Red Dragonfly on lotus stem

It posed for hours on the same stem, coming & going effortlessly, in spite of missing 2/3 of its right rear wing.

Exceptional banner Cal!

Wonderful Banner! Love it!

I think it's either a Cardinal Meadowhawk
https://www.inaturalist.org/gu...

Or a Neon Skimmer
https://www.inaturalist.org/gu...
(please let me know if you know which)

Here are 4 short videos & a 1/2 hour version.
Best viewed full screen, sound on.

Part 1
1:43


Part 2
2:05


Part 3
2:38 "Cleaning up"


Part 4
0:51


And if you'd like to stream while you eat lunch....
27 min uncut.....coming & going, coming & going.....all on the same lotus stem.

Great banner! I can only imagine the story behind the wing with a piece missing.

Fantastic! Beautiful banner. I had a funny experience last summer. We were playing string quartets outside under a tent. A small blue dragonfly kept landing on my bow tip, despite how it was moving around. It would fly off and return, fly off and return, just as you are describing. And when we reconvened a few days later, the dragonfly came back too. No photos unfortunately.

EscondidoCal said:I think it's either a Cardinal Meadowhawk
https://www.inaturalist.org/gu...

Or a Neon Skimmer
https://www.inaturalist.org/gu...
(please let me know if you know which)

Here are 4 short videos & a 1/2 hour version.
Best viewed full screen, sound on.

Part 1
1:43

Part 2
2:05

Part 3
2:38 "Cleaning up"

Part 4
0:51

And if you'd like to stream while you eat lunch....
27 min uncut.....coming & going, coming & going.....all on the same lotus stem.

These photos sent me on a net search for info. I only see four legs, but the net says there are six legs. Many of the net photos also only show two pair of legs - at least that I can see - but on a few I can see three pair. These are great photos and video. Can anyone point out just where the three pair of legs are?

Your dragonfly banners, with the accompanying videos, are always a treat. Thanks for sharing them.

Cal, did you notice the eensy teensy bug running down the stem, between the dragonfly's legs (seen in profile along the right side of the stem), and then back up the stem (further to the left), in the "part 4, 0:51" video. It shows the incredible detail you achieve in your videos. It comes in roughly the middle of this video.

Fantastic banner cal

Thank you all for the comments, acorns & thumbs.
I'm happy I can share these special moments with you.

BTW, the images are videos that you can watch here without leaving NGA.
Just click on the white arrow in the middle......it will turn red.

Then click on the small white broken square in the lower right
to view full screen to see the dragon fly in all its glory.

Please click on this screenshot image to enlarge it.


@needrain

needrain said:
These photos sent me on a net search for info. I only see four legs, but the net says there are six legs. Many of the net photos also only show two pair of legs - at least that I can see - but on a few I can see three pair. These are great photos and video. Can anyone point out just where the three pair of legs are?

Hi Donald, they have 2 short legs just in back of their head for cleaning their face, grasping prey, or when mating....they are quite amazing at all three.

Just last summer....

@arctangent

arctangent said:Cal, did you notice the eensy teensy bug running down the stem, between the dragonfly's legs (seen in profile along the right side of the stem), and then back up the stem (further to the left), in the "part 4, 0:51" video. It shows the incredible detail you achieve in your videos. I comes in roughly the middle of this video.

No, I didn't......thanks, Elizabeth!

@Zoia

Zoia said:Fantastic! Beautiful banner. I had a funny experience last summer. We were playing string quartets outside under a tent. A small blue dragonfly kept landing on my bow tip, despite how it was moving around. It would fly off and return, fly off and return, just as you are describing. And when we reconvened a few days later, the dragonfly came back too. No photos unfortunately.

Thanks, Zoia.....would love to have seen that. :smily:

Please note.....I originally called it "he", but think it's really a "she".
When in doubt, call it "it".

The girls appear to be a brighter red, and abdomen is tapered.
Any dragonfly experts here?

Excellent photo and videos, Cal. Love the splashing water sounds in the background. Great detail as Elizabeth pointed out. I saw the little critter and thought, "how lucky for him he is so tiny---the dragonfly has no interest in him for a snack."

I'm a little "creeped out" watching these dragonfly videos---he's like a cross between a living critter (with a pulsating abdomen!) and an evil, alien robot! He can twist his head around 180 degrees! And I know they are excellent hunters on the wing.

Donald, The front pair of legs is often folded up and tucked below and on each side of the head. You can see all six legs pretty well in the 27-minute video after he begins his flights back and forth (about 5 minutes into the video).

Thanks, Cal!

@lauriemorningglory

lauriemorningglory said:Excellent photo and videos, Cal. Love the splashing water sounds in the background. Great detail as Elizabeth pointed out. I saw the little critter and thought, "how lucky for him he is so tiny---the dragonfly has no interest in him for a snack."

Thanks, Laurie.....good point!

I'm a little "creeped out" watching these dragonfly videos---he's like a cross between a living critter (with a pulsating abdomen!) and an evil, alien robot! He can twist his head around 180 degrees! And I know they are excellent hunters on the wing.

Imagine how scary it would be to have dragon flies with a 2ft wingspan like those 300 million years ago!

Thanks, Cal!

One last thing....every time I go out to film the dragon flies, they almost always
come over & hover in front of me....it's almost like they want to get my attention.
E.g. "Take my picture, please". They aren't afraid....they watch me as I set up
my camera just a few feet away.

Maybe they're just curious.....but that's amazing that they have that curiosity
& awareness that I'm something more than a plant.

Anyway, they're fascinating creatures, and add a special something to the pond.