A Great Spreadwing damselfly (Archilestes grandis) was spotted near a vernal pool at a remote location in Huntley Meadows Park, Fairfax County, Virginia USA.
This individual is a female, as indicated by her terminal appendages and external reproductive anatomy, including two styli and an ovipositor.
03 OCT 2017 | Huntley Meadows Park | Great Spreadwing (female)
Sometimes I struggle to choose between two similar images, so I decided to post both photos.
03 OCT 2017 | Huntley Meadows Park | Great Spreadwing (female)
The following photo captured the “feel” of the morning light especially well.
03 OCT 2017 | Huntley Meadows Park | Great Spreadwing (female)
The next two photos are among my favorites in this set.
03 OCT 2017 | Huntley Meadows Park | Great Spreadwing (female)
03 OCT 2017 | Huntley Meadows Park | Great Spreadwing (female)
This female was a more cooperative model after she moved to a perch on a man-made brush pile that provides habitat and shelter for many types of animals.
03 OCT 2017 | Huntley Meadows Park | Great Spreadwing (female)
03 OCT 2017 | Huntley Meadows Park | Great Spreadwing (female)
03 OCT 2017 | Huntley Meadows Park | Great Spreadwing (female)
Female Great Spreadwing damselflies, like all female odonates, have two cerci (sing. cercus), superior appendages that have little or no function. Also notice two styli (sing. stylus), structures that serve as sensors (like “curb feelers“) in egg positioning during oviposition.
03 OCT 2017 | Huntley Meadows Park | Great Spreadwing (female)
My next blog post will feature a six-photo time series that I named “practice oviposition” (egg-laying).
Copyright © 2017 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.
Tags: Archilestes grandis, Family Lestidae (Spreadwings), female, Great Spreadwing damselfly, Huntley Meadows Park, oviposition, ovipositor, styli, terminal appendages, vernal pool
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January 1, 2018 at 4:02 am |
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