Old Colchester Park and Preserve (OCPP), Fairfax County, Virginia USA is one of a few places in Northern Virginia where Blue-faced Meadowhawk dragonfly (Sympetrum ambiguum) is known to occur. OCPP is located near Mason Neck West Park.
More than ten mating pairs of Blue-faced Meadowhawks were spotted at a small vernal pool in the park; the pool was almost completely dry on the day of my visit.
Andromorph females
Some species of dragonflies, such as Blue-faced Meadowhawk, display sexual dimorphism; females are polymorphic for a smaller subset of those species. Andromorph females are male-like in color; heteromorph females are duller in color than males.
Andromorph female Blue-faced Meadowhawk dragonflies, like the ones shown below, are less common than heteromorph females. Andromorphs have a red abdomen with black rings, like male Blue-faced Meadowhawks; unlike males, most female faces are tan and their terminal appendages look different than male appendages.
No. 1
27 SEP 2016 | OCPP | Blue-faced Meadowhawk (mating pair, “in wheel“)
No. 2
27 SEP 2016 | OCPP | Blue-faced Meadowhawk (mating pair, “in wheel“)
No. 3
27 SEP 2016 | OCPP | Blue-faced Meadowhawk (mating pair, “in wheel“)
Heteromorph females
The following photos show heteromorph female Blue-faced Meadowhawk dragonflies. Heteromorphs have a tan abdomen with black rings.
No. 4
27 SEP 2016 | OCPP | Blue-faced Meadowhawk (mating pair, “in wheel“)
No. 5
27 SEP 2016 | OCPP | Blue-faced Meadowhawk (mating pair, “in wheel“)
No. 6
27 SEP 2016 | OCPP | Blue-faced Meadowhawk (mating pair, “in wheel“)
No. 7
27 SEP 2016 | OCPP | Blue-faced Meadowhawk (mating pair, “in wheel“)
No. 8
27 SEP 2016 | OCPP | Blue-faced Meadowhawk (mating pair, “in wheel“)
No. 9
27 SEP 2016 | OCPP | Blue-faced Meadowhawk (mating pair, “in wheel“)
No. 10
27 SEP 2016 | OCPP | Blue-faced Meadowhawk (mating pair, “in wheel“)
Copyright © 2016 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.
Tags: adult female, adult male, andromorph, Blue-faced Meadowhawk dragonfly, heteromorph, in wheel, mating pair, Old Colchester Park and Preserve, polymorphic, sexual dimorphism, Sympetrum ambiguum, vernal pool, wildlife photography
Leave a Reply