One week after I witnessed the miraculous metamorphosis of an emergent male Common Sanddragon dragonfly (Progomphis obscuris), I was reminded that a lot can go wrong during emergence. Like the old blues standard says…
When things go wrong, go wrong with you
It hurts me too.
08 JUN 2016 | Wickford Park | Common Sanddragon (emergent nymph)
An emergent nymph was spotted during a photowalk along Dogue Creek at Wickford Park. The nymph was in the same position hours later, so I’m sad to say the dragonfly was stuck in its exuvia.
08 JUN 2016 | Wickford Park | Common Sanddragon (emergent nymph)
Related Resource: Common Sanddragon dragonfly (emergent male), a blog post by Walter Sanford featuring a time-series of photographs documenting the metamorphosis of an emergent male Common Sanddragon dragonfly on 01 June 2016 at Wickford Park.
Copyright © 2016 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.
Tags: Clubtail Family, Common Sanddragon dragonfly, Dogue Creek, emergence, exuvia, Gomphidae, Progomphus obscurus, Wickford Park, wildlife photography
November 30, 2016 at 10:15 am |
Couldn’t you have picked it up if it was still alive and cut off the excuvia?
November 30, 2016 at 11:08 am |
Who do you think I am, Dr. Stick LaPan, world-renowned odonate surgeon? 😉 But seriously, Maha — I think the nymph was dead when I first spotted it. I touched it to see whether its legs moved; no sign of life. I must say it was one of the saddest scenes I’ve ever witnessed — its little face seems to say “Help me!”