Last week I photographed a female Swamp Darner dragonfly (Epiaeschna heros) depositing some eggs into a rotten log at the edge of a small pond at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Some dragonflies deposit a large number of eggs into the water or floating vegetation by tapping their abdomens rapidly and repeatedly at different locations, while others, like this Swamp Darner, deposit their larger eggs more slowly and deliberately by making a slit and inserting the eggs directly into wet wood and other debris with their blade-like ovipositors.
Swamp Darners are one of the largest dragonflies in our area, with a body length of about 3.4 inches (86 mm) in length. I love the description of this species on the Dragonflies of Northern Virginia website, “I often tell people on dragonfly walks that if they see a rhino with wings, it’s a swamp darner. Slight exaggeration, perhaps, but they are pretty impressive.” Some dragonflies are so nimble and acrobatic in their flight that they remind me of fighter aircraft, but the bulky size of the Swamp Darner makes me think more of bomber aircraft.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 