Shadowmeld Photography

When traveling through forests and parks in the United States, there is a really good chance of observing Blue Dasher dragonflies near wetlands, lakes, and rivers. The long wings of a Blue Dasher help it cover a lot of ground to satisfy a very large appetite for small insects and a lot of mosquitoes. Striking blue segments along the abdomen with a dark tip, a yellow thorax, long wings, and teal-blue eyes provide a few easy ways to identify a Blue Dasher.

Found throughout the United States and parts of Canada, the Twelve-spotted Skimmer is likely one of the most commonly identified dragonflies observed in warm summer months near sources of water. Like similar flying insects, Skimmers feed on mosquitoes and have been known to go after sizable prey such as butterflies and moths. The large male dragonfly pictured here was found perched on a tall piece of driftwood sticking out of a sandy beach to mark its territory during a Wisconsin summer. During at least 20 minutes of observation, and despite being a fairly windy day, the Skimmer clenched the driftwood and circled back to perch when knocked off by the wind several times without hesitation - allowing for a number of close-up photos from different angles.