Mating Dragonflies from Australia
(04/09/2007) Bug Love
Bugman, your site is so enthralling. I have these to add to your bug love page. All taken in Queensland Australia in April 2007. Hope you like these. regards,
Trevor Jinks
Australia



Hi again Trevor,
We will only be posting your Mating Dragonflies as it is our favorite image.

Ebony Jewelwing
(04/08/2007) favorite photo
Love your site, it has answered many questions. I thought you might like this photo of an Ebony Jewelwing (found out what it was on your site!)
Photo Lady



Hello Photo Lady
Thank you for sending us you lovely photo. It will surely help readers with identifications in the future.

Mantidfly and Damselfly from Australia
(04/06/2007) Praying mantis and damselfly
Here is a couple of photos that you may like. The damsel fly was found indoors and is around 1 inch long and the mantis was found on my car and is about 3/4" long. This mantis is unlike any I have seen and when I first saw it I thought it was a wasp. cheers
Nick Bedelis
Sydney, Australia



Hi Nick,
This is not a Preying Mantis. It is an unrelated insect known as a Mantidfly, one of the Neuropterans. Your Damselfly image is terribly amusing. Guess the critter was thirsty.

Ebony Jewelwing
(03/20/2007) ebony jewelwing
Hello!
Some friends told us about your great site, so I finally got around to checking it out. I was happy to discover a damsel that we had seen on our vacation last year, so was able to ID it. You mentioned that you would like better photos of 'bugs' you have pictured, so I am attaching one that my husband took of an 'ebony jewelwing' This picture was taken on June 10, 2006, in northern Minnesota. Thanks for a great site! I will be sending you some pictures of some unidentified 'bugs' that I have.
Denise Hamilton
Napa, CA



Hi Denise,
Your Ebony Jewelwing is a much welcomed addition.

Damselfly Naiad (Hoax: altered photograph????)
(02/19/2007) Strange insect
Hello - I found this critter in the Marys River, Corvallis OR, in some reeds on the bank. It is about 1 3/4 inches long. Can you help me figure it out?
Arthur Pelegrin



Hi Arthur,
This is a Damselfly Nymph known as a Naiad. They can be recognized by the trifurcate feathery gills on the tail end. Damselflies are related to Dragonflies, but are more delicate in form. Our big curiosity is the extra pair of legs. Could this image be digitally altered?????

Hi! The critter in the picture is an immature Calopteryx aequibilis, and the extra pair of legs and extra antenna are tricks of computer graphic editing. I'm an aquatic entomology teacher and sometimes use that picture to see if my students are paying attention, I just sent it to you as a joke. I hope you won't take it amiss, I think you are providing a very valuable and commendable service with your website. I wish you the best of luck and look forward to the day when everyone knows what a toebiter is (you seem to get a lot of requests for that one!) Cheers and grins,
Arthur Pelegrin

Damselfly Naiad
(02/16/2007) Strange Water Bug
In October of 2006 I started an small enclosed microecosystem with a fish, snails, and plants. It all lived until recently, however, a new bug has popped up inside and the container has never been opened. He is very skinny, with about 10 body segments, a tail that looks like three small feathers, what I believe to be antennea, and is tan in color. He has been growing and likes to stay at the bottom of the container on the rocks or in the plants. What is he???? A new type of bug? Thanks!!!
Erin F.
p.s. I attached the best pictures I could get in the water.



Hi Erin,
This is a Damselfly Naiad. It will become a winged adult. Damselfly Naiads are often introduced into aquaria on water plants. The three feathered "tail" are the gills.

Green Darners Mating
(02/09/2007) Dragonfly Love
Dear Bugman,
Love your site! I work at a garden center in Orlando, Florida and come across some strange creatures from time to time...your site has been helpful in identifying some of the little buggers. (sorry, couldn't help it.) Anyway, I thought you might like this photo for your Bug Love section. She looks like she put on a little make-up for the occasion.
Laura Stump



Hi Laura,
Thanks for the wonderful photo of Green Darners Mating. The male is in the front. He uses his anal claspers to grab onto the female's neck and she uses the tip of her abdomen to gather his sperm.

Thanks for the info. With my limited (okay, nonexistent) knowledge of bug reproductive parts, I assumed it was the other way around. Laura

Naiad in Aquarium
(01/15/2007) Any idea what this is?
I saw this insect in my tropical fish tank sitting on the filter. I saw a similar one, or perhaps the same one, floating in the water yesterday but it looked white/transparent. Do you have any idea what this is? Kind regards.
Charles



Hi Charles,
This is a Naiad in the order Odonata which contains Dragonflies and Damselflies. Naiads are aquatic nymphs of flying insects. It was probably introduced on live plants or possibly, if you purchase any live foods, along with the food source. The transparent specimen you found might have been the discarded exoskeleton after this specimen molted. Many Naiads are predatory, and will feed on small fish, especially newly hatched fry.

Dragonfly from Finland
(01/12/2007) Dragonfly photo in awe of your site
I've been browsing your site quite a lot lately and as there's never too much good Dragonfly pictures I thought I would like to give my pic out for you if you like it. Of course I would be interested if you'd have more accurate description of the species or just a point out to something very similiar species on your website.
details:
Location: Europe/Finland/Southern-Finland.
Time: Summer Weather: Sunny, around + 20-25C
Place: countryside, big bush with lots of different coloured dragonflies circling around.
Lauri Mäki
Finland/Espoo



Hi Lauri,Identifying different species of Dragonflies is not our strong point, but we believe this is one of the Skimmers.

Aquatic Naiad
(12/06/2006) Nursery aquarium bug help ...
Hi,
I have a nursery tropical aquarium for raising infant fish but have just discovered a bug approx 1cm long. I have attached some (not best quality) images and hope you can assist in its identifiaction. I have searched the web and so far come up with nothing. Kindest regards
Darren Boxer, South Wales, UK



Hi Darren,
We are not sure if this is an aquatic Hemipteran, or an aquatic Naiad, the immature form of a Dragonfly or similar insect. We suspect it is a Naiad. Clearer photos would help. It was probably introduced on plant material. Both Hemipterans and Naiads will eat baby fish.

Damselfly
(11/19/2006) Mini Blue DragonFly
Gettin ready to ask what this tiny blue dragonfly was. DamselFly? Everytime I got too close to get a more detailed pic, she would fly - hoovering for a second then return landing as if to 'pose" for me.
Kori



Hi Kori,
This is a Damselfly. Damselflies usually rest with wings folded and dragonflies rest with wings opened.

Mystery Water Creature identified as Dragonhunter Naiad
(11/04/2006) Water Bug
This creature was swimming in a cool, spring-fed creek in Arkansas on July 3. It was about the size of a silver dollar, or perhaps a bit larger, not including the legs. It was so big that I first thought it was a baby turtle. Some biologically oriented friends agreed that it was probably nymph of something, but they weren't sure what. Any ideas?
Tom



Hi Tom,
This is one of the most perplexing mysteries to come our way in quite some time. The size is puzzlingly large. The mouthparts to not resemble those of a Hemipteran. The body shape is not consistant with that of a Dragonfly Naiad. We agree it is most likely a nymph. We are calling in the big guns and requesting assistance from Eric Eaton. Eric quickly wrote back with this information: "I don't blame anyone for being mystified over this creature! Had I not remembered an image in a book I have on Fresh-Water Biology, I wouldn't have been able to give an answer, either. It is indeed a nymph, of a dragonfly in the genus Hagenius, which I believe is in the family Gomphidae (clubtail dragonflies). I don't know anything about their biology, but presumably a Google search would yield further info."

Dragonhunter
(11/05/2006)
Hi Guys,
I noticed the "mystery water creature" on your site and I think it is the nymph of a Dragonhunter (Hagenius brevistylus) - a species of dragonfly. Keep up the good work
Aaron

Hi Aaron,
Thanks for the information. Both you and Eric Eaton quickly resolved this mystery for us. BugGuide has a nice image of the Naiad and we also located images of adults.

Skimmer Dragonfly
(10/21/2006) neon skimmer
Here are two pictures of what seems to be (based on bugguide) a neon skimmer taken by my mother-in-law Linda in Austin, TX. She is pretty sure she took them in early september of this year. I thought it was interesting that the existing picture you have is from the same month and in the same city! Beatiful shots, don't you think?
Bobby



Hi Bobby,
Based on the images on BugGuide, we agree that this is probably a Neon Skimmer, Libellula croceipennis, but our Dragonfly identification proficiency is questionable at best.

Dragonfly
(10/15/2006) Damsel Fly
Hello,
After snapping this picture of a damsel fly I turned to my insect guide and decided it must be an American Ruby Spotted. After finding your website I now think maybe it is an Autumn Meadowhawk. How can I tell the difference?
Carol



Hi Carol,
Honestly, we are hopelessly inadequate at identifying the Odonata to the species level. We can tell you that this is not an American Ruby Spotted Damselfly. It is a Dragonfly. Many species of Damselflies rest with folded wings while Dragonflies rest with wings opened.

Dragonfly Naiad
(09/04/2006) stumped
I try to make every effort to identify unknown insects (using your site and others) before I ask for your help, but honestly I don't even know where to begin with this one. I was emptying the water out of our dog's pool, and at the bottom was this insect. It was a good swimmer, staying at the bottom of the pool and blending in really well with the grass and other debris that had blown into the water. There was also an immature one of these, which I was unable to photograph. This is in Memphis, TN. Any ideas? Thanks,
Tim
www.WildlifeTheater.com



Hi Tim,
This is an immature Dragonfly, known as a Naiad.

Common Whitetail Dragonfly
(08/30/2006) Male Common Whitetail... though from the shot, I'm more inclined to say "Bluetail"
I found the ID for this one already.. it's a male Common Whitetail. I know you already have this fella on your website, but I caught a surprisingly sharp shot of one today and thought I might send it in. He was buzzing frantically around my screened-in porch. After this shot, I caught him and took him out. He was very appreciative.
Kelli Savage, Richmond VA.



Hi Kelli,
Your photo of Plathemis lydia, a Common Whitetail male is quite dramatic.

Dragonflies
(08/14/2006) Dragonflies
Dear WTB,
I just wanted to say that I love your site! I am sending you a few pictures of Dragonflies (I am nuts about them!) that I caught on film on a recent trek through North Point State Park in Maryland. 1. Common Whitetail (Male) Libellula lydia, 2. Female Eastern Pondhawk a.k.a. Common Pondhawk Erythemis simplicicollis, 3. Male Eastern Pondhawk a.k.a. Common Pondhawk Erythemis simplicicollis, 4. Male Needham's Skimmer Libellula needhami. Enjoy....
Michelle

female Eastern Pondhawk	male Eastern Pondhawk

male Common Whitetail	male Needham's Skimmer

Hi Michelle,
Thanks for sending your photos. We had to enlarge them because the files were so tiny and the quality is somewhat compromised because of the resizing.

Damselfly Feasting
(08/13/2006) dining damselfly
In the second photo a damselfly dines on a lygus bug while a tiny scuttle fly (at the left) competes for the meal. By the way, I took these photos with the 6x lens of a linen tester mounted in front of a camera not designed for close-up photography.
Ronald



Hi Ronald,
Your Damselfly foodchain image is great. Sorry we cannot identify the species (possibly a Violet Dancer, Argia vivida). We have real problems identifying dragonflies and damselflies. Perhaps someone will write in and identify it.

Dragonfly Naiad
(07/11/2006) Insect ID
Hello,
My daughter (4 years old and loves bugs - which I think is so cool) and some friends found this bug in the water (there were quite a few of them) in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Do you have any idea what it might be? I know the picture is not that great. Notes:
- This bug appeared to propel itself by blowing air out of its "rear-end" - no joke
- It looked like it was forming wings of some sort, so I am wondering if it is born
in the water, but eventually emerges as some type of a "fly"
- 6 legs
- fly-like eyes
- alive - so it positively lives in the water
- approx. 2 inches long
- buried itself in the sand for awhile
Any help you could give would be great. My daughter and her friends ask me every day if I found out what "bob the bug" is.
Thanks,
Sherry



Hi Sherry,
Bob the Bug is a Dragonfly Larva or Naiad. They do use a jet propulsion type of locomotion by shooting water out from the rear and propelling themselves forward. Feed Bob the Bug small aquatic insects and he will reward you with eventual metamorphosis into a winged Dragonfly.

Mating Ebony Jewelwings
Alfred Kinsey's Birthday (06/23/2006) Mating Damselflies
Dear Bugman,
I'm sending you a shot of some damselflies who decided to mate on top of my camera the other day. I managed to get them in my hand so I could take some shots of them. I still can't believe how lucky I was to have them land right on my camera while I was trying to take a picture of another damselfly. I'm not sure what kind they are. maybe black winged damselflies, or ebony jewelwings? We were down by a lake which had a small stream that drained into it. I noticed these critters all through the woods on our way to the lake (mostly by the stream).
Have a great day,
Yvonne
Barrie, Ontario



Hi Yvonne,
We can't think of a better photo to post on our site today in honor of the birth of Alfred Kinsey, the entomologist who studied Gall Wasps and Human Sexuality, than your lovely photo of mating Broad Winged Damselflies. We believe they are Ebony Jewelwings.

Dominican Damselflies Mating
(05/02/2006) mating damselflies
Hello Bugman!
I have a photo of what I believe are damselflies mating. The picture was taken in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. I take it from what I've read that the top damselfly is the male. I also saw quite a few large, red coloured dragonflies while vacationing in the DR, but was unable to get any photos of them. Any chance of identifying this couple?
Thanks!
Yvonne,
Barrie, Ontario



Sorry Yvonne,
We don't believe there is a definitive field guide to the Damselflies of the Dominican Republic, and if there was, we would still have difficulty. Damselfly species identification is not our strongest talent. We do love your photo, and you are correct in the sexes. A common mating position for Damselflies involves the male grasping the female by the neck with his anal claspers.

Skimmer Dragonfly Naiads
(02/07/2006) pond bug
Hello,
I am soooo glad I found this website!! My 5 year son found these bugs in our pond. I have no idea what it is. So I could not tell him what it was called. We live in northwest (panhandle) Florida, in a city called Crestview.
Thank you,
Kimberly



Hi Kimberly,
These are Dragonfly Naiads. In the immature larval form, they are aquatic. They will survive in an aquarium and catch small insects, tiny fish and tadpoles. Eric Eaton provided this further classification: " The dragonfly nymphs are some kind of skimmer dragonfly, family Libellulidae. The globe skimmers, genus Pantala frequently lay eggs in ridiculously small ponds, even fountains, so that would be my guess."

Damselfly
(11/21/2005)
Dear Bugman,
I am trying to id this insect. I first thought it was a mayfly but now have my doubt. My specialty used to be Coleoptera during my Ecology degree but I am a bit useless on flies. Your help would be greatly appreciated. It was found in England on some reeds next the stream on a hot summers day.
Any ideas?
Mark



Hi Mark,
This is a Damselfly. They are related to Dragonflies.

Green Darners Mating
(11/19/2005) Green Darner Pair
Another photo for the "Love Bugs" page.  It took me almost an hour to capture these two green darners coupled together and laying eggs on camera.   They flit around quite a bit.
Nadjia



Hi Nadjia
Not all Dragonflies remain coupled while laying eggs. We are happy to have your image that nicely illustrates this mating technique. In this way, the male is ensured that the female doesn't successfully mate with another male and the first male's genes get passed on to the next generation.

Damselflies Mating
(11/19/2005) Ebony Jewelwing Love
One for the dragonfly page or the "Love Bug" page.  I believe the one with the white spot on the wings is the female>
Nadjia



Hi Nadjia,
Since you have sent us over a dozen images, we are trying to choose the most interesting ones or the images representing species lacking on our site. We love this Damselfly image of Mating Ebony Jewelwings. You are correct, the female is in the rear, her head secured by the males anal claspers.

Elisa Skimmer and Darner saved from Drowning
(10/28/2005) A dragonfly story
Seeing your great site has made me want to share all my favorite bug pictures. My fiancé and I had a fun dragonfly experience this summer.  We were swimming in Walden Pond when we came upon a large dragonfly floating submerged under the water.  It was so beautiful I decided I wanted to take it home, so I took it out of the water and laid it in the sun on my backpack to dry.  45 minutes later when we came out of the water, I picked up the dragonfly, and it grabbed my fingers and clung on for dear life.  Over the next half hour or so it revived more and more, and I left it clinging to a branch in a nearby tree.  Two days later when we returned, I checked the area, and it was gone, so I like to think it revived completely and was able to go about its business – a childhood spent saving bugs from pools taught me that bugs can make the most amazing recoveries.  That day, we again went swimming, and when we returned, we found another dragonfly sitting on our backpack.  It refused to move even when we moved in close for photos.  Finally, my fiancé moved his hand over it, and it lifted just long enough to avoid being brushed, and then realighted on his hand, where it stayed long enough for another good photo op.  We like to imagine it was coming to thank us for the previous day’s rescue.  And when the photos came back, we noticed for the first time that there were red hearts on its abdomen!
Johanne



Hi Johanne,
What a wonderful story. We believe the Dragonfly with the hearts is an Elisa Skimmer, Celithemis elisa, and the other is one of the Darners.

Red Saddlebag
(10/07/2005) dragonfly id?
Hi - loved your website!
My dad photographed this dragonfly on 10-6-05 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  Do you know what kind it is?  I've never seen one with those dark brown markings on the base of the wings.  Sorry there's not very good contrast between the wings and the background.  We tried to move it, but it took off. Thanks for any info you have!
Ann Graf



Hi Ann,
Nice photo of a Red Saddlebag, Tramea onusta. The markings on the hind wings are very distinctive. This dragonfly is found near broad, slow rivers with thick submerged vegetation.

Autumn Meadowhawk, maybe
(09/30/2005) What type of dragonfly (or damselfly) is this?
Dear Bugman,
This type of a dragonfly (or red damselfly?) has landed on me twice this month in our yard. What type is it? We live in Southern New Hampshire, and the picture was taken today, September 30th. Thanks so much,
Maria



Hi Maria,
We believe this is an Autumn Meadowhawk, Sympetrum vicinum, a male. This Skimmer is small and often found in late summer. It is usually the last species found in a given area.

Satyr Butterfly	Ebony Jewelwing

Red Skimmer
(09/15/2005) bugs
Hello,
I took this picture in Cave Creek, AZ, it was flying around the swimming pool. 
Thanks,
Doris Sabo
Bullhead City, AZ



Hi Doris,
This Dragonfly is a Red Skimmer, Libellula saturata.

Neon Skimmer
(09/14/2005) Neon skimmer (I think...)
Here are a couple of shots I got of what I think I've identified as a Neon Skimmer dragonfly (Libellula croceipennis ).  These were shot in Austin, Texas in late August; it was perched on the antenna on my wife's car.  I didn't see it on your site, and don't know if you want to include it, but here are the shots.  I was particularly intrigued by the connective tissues visible between the head and thorax in one of the shots.  The danged things are so quick, and so constantly in motion, that I was pretty jazzed to get a few pictures of this one.
Glen Morehead
Austin, TX



Hi Glen,
We checked on this site and we agree with your assessment that this is a Neon Skimmer.

Jagged-Edged Saddlebag Dragonfly
(09/11/2005) what's that bug
Hi there!
Can you help me identify this bug... looks like a dragonfly, and I've never seen one with clear wings before...



There are even species of Dragonflies with clearer wings than your Jagged-Edged Saddlebag which have broad black saddle shaped marks on the hind wings. This species is easily identified by those markings and the two yellow spots on the abdomen.

Green Clearwing
(09/10/2005) Another Pondhawk
What I did not realise with these insects is that their heads can move left or right quite a distance. I always thought that their heads were fixed.
Mark



Hi again Mark,
We are amused by your name Pondhawk. It is quite appropriate. We also like Devil's Darning Needle and Caballo del Diablo as common names for Dragonflies. We believe this to be a Green Clearwing, Erythemis simplicicollis. The color description according to Audubon is "Face and thorax bright green, top of head darker. Abdomen green, spotted with dark brown on top segments 3-10, spots progressively larger toward tip; tip yellow in male. Legs black with long black spines on tibiaw. ... Wings clear."

The Audubon field guide to Florida refers to Erythemis simplicicollis as the Eastern Pondhawk. Must be the colloquial term for it in Florida. Erythemis vesiculosa is refered to as the Great Pondhawk. Thanks again
Mark

Mosaic Darner
(08/22/2005) Awesome dragonfly!
I was able to photograph this very patient dragonfly that was resting on the side of my house.  My daughter and I had fun trying to identify it.  We think it's a paddle-tailed darner.  Are we right? We've seen as many as 30-40 of them flying around the house at the same time! They are amazing to watch.
You have a great site!
Regards,
Jeannie Devon
Anchorage, Alaska



Hi Jeannie,
We looked on BugGuide and have concluded this is one of the Mosaic Darners in the genus Aeshna.

Northern Bluets: Damselflies Mating
(08/10/2005) Bug Love
Hi… I JUST this minute heard your website on a talk radio home improvement show…I just had to check it out.  I love bugs……. And know little about many of them.  But I had a blast the other day taking pictures of bugs ‘doin’ it’… amazing I actually have a place that someone will enjoy seeing them!  I’m not sure where to attach the photo’s, so I will do so here. …. Looking forward to checking more of your site soon!  If you could name them all for me, I’d appreciate it.  I am guessing the red colored bugs are soldier beetles?  And of course, dragon flies…the single big one is beautiful…what kind is it?
Sherrie Gerber



Hi Sherrie,
We must confess that we find identifying the species of Damselflies to be a daunting task that we are not very good at. We do love the photo though.

Update: (02/24/2007)
Hi Lisa Anne and Daniel,
As Susan says, "I am no an expert but..." I think Sherrie had a pair of Northern Bluets (Enallagma annexum) there. They've got the right mix of blue and black on the abdomen, tapering black shoulder stripes and large eyespots. They're also common in Washington. Of course, this is a bit late. The main characters died about eighteen months ago.
Jim
NYC

Unidentified Dragonfly, possibly Blue Dasher
(08/05/2005) Dragonfly IDs
What a pleasure to find your site after searching through minute pictures that have no details. Here are two that I would love to have IDed. (Actually, now that I look at them closely, they are probably the same dragonfly).
Thanks,
Diana



Hi Diana,
We don't recognize this beauty and sadly, haven't the time to research right now. Try www.bugguide.net and if you find something, please write back.

Ed. Note: We started to feel like slackers, so we searched. We think, possibly, this is a female Blue Dasher, Pachydiplax longipennis.

White Tail
(08/04/2005) whitetail dragonfly
We love your web site. Great info, and great pictures from everybody. We found this on the side of our house. We never used to see these things until we moved to Michigan, where we're surrounded by lakes and water creatures. Keep up the good work!
Michael Delizia



Hi Michael,
Yor Plathemis lydia is a nice addition to our photo archive. This is a male, hence the white abdomen.

More Dragonfly Cannibalism
(08/03/2005) Hungry Dragonfly
Dear Bugman,
My brother noticed two large dragonflies zooming about his yard (in Hampden, Maine) attached to one another. He thought they were in the throes of love. When they landed in a bush he managed a closer look and found he was mistaken - it was a dining ritual as opposed to a courting ritual. Best Regards and Happy Bugging
Steve Cole



Hi Steve,
This is our second Dragonfly Cannibalism in a month. Nice green eyes there.

Best Letter of All Time
(07/30/2005) Dragonfly Naiad species question
Hey all,
Great job with this site!  I just came across it a few weeks ago when I was trying to ID several of the life forms I have in my miniature stream bank ecosystem.  There’s a stream near my home in West Windsor , NJ called the Millstone River (but it’s only 20’ across).  When we have a drought or heat wave each summer, the farmers overpump Millstone River in order to hydrate their crops.  As a result, they lower the water level downstream several feet and kill off a majority of the life that lives in the shallow water near the banks shrouded in anacharis and Lilly pads.  This year was the first in six years that I decided to ‘rescue’ about 15 gallons of life from this area.  The 29-gallon tank is filled less than halfway, yet has four Northern Crayfish, five Brown Water Scorpions, at least a dozen damselfly naiads of varying species, several Common Water Striders, a couple Cherry Barb Minnows under 2”, half dozen Pumpkinseeds under 1⁄2”, one Bullfrog tadpole under 2”, a few Kirby’s Backswimmers, a dozen Water Boatman, a dozen small water beetles under 1⁄4”, a Pickerel under 2”, dozens of small shrimp-like crustaceans under 1⁄4”, about a hundred snails, a dragonfly naiad, and so much more (paramecium, planarians, hydras, etc.).  I know that was a long sentence, but it emphasizes how much and at what a staggering variety life can be found in a few square yards of a stream bank.  Fascinating!  In the past month, the numbers have reached a balance between predator and prey and scavenger, so the tank pretty much takes care of itself.  The snails do an awesome job of cleaning.  So far I’ve freed about a dozen damsel flies, caddisflies, and soon a dragonfly back into the wild after metamorphosis.  The dragonfly naiad is the one I have a question about.  I’m pretty excited about it because I think it’s a Green Darner naiad.  It’s excellent at hiding among the anacharis so I rarely see it.  Fortunately it rested on a branch for just a moment and I was able to snap a few relatively clear pictures of it.  In the past week it has changed color from a pair of yellow bands on a black field to a complex pattern of various greens and dark browns.  I supplied a photo of each stage to aid in identification.  The yellow bands are still vaguely visible now.  Being that I’ve had dragonfly naiads in the past, I’m not worried at all about its survival among all those predators (fish and insect).  Dragonfly naiads are BRUTAL predators!  Please let me know if I’m right about this one!  I’d love to hear from you.  If you’d like photos of anything else I have a few decent shots, including an video created from dozens of photos of a damselfly during metamorphosis!  It was awesome to watch for the whole 2 hours. 
An avid fan,
Ian



Hi Ian,
This might well be my favorite letter of all time. I applaud your aquarium. I once had a Los Angeles River Aquarium, merely five gallons, for nearly five years with the original three mosquito fish providing many new generations before a racoon ate them. The aquarium was outside. Sadly, we are going to fail you with your identification. We don't know what species of Dragonfly naiad you have.

Shed Dragonfly Skin
(07/09/2005) prehistoric looking critter
Here is a real ugly critter. It resemble a grasshopper, but has ridges down his back and is almost black. He was sitting on the side of on of the support beams of the dock of our lake. Can you identify him for me? I looked in all of my reference books under grasshoppers and crickets and was unable to find him. If you need some more pictures, I can send them to you. The white strings on his back look like atrophied wings to me, but I might be mistaken. I was flat on the dock trying to aim the camera below me for these shots. Thanks for your help.
Margrit



Hi Margrit,
A Naiad crawled out of the lake, split its skin and flew away as an adult Dragonfly.

Dragonfly Cannibalism
(07/06/2005) eating
I think this is an Eastern Pondhawk female devouring a Ruby Meadowhawk- at least all the other Meadowhawks around were Ruby Meadowhawks. I never seem the see males with prey- are they less voracious or just less conspicuous? thanks- i just discovered your wonderful site.
Pam Burtt



Wow Pam,
What a great photo. We have always been under the impression that females of the species were better hunters.

Twelvespot Skimmer with Hitchkiker and How Damselflies Do It
(07/06/2005) 3 pics
Hi!  I'm in Florida and I have 3 pictures I have questions about.  One is of a large dragonfly with something near the end of its tail.  What is it?... And last, but not least.....I think you know what I'm going to ask :0)  Thanks! 
Jaime



So Jaime,
Your big dragonfly is a Twelve-Spot Skimmer, Libellula pulchella, but the object on its abdomen is not clear enough to identify. Dragonflies are often plagued by mites, but this looks a little large for that. Sometimes Psuedoscorpions hitch rides on flying insects, a phenomenon known as phoresy. Sadly, we just can't be sure. You want to know how Damselflies Do It. The male grasps the female around the neck with pincers he possesses on the tip of his abdomen. She then twists around with her abdomen to accept the sperm. Many species of Damselflies stay in this position while the eggs are laid, with the female depositing the eggs underwater. I'm sure the extra pairs of wings help to lift her back into the air after an egg has been laid. This is such a wonderful addition to our brand new Bug Love page.

Dragonfly Metamorphosis
(07/05/2005) (no subject)
We saw this today by the river in Chattanooga, Tennessee. What is it???
Tammy Miller



Hi Tammy,
This is truly an awesome photograph of Dragonfly Metamorphosis. The nymph or naiad, the immature Dragonfly lives underwater. When it is ready to become an adult, it climbs onto the ground, usually on a twig or branch, and splits its skin. The winged adult emerges and after its wings have expanded and hardened, it flies away.

Dragonfly Metamorphosis
(07/04/2005) dragonfly
I don't think you would be able to positively ID this dragonfly or can you?  Just thought I'd share this metamorphoses with you and your visitors. Great Job,
Andrew



Hi Andrew,
Your photo is stunning, the second Dragonfly Metamorphosis photo in two days. Actually yours came in first but due to the disorganized manner in which we post, the other image went live first. We especially like the fact that the gnat in your photo is unsuspecting that when the Dragonfly can fly, it might become dinner. Your are right, we cannot positively identify your dragonfly, but we believe it to be a Darner because of the clear wings.

NOT Twelve Spot Skimmer
(07/04/2005) Another Dragonfly
Hi,
Can you help identify this Dragonfly?
Christian



Hi Christian,
This is a female Twelve Spot Skimmer, Libellula pulchella. The male has whitish areas between spots and the females wings are clear between spots. It ranges over most of the U.S. and often rests on lily pads and vegetation overhanging the water.

Update (01/29/2006)
odonata
Hi, my name is Larry Hamrin. While researching dragonflies, I came across your site. I don't consider myself an expert at identifying dragonflies, but I would like to comment on some of the dragonflies on your website. There is a dragonfly you identify as a 12 spotted skimmer. This does not look like any 12 spot I've ever seen, or can find on other websites. The amber coloration and spot pattern at the base of the wings are not consistent with other photos I've seen. Don't know what it is but here is one I photographed. The female 12 spot and the female common whitetail are often confused.
Thank you for your time
Larry Hamrin

Shed Skin of a Dragonfly Naiad
(07/03/2005) Help please
I have looked all over your site and others that are linked but haven't been able to figure out what this critter is. This photo was mailed to me and I am told that the bug measured about two inches by one inch. It appears to be just a skeleton found on a board covering the crawl space to a camp in the Adirondack Mtns. Thanks for any insight you can provide.
Thomas Smith



Hi Thomas,
This is the shed skin from the final moult of a Dragonfly Naiad. Naiads live under water. They moult several times to fascilitate growth since the exoskeleton cannot grow. At the time of the final moult, the Naiad climbs out of the water and sheds its skin, becoming a winged adult. This Naiad might be from a Common Skimmer based on the shape of the abdomen.

Blue Dasher	Green Clearwing

Hero Swamp Darner
(06/09/2005) Dragonfly
Hello,
We live in NYC, and last night we found this Dragonfly out in the hallway of our building. We would like to know what kind of dragonfly it is. What do these dragonflies eat? Also, how long do they live? Thank you for your help.
Christian



Hi Christian,
We believe your dragonfly is a is most likely a Hero Swamp Darner, Epiaeschna heros.  They are HUGE. Adults eat small insects caught in flight. They help to control mosquitos. They will only live one season.

White Tail
(06/06/2005) Common skimmer?
Hi folks,
Just found your wonderful site today whilst searching for an identification of a bug my mother took a picture of.  She called it a "butterfly" much to my amusement, but upon searching the net, I have been able to identify it as some kind of skimmer, but I haven't been able to find that much info on this family of dragonfly.  Can you help us out?  I live in Southwestern BC.
Thanks very much! 
Shannon



Hi Shannon,
Your dragonfly looks like a female White Tail, Plathemis lydia. The male has a gleaming white abdomen, but the female's is brown with rows of yellow spots. The wings of both have broad dark band near the tip and a small black area at the base. It ranges from Nova Scotia to Florida and west to California , and north to British Columbia.

Update (01/29/2006)
odonata
Hi, my name is Larry Hamrin. While researching dragonflies, I came across your site. I don't consider myself an expert at identifying dragonflies, but I would like to comment on some of the dragonflies on your website. The dragonfly you identify as a female common whitetail looks to me to be a young male without the purinose coating. I identified as a male based on wing pattern. The male has a white tail because of a waxy like coating it aquires with age. The coating covers the markings on the abdomen. An immature white tail would not have this coating. Here is a website that shows an immature white tail. This is a phtograph of a female Common White Tail.
Thank you for your time
Larry Hamrin

Possibly Vivid Dancers
(05/12/2005) damselflies
I discovered your wonderful website today and would like your help confirming or correcting my ID of these two damselflies.  I photographed them April 4, 2005 in the desert about 1/4 mile east of Topock Marsh, Mohave County, Arizona.  I initially identified them as male and female Vivid Dancers - Argia vivida.
Thank you,
Phil Bleicher



Hi Phil,
Though your photos are very nice, we are not prepared to give more than a possible agreement to your identification. Many species of insects, including Damselflies, need close specimen examination to make a positive identification. This often involves dissection of sexual organs or exact wing veinage assesment. The Vivid Dancer, Argia vivida, is common in the west.

Damselfly
(03/13/2005) How does a dragonfly nymph fly?
Hi,
I was pottering around in the backyard, when I noticed a dragonfly nymph flitting about. A long time ago, I read that the dragonfly is one of only two insects (the other is the hawk moth ) that can't close its wings once they open out.  So the natural question is how does the nymph fly without the wings opened out? I've uploaded a photo of the dragonfly nymph, or what I think is a dragonfly nymph.
Thanks,
Shastri



Hi Shastri
First I will answer your question. Dragonfly nymphs do not fly. They are immature, wingless and live under the water. Adult Dragonflies cannot fold their wings. Your photo is of a close relative known as a Damselfly. Damselflies can be distinguised from Dragonflies by the fact that they can fold their wings. Thanks for the photo.

Dragonfly Exoskeleton
(09/03/2004) what is this?
Hi - We love your site.  
Hopefully you can help us.  We live in Mid Michigan (Lansing) and my son (age 6) found this exoskeleton on a walk today.  I don't even know where to begin to find out what it is.  (Well, I do, because I'm sending you an email.)
Thanks,
Lysne (and Liam)



Hi Lysne and Liam,
I'm guessing you found this exoskeleton near a pond or other body of water. It is the final molted skin of a dragonfly. The larvae, known as nymphs, are aquatic and predatory. They have an amazing detachable jaw that emerges as the nymph attacks prey, small aquatic insects, tadpoles and even fish. The nymph eventually crawls out of the water, molts and flies away as an adult dragonfly. Isn't metamorphosis amazing?

Red Skimmer
(08/10/2004) Three Bugs from near Sedona, AZ
The third photo was taken on the West Fork trail in the same area. Lovely dragonfly. I think the body was about 2 - 2 1/2 inches long and the wing span was about 3 inches. If you can identify any of these, I'd be grateful.
Su -- Mesa, AZ



Hi Su,
Your Dragonfly looks like a Red Skimmer, Libellula saturata. This is a warm region species. It breeds in stagnant small ponds and pools. It is conspicuous because of its large size.

Green Clearwing
(08/09/2004) Dear Bugman :o)
I just found  your site yesterday and spent a few hours looking at all of the amazing bugs that you have listed there. I noticed a section for dragonflies and thought you might be interested in a picture of another variety. I live in Florida, and find these guys around my yard. I have some other bug photos around here somewhere (there's a lot of neat bugs here in Florida) and I will send them if I see that you do not already have photos to represent them.
Thanks for the great site, it's listed in my favorites under the "~~~Way Cool!" folder.
Have a great day!
Maddy



Hi Maddy,
We are honored to be in your Way Cool folder. If you try to visit over the next few weeks, you will find us shut down due to heavy traffic. We will return in September. The beginning of the month is the best time to log on. We are posting your photo of a Green Clearwing, Erythemis simpliciollis. It is common in the South. The green and brown striped abdomen is distinctive.

Dragonfly parasitized by Locust Mites
(08/07/2004) mites?
Hello Bugman,
I just came over your site on the internet. I like taking macro shots of insect and today I have taken an interesting one. There are were some red dots on the wing of a dragonfly. I think maybe they can be some sort of insects or mites. I live in Hungary, Europe I hope you can help me anyway...
Best regards.
Ambruzs Péter



Dear Ambruzs Péter,
Your photo is beautiful. We suspect you have photographed the Locust Mite, Eutrombidium rostratum. Essig writes that it : "is the common locust mite of the United States and Europe. It is a large bright red species. ... They are often taken on the body and wings of grasshoppers, crickets, katydids, and mantids, and do not attack humans." Even if it is not that exact species, you have most definitely photographed mites hitching a ride on your dragonfly.

We are jumping right on the opportunity to start a new page with this photo we just took in our garden of a common dragonfly known as the Big Red Skimmer, Libellula saturata. There are many myths associated with dragonflies as well as many colorful common names including Devil's Darning Needle, Snake Doctors, Horse Stingeres and Caballos del Diablo. They do not bite and are helpful in eliminating harmful insect pests, especially mosquitos.