As we flip the pages of our monthly calendars from August to September, it is not unusual for me to encounter dragonflies with tattered wings. For many of these dragonflies, it has been a long, tough summer and they will only be with us for a few more weeks or perhaps a month or two. Despite the damage to their wings, the dragonflies appear to be fully capable of flight—somehow they are able to compensate for their infirmities.
I spotted this Great Blue Skimmer dragonfly (Libellula vibrans) this past Monday at Jackson Miles Abbott Wetland Refuge. It is a little tough to tell in this image, but several of the wings showed wear-and-tear. The shredded appearance of the vegetation is a perfect complement to this late season dragonfly—they both speak to me of the inexorable passage of time and the inevitable changes in our appearance and capabilities brought on the aging process.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Excellent photo!
Thanks, Dan. Somehow the impending arrival of autumn causes me to think of the passage of time and the fragility of life. My pensive mood is not necessarily reflected in the actual photos that I take, but this feeling definitely influences what I have to say about the images.
Love those eyes! Nice shot.
Nice image Mike! It is amazing how they start looking the worse for wear as their season ends!