On Tuesday I spotted this handsome male Spangled Skimmer dragonfly (Libellula cyanea) at Occoquan Regional Park. This species is fairly easy to identify because of the “spangles,” the little white patches on the leading edges of the wings, often referred to as stigmata or pterostigmata. Most other species have darker colored stigmata or none at all.
If you use the meteorological calendar, summer started on the first of June. For most of us, though, who use the astronomical calendar, we have a few weeks to wait until the summer begins on the 20th of June. No matter how you calculate summer, I have noticed a lot more of the summer dragonfly species during my most recent outings. If things work out well, June could be a great month for dragonfly hunting, with the possibility of seeing some of the remaining spring species, plus the new summer ones.
Ā© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
That’s a wonderful photo, Mike.
Thanks, Dan. I know that one of the things I really like about it is the colorful background that is pleasantly blurred and suspect that you liked that too.
I did š
How dedicated and what excellent photos
Thanks, Diana. It is quite fun and somewhat liberating to chase around dragonflies like this one that touch down for a moment and then move on to another perch. I do the same thing with certain butterflies too. I am sure that from a distance you can’t tell that I am chasing dragonflies–it probably looks like I am running randomly in circles. š
Great image Mike! Hopefully it will be a Great Dragonfly season!
This one is truly a beauty, Mike. Striking photo!
Great photo, Mike. Dragonflies are terrific! š
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Thanks, Mitzy. As you know, or will soon discover, dragonflies are my favorite subjects during the spring and summer. In the other seasons, I switch to birds much of the time.
He’s another real beauty, and you’ve caught the wings really well. We use the meteorological calendar here, so our winter started five days ago. Thanks for another window into your summer!
Most of my dragonfly friends prefer hot, humid weather, which we have in abundance here. Like other artists, wildlife photographers often have to suffer for their craft, as you well know, Gary. š
Nicely positioned to be parallel and get it all sharp, Mike.
As you know, Steve, getting in a position like that without spooking the dragonfly is tough, especially when, as in this case, it meant trying to stand almost directly above the dragonfly without casting a shadow or otherwise scaring it away.
Mike, I saw a photo today of a Flame Skimmer (Firecracker Skimmer). It was all orange … eyes, tail, wings! They are only found in western North America.
I’m just a little jealous, David, because I know that we don’t have then here in Northern Virginia. It is cool to visit other places and see how the bird and insect population varies from my area. In the past, I have had the pleasure of hunting for dragonflies in Brussels, Belgium and Vienna, Austria when I was there for short business trips for the government.
[…] you would like a sneak preview of what one looks like, check out my posting from last year called Spangled Skimmer in June. If you want to search for a Spangled Skimmer dragonfly yourself, they tend to be found in shallow, […]