blue dasher dragonfly by Richardphotos

Photography • Macro • posted on Aug 06, 2007

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Description

there has been many of these dragonflies flying outside of my house. this particular male heard that I photograph them a lot and agreed to pose for me.it was on a dead limb that I am using for a plant to climb.this was not cropped but only resized.I was maybe 6 inches or less from it with a 105 macro Dragonflies have excellent eyesight. Their compound eyes have up to 30,000 facets, each of which is a separate light-sensing organ or ommatidium, arranged to give nearly a 360Ã�Â° field of vision, important for taking prey on the wing, as has done the female shown above. Odonates are completely harmless - they do not sting or bite. Indeed, they are beneficial in the same respect spiders and other predators are beneficial - they keep the burgeoning insect population in check. Many of these species prey on each other; I often see dragonflies with damsels in their clutches. Dragonflies are among the most ancient of living creatures. Fossil records, clearly recognizable as the ancestors of our present day odonates, go back to Carboniferous times which means that the insects were flying more than 300 million years ago, predating dinosaurs by over 100 million years and birds by some 150 million. Much larger dragonfly species existed in the distant past than occur on earth today. The largest, found as a fossil, is an extinct Protodonata named Meganeura monyi from the Permian period, with a wingspan of 70-75 cm (27.5-29.5 in). This compares to 19 cm (7.5 in) for the largest modern species of odonates, the Hawaiian endemic dragonfly, Anax strenuus. The smallest modern species recorded is the libellulid dragonfly, Nannophya pygmaea from east Asia with a wingspan of only 20 mm, or about Ã�Â¾ of an inch. Dragonflies are the world's fastest insects and, although estimates of their speed vary wildly, most credible authorities say they are capable of reaching speeds of between 30 and 60 km/h (19 to 38 mph). A study showed that dragonflies can travel as much as 85 miles in one day. http://www.cirrusimage.com/dragonfly_blue_dasher.htm thanks for viewing and any comments I heard that our dear friend Ludy is out of the hospital

Comments (84)

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mbz2662

5:37AM | Mon, 06 August 2007

A unique perspective! Looks like this dragonfly is getting ready to try out for cirque du soleil, lol. Great information too.

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kimariehere

5:44AM | Mon, 06 August 2007

awesome capture love the pov and wings so much!!!

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B_PEACOCK

5:47AM | Mon, 06 August 2007

FAmtastic lesson on these cool little critters. Your closeups are really fantastic to Richard

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sessan53

5:53AM | Mon, 06 August 2007

Wow... this is absolute fantastic. Excellent shot. Bravissimo :-)hugs sessan

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alhak

5:54AM | Mon, 06 August 2007

wonderful capture and bug lesson, they are such cute delicate fellows....

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claude19

5:55AM | Mon, 06 August 2007

Splendid capture as always !!! You are Richard a very great artist with photographies !!!

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jif3d

5:59AM | Mon, 06 August 2007

Fantastic capture, the details are amazing ! The info is very informative and complements this kool dragonfly shot ! ~Cheers~ :o)

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rockstrider

6:00AM | Mon, 06 August 2007

Wow! Incredible clarity, especially it those wings! Great POV - wonderful work!

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goldie

6:02AM | Mon, 06 August 2007

thanks for the very interesting lesson...this is a great "belly" capture...

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lior

6:04AM | Mon, 06 August 2007

So wonderful macro!

NytsMom

6:05AM | Mon, 06 August 2007

Very good capture. These sre constantly flying and landing in our front yard. They are a very colorful insect and most of them have very turquios colored wings. Did not know they have such fine hairs on their underbellies.

Valerie-Ducom

6:07AM | Mon, 06 August 2007

wowwww, what POV Richard and very nice color too !! Good day :)

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