Two Great Blue Skimmer dragonflies (Libellula vibrans) were photographed during photowalks at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge (OBNWR), Prince William County, Virginia USA.
Both individuals are mature female, as indicated by their terminal appendages, muted coloration, and tattered wings. They were perching in shady hidey-holes relatively far from water.
10 SEP 2017 | OBNWR | Great Blue Skimmer (mature female)
Female Great Blue Skimmers have a pair of flanges beneath their eighth abdominal segment that are used to scoop and hold a few drops of water when laying eggs (oviposition), hence the family name “Skimmer.” Remember that all dragonflies and damselflies have a 10-segmented abdomen, numbered from front to back.
30 AUG 2017 | OBNWR | Great Blue Skimmer (mature female)
Copyright © 2017 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.
Tags: Family Libellulidae (Skimmers), Great Blue Skimmer dragonfly, Libellula vibrans, mature female, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, oviposition, terminal appendages
walter sanford's photoblog 
September 28, 2017 at 6:34 am |
Lovely photo!
September 28, 2017 at 9:51 am |
Welcome back, Laura! We missed you.
September 28, 2017 at 4:57 pm |
Awww, how sweet. Glad to be back! I’ve been taking lots of photos of winged things, and getting pretty lucky, although dragonflies still seem beyond my capabilities. You must have some pretty amazing stalking skills and quick camera reflexes!