Posts Tagged ‘andromorph’
May 8, 2020
Several Springtime Darner dragonflies (Basiaeschna janata) were spotted during a photowalk with Michael Powell at an undisclosed location in Fairfax County, Virginia USA. Mike spotted the first one; then we teamed up to find a few more.
Female
Female Springtime Darners are polymorphic: the spots on their abdomen are either blue (andromorphic) or green (heteromorphic); the female featured in this post is a blue andromorph.
The terminal appendages and rounded shape of the hind wings can be used to identify andromorph female Springtime Darners.
“Get a shot, any shot; refine the shot” is one my mantras for wildlife photography. The first photo is an example of what some of my odonate hunter friends call a “record shot,” that is, a shot (any shot) that serves as a record of a spotting in the field.
Notice the photo appears to have been taken using only natural light. I speculate the external flash unit didn’t “wake up” from power-saving mode when I pressed the camera shutter. Do you see why I like to use fill flash for insect photography?
Mike and I followed the female to a second location where we were able to shoot more photos.
Refine the shot. (Get closer, in this case.)
Male
The last individual is a male, as indicated by his terminal appendages and “indented” hind wings.
All of the Springtime Darners that Mike and I spotted were very skittish, like the preceding male. I was only able to shoot one photo before he flew away. We couldn’t find it again.
Related Resource
“Springtime Darner dragonflies” features photos of the same subject shot by Michael Powell: Mike used a DSLR camera, macro lens, and no flash to take his photos; I used a mirrorless superzoom “bridge” camera and an external flash unit to take mine.
Copyright © 2020 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.
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Tags:andromorph, Basiaeschna janata, Family Aeshnidae (Darners), female, male, Springtime Darner dragonfly, terminal appendages
Posted in Aperture, digital photography, dragonflies, natural science, Panasonic DMC-FZ300, Photoshop, wildlife photography, Yongnuo YN568EX II | 2 Comments »
June 14, 2019
The mating pair of Aurora Damsel (Chromagrion conditum) shown in the following photograph is “in wheel,” in which the male uses “claspers” (terminal appendages) at the end of his abdomen to hold the female by her neck/thorax while they are joined at their abdomens. The male — blue, yellow, and black in color — is on top; the female — yellow and black in color — is on the bottom.
The copulatory, or wheel, position is unique to the Odonata, as is the distant separation of the male’s genital opening and copulatory organs. Source Credit: Paulson, Dennis (2011-12-19). Dragonflies and Damselflies of the East (Princeton Field Guides) (Kindle Locations 377-378). Princeton University Press. Kindle Edition.
The wheel position is sometimes referred to as “in heart” when damselflies mate.
Female C. conditum is polymorphic, including two morphs: an andromorph with blue coloration similar to male; or a heteromorph with an entirely yellow thorax, as shown above.
It’s helpful to take photos of mating pairs of damselflies, especially “in wheel,” since males and females of the same species can look quite different.
Taxonomy
C. conditum is a monotypic genus in the Family Coenagrionidae (Narrow-winged Damselflies).
Copyright © 2019 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.
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Tags:andromorph, Aurora Damsel, Chromagrion conditum, claspers, Family Coenagrionidae, heteromorph, in heart, in wheel, mating pair, Narrow-winged Damselflies, polymorphic, terminal appendages
Posted in Aperture, Canon 430EX II Speedlite, damselflies, digital photography, Lightroom, natural science, Panasonic DMC-FZ300, Photoshop, photowalking, wildlife photography | 2 Comments »
March 22, 2019
Male
A Blue-fronted Dancer damselfly (Argia apicalis) was spotted near Mulligan Pond at Jackson Miles Abbott Wetland Refuge, Fairfax County, Virginia USA.
This individual is a male, as indicated by the pattern of blue coloration on his thorax and abdomen, plus the blue coloration on abdominal segments eight through 10 (S8-10).
Female
Several Blue-fronted Dancers were spotted during a photowalk along Accotink Creek/Great Blue Heron Trail at Accotink Bay Wildlife Refuge (ABWR), Fairfax County, Virginia USA.
The first individual is a female, as indicated by two field marks.
Eyes brown, darker above; lack of blue in eyes in andromorph good distinction from male. Source Credit: Paulson, Dennis (2011-12-19). Dragonflies and Damselflies of the East (Princeton Field Guides) (Kindle Locations 3451-3452). Princeton University Press. Kindle Edition.
Female Blue-fronted Dancers are polymorphic: andromorph females are blue like males; heteromorph females are brown-green. Andromorph females tend to be a lighter shade of blue than males of the same species.
This individual is a blue andromorph. Regardless of the color morph…
females never have blue on the last abdominal segments (S8-10). Source Credit: Michael Boatwright, founder and administrator of the Virginia Odonata Facebook group.
More males
Two male Blue-fronted Dancers were spotted at Accotink Bay Wildlife Refuge.
Copyright © 2019 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.
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Tags:Accotink Bay Wildlife Refuge, Accotink Creek, andromorph, Argia apicalis, Blue-fronted Dancer damselfly, Family Coenagrionidae, female, heteromorph, Jackson Miles Abbott Wetland Refuge, male, Mulligan Pond, Narrow-winged Damselflies, polymorphic
Posted in Aperture, Canon 580EX Speedlite, damselflies, digital photography, education, natural science, Panasonic DMC-FZ150, Photoshop, photowalking, wildlife photography | Leave a Comment »
September 11, 2017
Male and female Springtime Darner dragonflies (Basiaeschna janata) are colored similarly sometimes. Terminal appendages can be used to identify gender.
Male
Male dragonflies have three terminal appendages, collectively called “claspers,” that are used to grab and hold female dragonflies during mating: an upper pair of cerci (“superior appendages”); and a lower unpaired epiproct (“inferior appendage”).
A male Springtime Darner was spotted along a mid-size rocky stream located at Hemlock Overlook Regional Park (HORP), Fairfax County, Virginia USA.
(See a full-size version of the original photo, without annotation.)
Female
Female dragonflies have a pair of cerci (superior appendages) that have little or no function.
Female Springtime Darners are polymorphic: the spots on their abdomen are either blue (andromorphic) or green (heteromorphic); this female — spotted at a remote location in Huntley Meadows Park (HMP) — is a blue andromorph.
(See a full-size version of the original photo, without annotation.)
Copyright © 2017 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.
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Tags:andromorph, Basiaeschna janata, cerci, claspers, epiproct, Family Aeshnidae (Darners), female, Hemlock Overlook Regional Park, heteromorph, Huntley Meadows Park, male, polymorphic, Springtime Darner dragonfly, terminal appendages
Posted in Aperture, Canon 580EX Speedlite, digital photography, dragonflies, education, natural science, Panasonic DMC-FZ150, Photoshop, wildlife photography | 3 Comments »
August 20, 2017
A Powdered Dancer damselfly (Argia moesta) was spotted during a photowalk along a mid-size rocky stream in Fairfax County, Virginia USA. This individual is a male, as indicated by his terminal appendages. There is a whitish-blue morph female Powdered Dancer, therefore the male’s whitish-blue coloration is insufficient to identify its gender.
A week later, a mating pair of Powdered Dancers was spotted along the Potomac River at Riverbend Park, Fairfax County, Virginia USA. This pair is “in tandem“: the male is on the upper-left; the female on the lower-right.
The male is “contact guarding” the female as the pair flies “in tandem” to egg-laying sites where the female uses her ovipositor to insert eggs into vegetation (endophytic oviposition).
It’s helpful to take photos of mating pairs of damselflies, especially “in tandem,” since males and females of the same species can look quite different.
Female Powdered Dancers are polymorphic, including a whitish-blue andromorph and a brown heteromorph. The brown morph, shown in this pair, is more common than whitish-blue.
Did you notice the male Stream Bluet damselfly (Enallagma exsulans) perching near the Powdered Dancers? Thanks to Karen Kearney and Michael Boatwright, members of the Virginia Odonata Facebook group, for confirming my tentative identification of the Stream Bluet.
Copyright © 2017 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.
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Tags:andromorph, Argia moesta, Fairfax County, heteromorph, in tandem, male, oviposition, ovipositor, polymorphic, Potomac River, Powdered Dancer damslelfly, Riverbend Park, terminal appendages, Virginia
Posted in Aperture, Canon 580EX Speedlite, damselflies, digital photography, natural science, Panasonic DMC-FZ150, photowalking, wildlife photography | 2 Comments »
January 18, 2017
A Blue-fronted Dancer damselfly (Argia apicalis) was spotted during a photowalk along Accotink Creek Trail at Accotink Bay Wildlife Refuge (ABWR), Fairfax County, Virginia USA. An old wooden boardwalk is located near the terminus of the trail.
This individual is a female andromorph, as indicated by her coloration and terminal appendages. Females have a noticeably thicker abdomen than males.
Female Blue-fronted Dancers are polymorphic: andromorph females are blue like males; heteromorph females are brown. Andromorph females tend to be a lighter shade of blue than males of the same species, and do not feature the same blue coloration as males on abdominal segments eight, nine, and 10 (S8-10).
The taxonomic classification of Blue-fronted Dancer is as follows: Order Odonata (Dragonflies and Damselflies); Suborder Zygoptera (Damselflies); Family Coenagrionidae (Narrow-winged Damselflies); Genus Argia (Dancers); Species apicalis.
Related Resources: Excellent digital scans created by Gayle and Jeanelle Strickland. Click on the button labeled “Download file” in order to view full-size version of the graphics.
Editor’s Note: This is the first female Blue-fronted Dancer that I’ve seen/photographed. Thanks to Michael Moore and Ed Lam, members of the Northeast Odonata Facebook group, for verifying my tentative identification. Dr. Michael Moore is an active contributor to the Dragonfly and Damselfly Field Guide and ID App; Ed Lam is author and illustrator of Damselflies of the Northeast.
Copyright © 2017 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.
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Tags:Accotink Bay Wildlife Refuge, Accotink Creek, andromorph, Argia apicalis, Blue-fronted Dancer damselfly, Family Coenagrionidae, Narrow-winged Damselflies, polymorphic, terminal appendages
Posted in Aperture, Canon 580EX Speedlite, damselflies, digital photography, natural science, Panasonic DMC-FZ150, photowalking | 1 Comment »
December 26, 2016
The more you know, the more you know how much you don’t know. Huh? There’s always more to discover/learn! My new discoveries in 2016 are presented in reverse-chronological order.
Eastern Amberwing dragonfly exuviae
Perithemis tenera exuviae, published on 06 December 2016.
I’m a man on a mission to demystify the art and science of odonate exuviae identification. The task is as challenging as I was led to believe, but with determination and persistence it is do-able.
The specimens featured in this post are the first odonate exuviae that I was able to identify to the species level. Although the specimens were collected in early July, they were identified in early December. New species will be added to my Odonate Exuviae page when their identity is confirmed.
Mulligan Pond at Jackson Miles Abbott Wetland Refuge (JMAWR) is a familiar location where several species, previously unknown to occur at the park, were discovered in 2016.
Shadow Darner dragonfly
Shadow Darner dragonfly (female), posted on 18 October 2016.
Russet-tipped Clubtail dragonfly
Russet-tipped Clubtail dragonfly (male), posted on 26 September 2016.
Blue-faced Meadowhawk dragonfly
Another new species discovered at JMAWR, posted on 20 September 2016.
Lancet Clubtail dragonfly
Identifying clubtails by the calendar, posted on 30 June 2016.
In addition to my contributions to the odonate species list at Jackson Miles Abbott Wetland Refuge, Mike Powell discovered the first official record of Swift Setwing at JMAWR and in Fairfax County, Virginia USA.
Copyright © 2016 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.
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Tags:Aeshna umbrosa, andromorph, Blue-faced Meadowhawk dragonfly, Clubtail Family, discovery, Eastern Amberwing dragonfly, Family Libellulidae (Skimmers), female, Gomphus exilis, Jackson Miles Abbott Wetland Refuge, Lancet Clubtail dragonfly, male, Mulligan Pond, Perithemis tenera, Potomac River, retrospective, Russet-tipped Clubtail dragonfly, Shadow Darner dragonfly, Sympetrum ambiguum
Posted in Aperture, Canon 580EX II Speedlite, Canon 580EX Speedlite, Canon EOS 5D Mark II, digital photography, dragonflies, macro photography, natural science, Nissin i40, Panasonic DMC-FZ150, Raynox DCR-250 | 2 Comments »
December 16, 2016
A Rambur’s Forktail damselfly (Ischnura ramburii) was spotted at Mason Neck West Park, Fairfax County, Virginia USA. This individual is an immature heteromorph female, as indicated by the reddish-orange coloration of her thorax and abdominal segments one and two (S1-2), and reddish-orange postocular spots; her coloration will become duller as she matures. Andromorph females are colored like males.
This sighting was another reminder of one of many Walterisms: Don’t be dismissive! Huh? Male Rambur’s Forktail damselflies look similar to male Eastern Forktail damselflies (Ischnura verticalis). Eastern Forktails are relatively common, especially during spring and early-summer. Common. That’s the key word. When I noticed several male Rambur’s Forktails at the water retention pond I thought, “Oh, Eastern Forktails. Nothing to see here, folks. Move along.” Fortunately I spotted the immature heteromorph female and realized the error of my ways.
I’ll say it again: Don’t be dismissive — that kind of thinking can result in missed opportunities for wildlife photographers. I never expected to see Rambur’s Forktails at Mason Neck West Park and my preconceptions almost caused me to miss a golden opportunity to see a relatively uncommon damselfly.
Related Resources: Excellent digital scans created by Gayle and Jeanelle Strickland. Click on the button labeled “Download file” in order to view full-size version of the graphics.
- Ischnura ramburii female #2 | heteromorph female | JPG
- Ischnura ramburii female #8 | andromorph female | JPG
- Ischnura ramburii male #2 | male | JPG
Copyright © 2016 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.
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Tags:andromorph, Eastern Forktail damselfly, heteromorph, immature female, Ischnura ramburii, Ischnura verticalis, male, Mason Neck West Park, polymorphic, Rambur's Forktail damselfly, wildlife photography
Posted in Aperture, Canon 580EX Speedlite, damselflies, digital photography, natural science, Panasonic DMC-FZ150 | 1 Comment »
December 8, 2016
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
No. 2
No. 3
Heteromorph females
The following photos show heteromorph female Blue-faced Meadowhawk dragonflies. Heteromorphs have a tan abdomen with black rings.
No. 4
No. 5
No. 6
No. 7
No. 8
No. 9
No. 10
Copyright © 2016 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.
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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
Posted in Aperture, Canon 580EX Speedlite, digital photography, dragonflies, natural science, Panasonic DMC-FZ150 | Leave a Comment »
September 20, 2016
A Blue-faced Meadowhawk dragonfly (Sympetrum ambiguum) was spotted near Mulligan Pond at Jackson Miles Abbott Wetland Refuge, Fairfax County, Virginia USA. As far as I know, this is the first official record of Blue-faced Meadowhawk at JMAWR.
This individual is a female andromorph, as indicated by her male-like coloration, lack of hamules, and terminal appendages.
Unlike male Blue-faced Meadowhawks, most female faces are tan.
This female is the only Blue-faced Meadowhawk I saw during a photowalk around Mulligan Pond — let’s hope she’s one of many more I didn’t see!
Related Resource: Post update, published on 15 November 2016, documents another female Blue-faced Meadowhawk dragonfly spotted at Mulligan Pond during Fall 2016.
Editor’s Notes: Swift Setwing dragonfly (Dythemis velox) was discovered on 24 June 2016 at Mulligan Pond, Jackson Miles Abbott Wetland Refuge — the first official record of Swift Setwing in Fairfax County, Virginia USA. For more information, see Swift Setwing dragonfly by Michael Powell and Making new friends by Walter Sanford.
Copyright © 2016 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.
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Tags:andromorph, Blue-faced Meadowhawk dragonfly, discovery, female, Jackson Miles Abbott Wetland Refuge, Mulligan Pond, Skimmer Family, Sympetrum ambiguum, terminal appendages, wildlife photography
Posted in Aperture, Canon 580EX Speedlite, digital photography, dragonflies, natural science, Panasonic DMC-FZ150, photowalking | 6 Comments »
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