A Great Spreadwing damselfly (Archilestes grandis) was spotted in the forest near a vernal pool at Huntley Meadows Park. This individual is a male, as indicated by his deep blue eyes, familiar yellow racing stripe on the side of its thorax, bluish-white coloration on abdominal segments 9-10 (S9-10), and distinctive terminal appendages (claspers).
While I was sitting on my Coleman camp stool watching the male damselfly, suddenly he flew up and around head and landed near the same spot where he had been perching. I know from experience this type of behavior suggests the damselfly probably grabbed something to eat.
The following brief time-series of photos shows the damselfly eating an unknown species of winged insect.
11:19:52 a.m. EST
06 NOV 2016 | Huntley Meadows Park | Great Spreadwing (male)
11:19:58 a.m. EST
06 NOV 2016 | Huntley Meadows Park | Great Spreadwing (male)
11:20:14 a.m. EST
06 NOV 2016 | Huntley Meadows Park | Great Spreadwing (male)
Editor’s Note: If you check the EXIF for all three photos, then you will see the time stamp is one hour later than the times shown above. 06 November was the first time I used my camera since the end of Daylight Saving Time (at 2:00 a.m. the same day) — I forgot to reset the time in-camera!
Copyright © 2016 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.
Tags: Archilestes grandis, claspers, Family Lestidae (Spreadwings), Great Spreadwing damselfly, Huntley Meadows Park, male, predator, prey, terminal appendages, vernal pool, wildlife photography
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