If you were a dragonfly, one of the constant hazards that you would face would be the ubiquitous spider webs that threaten to entangle you. At this time of the year those same webs annoy me as well—there is just something “icky” about an unexpected facial encounter with spider silk.
Last week I captured some more images of Fine-lined Emerald dragonflies (Somatochlora filosa) at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. These rare and exotic dragonflies are always one of the highlights of my early autumn days.
In both images below there seems to be evidence of a spider’s work. What appears to be spider silk is hanging from the dragonfly’s wings in several place in the first image. In the second image there are remnants of a spider web on the branch from which the dragonfly was hanging.
I know that spiders have to eat too, but I must confess that I am rooting for the dragonflies when it comes to struggles between spiders and dragonflies.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Very Nice Mike! Sad to see Dragonfly season will end soon.