What signposts mark for you the transition from summer to autumn? Many folks might point to changes in the foliage colors or cooler weather, but for me the spotting of my first Fine-lined Emerald dragonfly (Somatochlora filosa) marks an unofficial beginning to the new season.
Fine-lined Emeralds are a relatively uncommon dragonfly species, both locally as well as nationally. They seem to prefer a coastal plain and are active for only about a month, generally the month of September. Yesterday I visited Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, a place where I have seen Fine-lined Emeralds in the past, and I was thrilled when I eventually spotted one. However, it took me several hours before I was able to capture this shot, because most of the Fine-lined Emeralds that I saw flew by me without stopping and I would lose them when I gave chase.
You probably noticed a few things about this dragonfly when you looked at the photo. First, it is clear why the family to which this dragonfly belongs is called “Emerald”—those brilliant green eyes are mesmerizing. Secondly, you can’t help but notice that Fine-lined Emeralds do not perch horizontally like most dragonflies you are likely to encounter. Instead, they hang almost vertically from bare branches. As a result, their slender bodies are hard for the eye to detect and also tend to confuse a camera’s autofocusing system. Most of the time I end up having to manually focus, as I did in this situation. Lastly, if you click on the image, you can see this dragonfly’s beautiful markings on the thorax (the “chest”) and the abdomen (the “tail”).
So, for me autumn has begun with the arrival of the Fine-lined Emerald dragonfly. Has autumn started for you yet or are you waiting for some additional personal signs of the season?
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Very Nice Mike! I have never seen one of these! Very Cool!
Impressive shot 😀
Wow! It’s emerald green eyes are amazing!! I am always fascinated by the patterns in a dragonfly’s wings too. Great shot! 👍
I was curious, Jill, to see if anyone would comment on the wings. I used to think that all of the “cells” of a dragonfly’s wings were the same (like a honeycomb), but when I looked more closely, I noted that there were all kinds of different shapes and patterns, like an intricate stained glass window. This variety is especially apparent in this image, as you noticed.
Congrats on spotting this beauty – and for the wonderful photo! It was very interesting to read about its unusual vertical ‘posture’
Different dragonfly species perch in different ways. Some like to perch on the ground, while others perch on the very tip of a stalk. Some prefer to perch in vegetation and others will look for bare branches. When I am searching for a particular species, as I was in this case, it helps to know how they perch and how they fly.
Thanks! Just as we learn to closely observe behaviors of birds or any wildlife.
Very nice!
A handsome one!
With the chilly nights we’ve had lately, the foliage is starting to turn surprisingly early. The bird migration is picking up as well. I won’t get too bummed until the Canada geese go over.
Good catch, Mike!
Very striking, Mike!
Thanks, Chris.
Such a beauty, a fine tipped emerald helmet indeed! And you captured such clarity on the filigree of those wings. So impressive Mike.
Thanks, Damien. I find dragonflies to be such beautiful, magical creatures and I never tire of chasing after them.
The juncture of wings to thorax look as if they should not even work!
I consider the fact that they fly at all to be a minor miracle. Apparently they can operate each of the four wings independently. Truly they are aerial acrobats.