There were lots of dragonflies, mostly Common Whitetails and Needham’s Skimmers, flying about on Monday when I visited Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge along with an abundance of pesky flies and mosquitoes. The temperatures were marginally cooler than in recent days, but the high humidity made it feel like I was slicing my way through the water-laden air.
I was delighted to spot this male Widow Skimmer dragonfly (Libellula luctuosa), a species that I do not often at this location, perched in the vegetation adjacent to a small pond. Like female Widow Skimmers, male have dark patches on their wings, but they also have a white patch on each wing, which makes them easy to identify. These patches are visible when male Widow Skimmers are flying, causing them to look a bit like fluttering butterflies.
When I was processing this image, I was surprised to see what appears to be an ant attached to the tip of one of the back legs of this dragonfly—you may need to click on the image to see this detail. I am not sure if the ant had hitched a ride on the dragonfly from its previous perch or, more likely, was merely exploring this unexpected intruder that had landed on this stalk of vegetation.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Wow, what an amazing capture…a dragonfly and an ant.. Superb photography, Mike!
Thanks, Suzette. I’d like to say that I intended to capture them both, but the truth is that the ant was what a friend would call a “bonus bug”–one that you never saw when taking a photo and discovered only when reviewing the images.
Well done, Mike with the bonus bug…excellent.
Your vivid description and keen observation bring the beauty and intricacies of nature to life! The Widow Skimmer is a striking find, and the unexpected ant passenger adds a delightful touch of serendipity. Your attention to detail—from the humidity-laden air to the dragonfly’s butterfly-like flight—makes the scene feel immersive. A wonderful snapshot of a fleeting, wild moment! Beautiful post Mike 🤝
Thanks so much for your very kind words. As I noted in a recent post, I originally intended for my blog to be simply a place to post my photos, but over time I have grown to enjoy expressing myself in words as much as in the photos. I really like the way that you described this post in a way that itself seems almost lyrical. Thanks.
Beautiful colors on the dragonfly. And what luck, to capture the ant. As they say “Luck favors the prepared”. Wonderful!
As a wildlife photographer yourself, you can appreciate the amount of time that it takes to hone the skills required to be able to react quickly when a situation presents itself. The fact that you have that situation may be a bit of luck, but taking advantage is when skill and practice come into play.
Beautiful pic 💯
Thanks.
Hilarious!