As we move deeper into spring, dragonfly nymphs are emerging from the water and starting their transformed lives as acrobatic flyers. This past weekend I spotted some young male Common Whitetail dragonflies (Plathemis lydia) in different stages of development.
Not surprisingly, adult male Common Whitetail dragonflies have white tails—it seems like most species are named after the characteristics of the male. Check out one of my postings from last year to see what a mature adult male looks like. When they first emerge, however, the males have the same body colors and patterns as the females. Fortunately, it’s easy to tell them apart, because the wing patterns are different in the male and female whitetails. (For more information about these dragonflies, take a look at the pages at bugguide.net.)
The dragonfly in the first shot is well on his way to becoming an adult and was bold enough to be flying over the water. The one in the second shot is younger, and seemed to content to remain in the vegetation at a distance from the open water.
A “tween” male–the abdomen is beginning to turn blue, but the adolescent body pattern still shows
An immature male, with the body pattern of a female and the wing pattern of an adult male
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Stunning photos, Mike, and interesting that the two genders start out with the same markings and then change. They move so very fast, I’m in awe that you are patient enough to wait for them to perch. 🙂
You’ve become a dragonfly expert! Great shots, Mike!! I still haven’t seen any this year, I hope they turn up soon.
So nice to see these guys flying around again. Some day it may be warm enough here to see dragonflies 😀
I’ll gladly give you some of our recent hot weather. I am not ready for 90 degrees at this time of the year.
Great detail on those intricate wing patterns.
Thanks, Lyle. Dragonflies are amazingly acrobatic flyers, thanks to those beautiful wings. The challenge for me when photographing them is trying to choose an angle that lets me get as much of the wings in focus as possible.
Great job on these photos. The detail really shows.
Thanks, Allen. In my experience, dragonflies are unpredictable. Some of them will let you come really close for shots (and may even land on you), while others refuse to perch or fly away as you approach. I was happy to be able to get these shots with a macro lens–often I am forced to use my telephoto and can’t always capture so many details.
I’ve learned a lot from you and Walter about Dragonflies as the one in our garden turns out to be a juvenile male Broad-Bodied Chaser, not the female we thought it was from the colouring. Nature is so fascinating. I wish I could just study nature all the time! 🙂
Thanks. There is always so much to learn that the best we can hope to do is dabble in some areas. It would definitely be fun to look at nature all the time, though I would not want to focus too narrowly on a single topic or species.
Indeed yes, it would be ideal to be able to study whatever comes your way 🙂
The pictures are fantastic. I love the detailed patterns of the wings.
Thanks. I fine dragonflies to be amazing and it’s really cool to see them as youngsters.
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