Assorted Dragonflies, family Libellulidae

In terms of sheer spectacle, the dragonfly darts around at the pinnacle of buggal achievement. As one amateur Odonatist notes, its "wings are the key to its flying ability," a brilliant theory the Twisty Entomology Department has thus far been unable to refute. It can take off backwards, hover, and fly 35 miles an hour, which no other terrestrial entity, animal or mineral, can do. This constant darting makes it extraordinarily difficult for the Department, which struggles with a lack of expertise, to photograph them.

Above: Eastern Pondhawk Erythemis simplicicollis. This would be a good color for a shag carpet. Photo August 2004 on a dead geranium.

Here's a larger, cooler picture of this same bug eatin' a fly.

At dusk the air around the Twisty Compound pretty much coagulates with about 87,458 dragonflies of assorted species. They swoop and dive, inhaling mosquitos, a blur of interesting color schemes. It is quite the moving tableau. Word on the street is that a single dragonfly can devour 300 mosquitos a day. It was difficult for me not to dance a jig when I heard this word. I admit it. The anti-mosquito propaganda is getting to me.

Above: Neon Skimmer, Libellula croceipennis, August 2004. Quite a gaudy chap.

Right: Thornbush Dasher Mycrathyria hagenii, August 2004

Left : Black and white and red all over: the Checkered Setwing, Dythemis fugax, August 2004 in a bush in the Twisty Compound Back .40, with, as Plastilina Mosh says, its poobiss in the air.

Right: Possible Roseate Skimmer, Orthemis ferruginea, or maybe another L. croceipennis, who the hell knows? This is a big, burly, all-purpose dragonfly. August 2004 in a dead oleander tree

Left: Disappointingly, this "dragonfly" turned out to be a UFO