When they are mating, many dragonflies adopt a very conspicuous heart-shaped “wheel” position, like this pair of Common Green Darner dragonflies (Anax junius) that I spotted last week at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. The process begins when the male, in this case the dragonfly with the blue abdomen, grabs a female by the back of her neck with claspers at the end of his abdomen that fit into species-specific grooves in the female. The two dragonflies are then hooked together, often for extended periods of time.
I couldn’t help but notice the sharp thorns on the branch that these dragonflies had selected for their encounter. Yikes—that is living life on the edge. After I took some photos, feeling a little like a voyeur, I decided to give the couple some privacy. When I circled back a short time time later, the dragonflies were gone, presumably having done their part to perpetuate the species.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Yikes, indeed, Mike. Talk about Make out point.
🙂
I was trying to avoid a direct reference in the posting to the need for them to practice safer sex.
🙂
Very Nice Mike! Saw the first dragonfly fly by in the yard here yesterday. Hopefully there will be some to photograph here soon!
In my experience, there is a surge in the spring for certain species and then a bit of a lull before the dragonfly population explodes on the scene. Patience, my friend, your time will come.
Has anyone ever told you your photos are amazing? No? Well, they’re amazing! Have a great day.
Wow, thanks. I really appreciate it. Sometimes when taking photos, things will simply click (pun intended), which I think was the case for this dragonfly shot. There are no guarantees with wildlife and nature photography because we have no control over such important variables as our subjects, the environment, or the weather. So, I would argue, the most critical key for my success is to be patient and persistent and to spend a lot of time outdoors with my camera. Sometimes the results will be amazing and sometimes they won’t, but it helps that I am an optimistic person who truly believes that the next photo opportunity might result in an even better photo. So I press on. 🙂
Wow, what a shot 👏👏👏
Great shot, Mike!
A colorful duo – it is nice to see that life indeed does go on!
Beautiful capture Mike!
What a terrific shot! Not something you get to capture every day!
Thanks. I never know when or where action like this will take place, so I try to be alert and react quickly when I see something.
Beautiful colors!
Thanks. The blue and green colors of this species is really quite spectacular. In many dragonfly species, as with birds, the coloration of the female is quite drab, but that’s not the case here.
It sure isn’t!
The typical heart shape that they naturally adopt is a delightful coincidence–or is it?
Can’t say for sure, but the same is true with damselflies. Check out this position with damselflies that looks even more like a heart. https://michaelqpowell.com/2019/06/03/mating-ebony-jewelwing-damselflies/
How could any naturephile not (heart) damsels?
Lovers love, that’s what they do.
Nature is fascinating in all of its varied and wondrous aspects. Being a romantic at heart, I have to wonder which of these Dragonflies chose the other or was it just a mutual attraction love at first sight sort of thing?! This is an amazing Engagement Photo of the happy couple! Thank-you, Mr. Mike!