes are touching, it can't be a petatail. Any darner in the NE in spring is an Anax (Green Darner), Basiaeschna janata (Springtime Darner), Rhionaeschna mutata (Spatterdock Darner), or one of two Gomphaeschna species. This certainly looks like Gomphaeschna to me. Probably Gomphaeschna furcillata (which is more common in the NE), but it may be Gomphaeschna antilope (which would be a great find in MA!). Perhaps someone with more Gomphaeschna experience can discern the species from the photos.
This is some kind of darner dragonfly, family Aeshnidae. Need to see detail of the terminal segments of the abdomen to get a species ID.
Take a read through the FAQ page if you haven't already.
http://www.projectnoah.org/faq
You can edit all of your spottings and add or remove images in edit mode.
I've got one from a little further away, though I don't know how to add another photo to this.
Welcome to Project Noah! This is certainly a species of Dragonfly. Do you have any more views of this beauty? It might help with ID.