Immature Calico Pennant dragonfly

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Immature Calico Pennant dragonfly

August 16, 2020 by Mike Powell

Some of the dragonfly species that I search for are around for only a few weeks, while other species have a flight season of multiple months. Calico Pennants (Celithemis elisa) are in the latter category. I photographed some Calico Pennants in the middle of June and spotted this colorful immature male this past Tuesday—I am happy to see that they are still around.

Calico Pennants are so small—about 1.3 inches (33 mm) in length—that many viewers have probably never seen one. I love their bright colors and multi-colored wing markings. Adult males are red while females and immature males, like this one, are yellow. I can tell that this one is a male because of the distinctive appendages at the tip of the abdomen.

If you want to see photos of a female Calico Pennant and an adult male, be sure to check out the earlier posting entitled “Calico Pennant dragonflies in June.”

Posted in Dragonflies, dragonfly, Insects, Nature, Photography, Summer, wildlife | Tagged Calico Pennant, Calico Pennant dragonfly, Canon 50D, Celithemis elisa, male Calico Pennant, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 180mm, Woodbridge VA | 17 Comments

17 Responses

on August 16, 2020 at 7:47 am | Reply Reed Andariese

Very nice Mike! A beautiful dragonfly!
- on August 16, 2020 at 8:20 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Reed. You know that I love them all. 🙂
on August 16, 2020 at 8:22 am | Reply mitzybricker

Beautiful photo, Mike!

Blue Rock Horses Frederick County, Virginia bluerockhorses.com
- on August 18, 2020 at 7:32 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  ThanKS, MITZY.
on August 16, 2020 at 10:40 am | Reply Suzette Benjamin

Fantastic photography!…the details/features of this tiny creature are so vivid. Thank you Mike!🙏
- on August 18, 2020 at 7:31 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Suzette. It is easy to get lost in the world of macro photography. There are so many wonderful details, textures, and colors when you look at things really closely.
  - on August 18, 2020 at 8:26 am Suzette Benjamin
    
    A pleasure.😊
on August 16, 2020 at 5:21 pm | Reply New Hampshire Garden Solutions

Excellent.
on August 16, 2020 at 6:59 pm | Reply Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography

Wow 👏👏👏👏
on August 16, 2020 at 7:01 pm | Reply Eliza Waters

Such a pretty thing – great shot, Mike!
on August 17, 2020 at 3:48 am | Reply krikitarts

Isn’t it so cool how they seem to defy gravity to stretch their bodies out horizontally with their seemingly-delicate grasp? They remind me of a few very accomplished gymnasts I’ve known.
- on August 17, 2020 at 7:46 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  It is definitely amazing, Gary. Unlike gymnasts, who are able to hold these kinds of positions for only a limited period of times, dragonflies seem able to do so indefinitely. It is particularly cool to watch them when the wind is blowing and they are holding on as the vegetation moves back and forth.
on August 17, 2020 at 7:31 am | Reply Ms. Liz

What a dainty drop of colour! Love this 🙂
- on August 17, 2020 at 7:43 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  I love your description, Liz–“a dainty drop of colour” indeed. 🙂
on August 19, 2020 at 8:14 pm | Reply Lee

Wow! Great photo of a great subject.
- on August 19, 2020 at 8:38 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks. The colorful little dragonfly is one of my favorites.
on August 28, 2020 at 7:59 am | Reply Adult male Calico Pennant | Mike Powell

[…] If you would like to compare the coloration of this male Calico Pennant with that of an immature male, check out the my posting from a couple of weeks ago entitled “Immature Calico Pennant dragonfly.” […]