The following gallery features a couple of similar-looking dragonflies: they are the same species; different gender. Both specimens are Common Whitetail dragonflies (Plathemis lydia): Photo 1 shows an immature male; Photos 2-3 show a female. Notice the obvious difference in the pattern of their wing spots. More careful observation reveals the difference in their terminal appendages.
Photo 1: Immature male.
Photo 2: Female.
Photo 3: Female.
Young males begin to develop pruinescence that changes the color of their abdomen from brown to white.
Both individuals were spotted at Meadowood Recreation Area.
Copyright © 2013 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.
Tags: Common Whitetail dragonfly, female, immature male, Meadowood Recreation Area, Plathemis lydia, pruinescence, wildlife photography
walter sanford's photoblog 
Leave a Reply