I sometimes complain about the names given to species and how little they correspond to what I actually see in the field. That certainly was not the case yesterday when I spotted a Twin-spotted Spiketail dragonfly (Cordulegaster maculata) along a creek in Northern Virginia. If you look closely at the image, ideally by double-clicking it, you will see the double row of spots on the dragonfly’s abdomen (the “tail”) and the long pointed ovipositor extending well beyond the end of the abdomen, the “spiketail.”
As I post photos of dragonflies, I realize that it is hard for readers to get a feel of the relative size of these beautiful creatures. The Uhler’s Sundragons that I have featured recently are about 1.7 inches in length (44 mm). A Twin-spotted Spiketail, by contrast, is much larger, about 2.8 inches in length (69 mm).
Both of these species are uncommon to rare in our area, primarily because of their specific habitat requirements—they require clean forest streams, which are not common in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area and they have an early and short flight season of only a few weeks.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
I really like the great view of the wings in this shot, how I can see the wing pattern but also see what’s behind at the same time. Something quite magical about that!
Thanks, Liz. It’s a constant struggle to try to figure out what to have in focus. There are so many variables and camera settings to think about. I appreciate your feedback, because I was worried that the background might be too distracting (but was ecstatic to get the shot).
I bet you were ecstatic! Have a great Easter Mike!
Thanks so much, Liz. Best wishes to you as well for a wonderful Easter celebration.
[…] also photographed a Twin-spotted Spiketail dragonfly (Cordulegaster maculata) on 16 April 2019 in a field near the mouth of the stream. Twin-spotted Spiketail larvae probably live in the stream […]