Female Halloween Pennant dragonfly

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Female Halloween Pennant dragonfly

August 30, 2015 by Mike Powell

One of the highlights for me of a short visit yesterday to Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna, Virginia was spotting this spectacular dragonfly, which I think is a female Banded Pennant (Celithemis fasciata).

Earlier this summer, I spotted a male Banded Pennant, whose body was blue, but the coloration of this one suggests to me that it is a female. The dragonfly was perched on the highest branches of a small tree, which allowed me to isolate it against the beautiful blue sky. You may notice that the branches are different in the two photos—the dragonfly flew away a few times, but returned to the same tree a short time later.

CORRECTION: My initial identification was incorrect. My local dragonfly expert, Walter Sanford, with whom I neglected to consult in advance, provided a correct identification. This is a female Halloween Pennant (Celithemis eponina), not a Banded Pennant.

Posted in Dragonflies, Insects, Macro Photography, Nature, Photography, wildlife | Tagged Banded Pennant, Banded Pennant dragonfly, Canon 50D, Celithemis eponina, Celithemis fasciata, halloween pennant, Halloween Pennant dragonfly, Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, Tamron 180mm macro lens, Vienna VA | 9 Comments

9 Responses

on August 30, 2015 at 9:00 am | Reply waltersanford

This is a female Halloween Pennant, as indicated by its cream-colored pterostigmata. Banded Pennants have dark-colored stigma.
- on August 31, 2015 at 4:54 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks. I tend to think of Halloween Pennants as having more amber colored wings, so jumped to a hasty conclusion.
on August 30, 2015 at 9:56 am | Reply thegatvolblogger

Wow, awesome surreal shot. Great picture.
- on August 31, 2015 at 4:52 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks. I was thrilled when I saw the dragonfly at the top of the tree, especially when it stayed put and let me take some shots.
on August 30, 2015 at 5:48 pm | Reply Beachbums1

Stunningly beautiful! Both are fantastic!
- on August 31, 2015 at 4:49 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks so much. Halloween Pennants are one of the most beautiful dragonflies that I have ever seen.
on August 31, 2015 at 4:49 am | Reply New Hampshire Garden Solutions

Those are great shots no matter what you call it!
- on August 31, 2015 at 6:40 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Allen. The dragonfly was spectacular and relatively cooperative. I like having the chance to get the shots and getting a correct identification is of secondary importance. (Unlike some birders that I see, I don’t bury my head in guides when I am out shooting and prefer to do my research after the fact.)
on August 31, 2015 at 9:07 am | Reply cihearu - Chronicles of a Bionic Woman

I love these shots! She’s really showing off her stripes