Sunday, July 25, 2010

Green Darner Dragonfly


This summer I have been spending a lot of time participating in events sponsored by the Minnesota Odonato Survey Project. MOSP is a small group that is working on surveying and recording all of the different species of Odonates that are present in each county of Minnesota.

Very little data has been collected over the years on what Odonates, dragonflies and damselflies, can be found in Minnesota and where. The MOSP is working to resolve this issue by teaching people about odonates, so that there will be more people collecting data on them through out the state. Last week I drove about 5 hours each way to participate in the MOSP event up at Voyager National Park. Even though it was a long drive I specifically wanted to participate in the event at Voyager because it is very different habitat from where I live. I was rewarded by photographing several species that I did not have pictures of before.
Green darners, as seen in this series of photos are common through out much of North America. Each year the last brood of the green darners that emerge head south to avoid the on coming Minnesota winter. When they reach their warmer destination they mate and lay eggs, egg laying is pictured in the two photos above, and then they die. The eggs hatch and the larva spend a few months in the warm waters before they emerge as green darner dragonflies and begin to fly north. That is why the green darner s one of the first dragonflies that we see each spring. This weekend I will be heading out again to Dragonfly Weekend where I hope to have the opportunity to photograph a few now dragons.

15 comments:

Kim, USA said...

Blue and shiny butterfly that is awesome!

Macro Monday~Butterfly

Dimple said...

Neat photos! I think dragonflies are interesting, although I never wanted to study them in this way. But you got some terrific photo ops from participating in this study!

Roan said...

Nice series. I love dragonflies, but have trouble getting them to stop long enough to get a good shot. These are amazing.

Cheryl Kohan said...

These are really wonderful photos. I've seen quite a few what I thought were dragonflies this summer but maybe they aren't. Very large, whatever they are. I'll have to pay closer attention.

Jama said...

I'm amazed at your wonderful caption of these little beauty!

michael said...

Your photos would certainly be a wonderful contribution to any project. Beautiful as always.

Kala said...

These are lovely shots - they have such delicate wings!

Anonymous said...

All the shots are so wonderful!! It's just amazing how detailed they are and it shows their true beauty. Thanks for sharing!!

Francisca said...

What fascinating green darners... and your macro captures of them are awesome. Nice project, Ecobirder.

mrsnesbitt said...

Wonderful capture - and one which gives out a peaceful impression!

Hootin Anni said...

Wow...just wow!
Your photos and information each week for Macro Monday are just stupendous.

If you have time to stop by: My Macro Monday

Janis said...

Thanks for all the info...very interesting and great photos.

Nancy E said...

How cool! Love dragon flies and the green with the water in your photos is fabulous. Thank you for sharing... Very nice.

Maaike said...

great serie of pictures
lovely dragonflies!

2sweetnsaxy said...

Very impressive!