The Wandering Glider dragonfly (Pantala flavescens) may look ordinary, but it has extraordinary flying abilities that fully justify its name. It is considered to be the most widespread dragonfly on the planet and is found on all continents except for Europe and Antarctica and one was even recorded at over 20 thousand feet (6200 meters) in the Himalayas, according to Wikipedia. It is also the only dragonfly to be found on Easter Island in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean.
These dragonflies are in almost constant motion, so I was thrilled when I stumbled across a male Wandering Glider perched on a plant at my local marshland last weekend. There were a lot of Green Darners buzzing around too and this Wandering Glider may have been part of a migrating group that had stopped for a rest. According to an article at Odonata Central, Wandering Gliders drift with the wind for long distances (even over water) and are often encountered by ocean freighters. They mate in flight and feed on aerial plankton when flying long distances. (I never knew that there was such a thing as ‘aerial plankton.”)
I wondered why there are no Wondering Gliders in Europe and found one answer in Wikipedia. These dragonflies like to fly in moist winds and the extremely dry winds coming off of the Sahara Desert may have a barrier effect.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
That is quite the range – both continental and altitude. Nature is pretty amazing.
I never knew that dragonflies flew in groups. It’s also pretty amazing to think of them far out to sea. Your shot of him shows off his color pattern well.
The shot is not as sharp as I would have liked, but I only had time to snap off a few images before he took off. It was a new species spotting for me and the first time that I see something I am always excited to get any shots. Apparently some dragonflies are like birds and migrate in big groups. Wikipedia notes a report of one swarm that is said to have covered 34 square kilometers.
Very interesting information. I didn’t know you could find enough food in aerial plankton to survive on it.