When it comes to damselflies, you often have to look closely for identifying marks, because so many of them are colored with variations of blue and black. I really could not identify the species of this little damselfly when I took this photo on Wednesday while exploring a creek in Prince William County. I decided that if he was willing to pose for me on a leaf, I was more than willing to take his picture.
When I pulled up the image on my computer, I immediately noticed some distinctive blue markings near the tip of the abdomen. Those markings helped me to identify it as a male Dusky Dancer (Argia translata), a species that I had never before photographed.
We are still in a kind of summer doldrums period, where the summer dragonflies have been buzzing around for quite some time, and it is too early for the autumn species to appear. It is therefore pretty exciting for me to photograph a new species—I might have seen a Dusky Dancer in the past, but I am pretty sure that I was not able to capture an image, so in my mind it did not “count.”
Be sure to click on the image if you want to get a closer view of the distinctive markings and beautiful eyes of this cool-looking Dusky Dancer damselfly.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Beautiful photo and pretty amazing damselfly.😊👍
Thanks, Suzette. If if you look closely enough you will see hints of violet in his eyes. It’s definitely a handsome looking damselfly. (It always feels a little funny to talk about guy damselflies. 🙂 )
Yes! I saw the hints of violet…beautiful. 😊
Amazing shot 👏👏👏
Thanks, Ted. As you have undoubtedly noticed–I really like damselflies, even when they are not in distress. 🙂
LOL, and you have a convert in Ellen 😃
Five more converts and I get a toaster. 🙂
Now that’s funny LOL
This one is beautiful.
Thanks, Dan.
I am thinking this is what I saw July 2 here in Ohio but could not capture a photo of! Brilliant blue and rather stunning. Lucky you to find something new to you!
Excellent photograph, Mike! Congratulations on a new species. I share your excitement when that happens!
Thanks, Wally. I still like to photograph whatever I see, even if I have seen it multiple times before.
Stunning. Although I must say that the concept of a male damsel boggles my mind.
And imagine what it does to his self-esteem. 🙂
Very nice Mike! Always fun to photograph damselflies!
The turquoise markings make for a really interesting contrast with the dusky indigo of the rest of the body. And what a perfectly appropriate common name.
Some times the folks who name species get it right and I completely agree with you about this beautiful damselfly species, Gary.
So awesome! So vivid!
Thanks, Lisa.
Beautiful image Mike. I smiled as you talk about those images that count. I do the same with new species of fish with underwater shots
Thanks, Chris. It is sort of a different approach than bird watchers take. If they see a particular species, they can check if off of their “life list.” I really need a photo of what I see, in part so I can figure out afterwards what it is. I practice what I laughingly call the law of the American Old West, “Shoot first and ask questions later.” 🙂
I like that!
Gorgeous colour!