I’ve spent a lot time looking for Dragonhunter dragonflies (Hagenius brevistylus) in their preferred habitat with limited success. Imagine my surprise and delight when I spotted one in a less than ideal habitat! I could tell you where I found the Dragonhunter, but then I’d have to give you a cyanide capsule, so let’s just call the location “Northern Virginia.”

21 June 2016 | Dragonhunter dragonfly (female)
This individual is a female, as indicated by her terminal appendages. Thanks to Michael Moore, member extraordinaire of the Southeastern Odes Facebook group, for verifying my tentative identification.

21 June 2016 | Dragonhunter dragonfly (female)
I love a good head-tilt. This girl has a grill as big as a Mack truck!

21 June 2016 | Dragonhunter dragonfly (female)

21 June 2016 | Dragonhunter dragonfly (female)

21 June 2016 | Dragonhunter dragonfly (female)

21 June 2016 | Dragonhunter dragonfly (female)

21 June 2016 | Dragonhunter dragonfly (female)

21 June 2016 | Dragonhunter dragonfly (female)
Related Resource: Dragonhunter dragonfly exuvia, a blog post by Walter Sanford.
Copyright © 2016 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.
Tags: Clubtail Family, Dragonhunter dragonfly, female, Hagenius brevistylus, head-tilt, Odonart, terminal appendages, wildlife photography
June 24, 2016 at 5:11 am |
Great catch, Walter. I love way that you were able to get shots of this massive dragonfly from so many angles.
June 24, 2016 at 7:00 am |
Thanks, Mike. All the credit goes to the dragonfly. For a few magical moments, she tried several nearby perches, providing good looks from a variety of angles.
June 24, 2016 at 6:44 pm |
Congratulations Walter
June 24, 2016 at 9:45 pm |
Thanks, Lova! FWIW, I didn’t find the Dragonhunter where we looked for them one time. It wasn’t even the same park.
December 28, 2016 at 4:01 am |
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