<< Previous Next >>

Green Darner (mating pair)


Green Darner (mating pair)
Photo Information
Copyright: Derek Grant (PeakXV) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 121 W: 0 N: 544] (3135)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2012-07-15
Categories: Insects
Camera: Nikon D 60, AF-S Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 G VR DX
Exposure: f/13.0, 1/125 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2012-07-16 7:54
Viewed: 2051
Points: 4
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Camouflage, it's amazing how such colorful insects can blend in so well to their environment. Common Green Darner (Anax junius) can be very vulnerable to predation from birds because of their larger size & brighter colors. So, when they mate they will almost always choose a low area, thick in vegetation & where they are best camouflaged. Unless you see them land, they are almost impossible to visually locate.

They often mate in flight. Immediately after mating, common green darner females lay their eggs, one at a time, in tiny slits in submerged aquatic plants. Males work hard to protect their territories. Some have been clocked chasing intruders away at 35 miles per hour. Common green darners are one of the few dragonflies that migrate in the spring and fall. Scientists believe that they migrate with seasonal warm fronts.


The common green darner is the largest, most abundant and widespread dragonfly species in North America. Common green darners are called "mosquito hawks" because they eat mosquitoes, providing an important service to humans. As an animal that lives in both freshwater and terrestrial (land) habitats, having healthy green darner populations indicates a balanced and healthy ecosystem.





Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Suborder: Anisoptera
Family: Aeshnidae
Genus: Anax
Species: A. junius

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Darner

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/species/greendarner/
anel has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
None
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

Ciao Derek, fantastic maiting couple, excellent sharpness, fine details, splendid light and wonderful bright colors, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 3053 W: 3 N: 8715] (40574)
  • [2012-07-17 4:55]

Hello Derek,
Impressive shot, the thumb-nail doesn't show well the subject of this interesting shot. Excellent sharpness on both dragonflies lost in this grassy environment.
Very well seen!
Kind regards
Anne

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF