I see them all of the time, but I still think that Common Whitetail dragonflies (Plathemis lydia) are really cool, like this handsome male that I spotted last Friday at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. This is one of those cases when the name of the species actually matches up well with its appearance, at least for the mature males of the species. Still, I always cringe a little when I see the word “common” in the name of a species, because “common” is often used in a way that somehow suggests that beauty is tied to rarity—I am in favor of more species having the word “great” in their names.
Are you familiar with with the Common Whitetail dragonfly? I really like this description of the species found on the Dragonflies of Northern Virginia website:
“Without question, this is our most commonly seen and easily identified dragonfly. The male especially is hard to miss and easy to remember. Its bold wing patches, white-blue abdomen and habit of perching on pathways and sidewalks brings it into contact with more people than any other dragonfly…Dragonfly geeks like myself tend to turn our noses up at the ubiquitous and ever-present whitetail – but thank goodness for them! Often seen in large numbers, almost swarm-like, they’re essential members of the urban and suburban food chain. There they are, eating mosquitos (both as larvae and adults) in our urban parks where few other dragonflies can help us out. And literally everything eats them: praying mantids, birds, frogs, raccoons, fish, spiders.”
We often take for granted those things (and people) that we see all of the time. It is so easy to get trapped in a cycle of endlessly pursuing something new and different, of focusing so much on the future that we lose touch with the present. Increasingly I am finding in my life that contentment comes in being conscious of and appreciating what I do have and not worrying about what I do not have, in finding uncommon beauty in everyday things.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Nice Mike! Enjoyed seeing your dragonfly image!
Absolutely beautiful click.
Very nice photograph of the “uncommonly” handsome male!
Sadly, they are not found in our area. We have seen them in Georgia and Texas and every time I involuntarily say “Wow!”.
Wonderful blog, Mike! 👍
Blue Rock Horses Frederick County, Virginia bluerockhorses.com
I love this fantastic post that includes the quoted description and your last inspiring paragraph along with the photo! This lovely photo takes me back to one of Benjamin and my “Adventurings” that took place about 3 years ago. We came upon several different dragonflies and other creatures during that adventure, but it was one of these that captivated him because of its white coloration. Benjamin thought that the poor dragonfly had been sprayed with something white. This concerned Benjamin so much that after returning some researching on Google was necessary. We discovered that the white is a waxy coating that develops on the male’s abdomen and is called pruniosity. Benjamin has never forgotten that term! Your photo exactly captures that memorable first sighting of a male Common Whitetail Dragonfly. Thank-you, Mr. Mike!!
Thanks so much, Ellen, for sharing that sweet memory of one of your adventures with Benjamin and a white dragonfly. I can well imagine his concern about the welfare of the dragonfly–even at that young an age, he already seemed to be very environmentally aware. I never quite know the direction in which a posting will go when I sit down to write it–my mood at that moment often influences the way that I choose to write about a subject. It is cool to learn of Benjamin’s early exposure to the concept of “pruinosity” and the fact that he remembers the term. I know he currently has listed Fireman as what he wants to become, but I definitely could see him as a scientist or some kind of naturalist. 🙂
I see them often when I’m fishing in my favorite tiny trout stream that runs not too far from our cabin in Minnesota. I’m always delighted to see them, and your portrait here is a beaut.
Thanks, Gary. I never quite know when a species that I see often is a rarity for someone else, so I figure that it is beneficial to post photos of all the creatures that I can. The internet really has expanded my perspective as I am forced to think about the differences in geographic distributions and even the seasonal differences between the hemispheres. I am used to thinking of September as the start of fall, but it is the start of spring where you are. 🙂
Yep, coming out of quite a different winter than we’re used to back there. It’s reliably dark, dismal, rainy, windy, and chilly (though you–and most Minnesota folk–might understandably scoff at the latter, as it never even snows here, as we’re too far north).