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Spotting

Description:

Possibly a Baskettail or a female Blue Dasher?

Notes:

Idylwild WMA, Federalsburg, Maryland

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2 Comments

mdwildlife
mdwildlife 12 years ago

Thanks for the great information. None of my reverse angles came out very crisp which is why I did not post. I can check back and see if there is any good facial detail that may help you. The disparity between male and female dragonfly of the same species really frustrates me, so I appreciate your detailed explanations.

MichaelFulbright
MichaelFulbright 12 years ago

This is a great pic! It looks a lot like a Female Slaty Skimmer (Libellula incesta.)
Unfortunately, I don't think it will be able to get a positive ID without thoracic or facial features, because it could also be a female Bar-winged Skimmer (Libellula axilena) or a Female Great Blue Skimmer (Libellula vibrans). It is definitely a Female king skimmer( Genus Libellula.)

Female Blue Dashers will have a little bit of amber coloration at the wing bases and Baskettails have the basket shaped abdominal end segments.

mdwildlife
Spotted by
mdwildlife

Maryland, USA

Spotted on Jun 4, 2011
Submitted on Jun 19, 2011

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