Several teneral male Blue Corporal dragonflies (Ladona deplanata) were spotted near Painted Turtle Pond during a photowalk at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Prince William County, Virginia USA.
Teneral/immature/young male Blue Corporals look similar to females of the same species. Terminal appendages can be used to differentiate gender: males have three (3) appendages; females have two (2).

26 APR 2018 | Occoquan Bay NWR | Blue Corporal (teneral male)
Some of the ground cover is charred from a recent controlled burn at Occoquan Bay NWR.

26 APR 2018 | Occoquan Bay NWR | Blue Corporal (teneral male)
The common name for Blue Corporal is derived from two cream-colored stripes that appear on the front of the thorax, similar to the two stripes that signify the rank of corporal in the military. As a mature male, those stripes will be partially obscured by dark blue pruinescence.

26 APR 2018 | Occoquan Bay NWR | Blue Corporal (teneral male)
Related Resource: Blue Corporal (teneral females).
Copyright © 2018 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.
Tags: Blue Corporal dragonfly, Family Libellulidae (Skimmers), Ladona deplanata, male, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Painted Turtle Pond, pruinescence, teneral, terminal appendages
May 3, 2018 at 9:38 am |
[…] of my digital photography and videography. « Common Baskettail (teneral female) Blue Corporal (teneral males) […]
May 25, 2018 at 4:05 am |
[…] the appearance of a mature male Blue Corporal with teneral males of the same species spotted on 26 April 2018 at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Prince […]