The Common Green Darner(Anax junius)is a big(3" in length)showy Dragonfly. It is in the family Aeshnidae and is named because of it's resemblance to a darning-needle. This is a male. One of the most common and abundant species throughout North America. The Common Green Darner is widespread across North America: occurring in Alaska and southern Canada, throughout the United States, and south to Mexico, as well as sometimes further south in Central America. It is also found on Bermuda and in the Caribbean, including Cuba, the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto Rico,and the British Virgin Islands. This species has also occasionally been recorded outside of its normal range, in Hawaii, northeast Asia, Japan to mainland China as well as the United Kingdom and France. It is the official insect for the state of Washington in the United States. It is well known for its great migration distance from the northern United States south into Texas and Mexico. The common green darner has an unusual breeding strategy, being one of very few dragonflies to migrate in spring and autumn. Some individuals behave like other dragonflies, overwintering as larvae before emerging as adults in the spring. However, large proportions of the population move south in the autumn, often flying in large swarms, and are believed to breed during the winter in Mexico, the Caribbean and the far south of the United States. There, the larvae develop over winter, and it appears to be the new generation of adults that travels north again in spring to breed in northern areas over the summer. The offspring produced in the summer then undertake the next southward migration as immature adults. In my experience, they seldom perch. The males spend most of their time on the wing while patroling their territory and looking for females. This means it is difficult to get many shots. A goodly amount of patience ls needed to have much success in getting good shots. The odds are better while they are mating because they hoover or land while egg laying in aquatic vegetation. I feel very pleased to have been lucky enough to be in the right spot, at the right time, to coax this one off some vegetation and onto my fingers. Thanks to all who have taken the time to comment on one of my postings. The feedback is appreciated. I hope everyone who has clicked on one of them was pleased with having done so. Lee