Comments on: dragonflies http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/06/12/dragonflies/ a place where nature, photography and writing meet Wed, 20 Aug 2008 08:01:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: Mike Mills http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/06/12/dragonflies/#comment-82867 Fri, 15 Jun 2007 13:57:15 +0000 http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/06/12/dragonflies/#comment-82867 Eastern Pondhawk Erythemis simplicicollis photographed in Thomasburg yesterday 14 June. Eastern Pondhawk Erythemis simplicicollis photographed in Thomasburg yesterday 14 June.

]]> by: bev http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/06/12/dragonflies/#comment-79676 Thu, 14 Jun 2007 13:04:27 +0000 http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/06/12/dragonflies/#comment-79676 Wayne - Watching dragonflies is one of my favourite occupations in summer. Watching the males dogfighting over their territories can be pretty exciting. A couple of years ago, I watched three Twelve-spotted Skimmers making sparring while racing in huge oval loops over the shoreline of the Ottawa River for a good quarter of an hour. You really have to wonder how these insects can operate with almost limitless energy. Regarding the Eastern Pondhawk - yes, the males are mostly blue, but I seem to see more females and/or teneral males. I think the males are probably so active defending their territories that we don't see them perched nearly as often. Wayne - Watching dragonflies is one of my favourite occupations in summer. Watching the males dogfighting over their territories can be pretty exciting. A couple of years ago, I watched three Twelve-spotted Skimmers making sparring while racing in huge oval loops over the shoreline of the Ottawa River for a good quarter of an hour. You really have to wonder how these insects can operate with almost limitless energy.
Regarding the Eastern Pondhawk - yes, the males are mostly blue, but I seem to see more females and/or teneral males. I think the males are probably so active defending their territories that we don’t see them perched nearly as often.

]]> by: Wayne http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/06/12/dragonflies/#comment-79519 Thu, 14 Jun 2007 11:50:23 +0000 http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/06/12/dragonflies/#comment-79519 Is there anything better than dragonflies? Well of course there is but when dragonflies are around and busy chasing each other and other things, I am fully entertained. I've seen a lot of whitetailed dragonflies this season, much earlier than I would have thought from last year, but I haven't seen any whitefaces. I didn't know that pondhawk males were mostly blue - I may have seen a large one yesterday but it did not stay around to be photographed. I did enjoy seeing the presumptive female last year way way into fall, and the huge green form was a welcome sight. This year I saw one quite tiny one in early spring, but yesterday after reading this I happened upon a medium-sized one for the first time and was delighted by the coloration. And as we all know robberflies and dragonflies that protect you from deerflies even as you're standing there have to rank as the best of citizens. Is there anything better than dragonflies? Well of course there is but when dragonflies are around and busy chasing each other and other things, I am fully entertained.

I’ve seen a lot of whitetailed dragonflies this season, much earlier than I would have thought from last year, but I haven’t seen any whitefaces.

I didn’t know that pondhawk males were mostly blue - I may have seen a large one yesterday but it did not stay around to be photographed. I did enjoy seeing the presumptive female last year way way into fall, and the huge green form was a welcome sight. This year I saw one quite tiny one in early spring, but yesterday after reading this I happened upon a medium-sized one for the first time and was delighted by the coloration.

And as we all know robberflies and dragonflies that protect you from deerflies even as you’re standing there have to rank as the best of citizens.

]]> by: bev http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/06/12/dragonflies/#comment-76326 Wed, 13 Jun 2007 09:30:51 +0000 http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/06/12/dragonflies/#comment-76326 Cathy - Yes, the wings are beautiful. It's really no wonder that so many artists were drawn to dragonflies and that they appeared in such objects as the <a href="http://tours.daytonartinstitute.org/accessart/object.cfm?TT=gt&TN=bc2&ID=49&COM=ac" rel="nofollow">Tiffany dragonfly lamps</a> (btw, very interesting note about this lamp down below the photo). The dragonfly wings that you've seen that seem to glitter, may well have been teneral. When dragonflies first emerge from their aquatic naiad form, their wings are very glassy-looking. Here's are a couple of photos of newly emerged dragonflies -- an <a href="http://www.pbase.com/crocodile/image/30124602" rel="nofollow">Eastern Pondhawk</a>, and a <a href="http://www.pbase.com/crocodile/image/29182218" rel="nofollow">Chalk-fronted Corporal</a>. The wings of both have the very translucent glittery look of teneral odonates. Also, the bodies are pallid in colour, and eyes have a sort of milky dull look. Anyhow, yes, even the mature dragonflies have wings that glitter in the sunlight. As well, some of the species have very interesting patterning on the wings. They really are beautiful and fun to observe. Cathy - Yes, the wings are beautiful. It’s really no wonder that so many artists were drawn to dragonflies and that they appeared in such objects as the Tiffany dragonfly lamps (btw, very interesting note about this lamp down below the photo). The dragonfly wings that you’ve seen that seem to glitter, may well have been teneral. When dragonflies first emerge from their aquatic naiad form, their wings are very glassy-looking. Here’s are a couple of photos of newly emerged dragonflies — an Eastern Pondhawk, and a Chalk-fronted Corporal. The wings of both have the very translucent glittery look of teneral odonates. Also, the bodies are pallid in colour, and eyes have a sort of milky dull look. Anyhow, yes, even the mature dragonflies have wings that glitter in the sunlight. As well, some of the species have very interesting patterning on the wings. They really are beautiful and fun to observe.

]]> by: Cathy http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/06/12/dragonflies/#comment-75906 Wed, 13 Jun 2007 03:55:15 +0000 http://magickcanoe.com/blog/2007/06/12/dragonflies/#comment-75906 Ooh,ooh,ooh! (to be read as a 2ond grader would sound waving her hand excitedly in class to get teacher's attention) I just want to 'second' Robin Andrea's comment about the wings. They're not 'animal', they're more 'mineral' with a touch of fairy dust and starch for flight. I mean look at the arrangement of those wing panels - and beyond that: I've seen them glitter. Ooh,ooh,ooh! (to be read as a 2ond grader would sound waving her hand excitedly in class to get teacher’s attention)

I just want to ’second’ Robin Andrea’s comment about the wings. They’re not ‘animal’, they’re more ‘mineral’ with a touch of fairy dust and starch for flight. I mean look at the arrangement of those wing panels - and beyond that: I’ve seen them glitter.

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