The season started well with my first ever "Friendly Hawker" (Zosteraeschna minuscila)!
Two weeks ago there were no dragonflies, but now in early summer here, they have started to emerge.
I will show you a variety of these beauties today in the hope that you will also marvel at the beautiful intricacies of nature!
Come and have a look!
Here below we have a newborn "Long Skimmer" (Orthetrum trinacria) drying out on a wall before taking flight!
This guy that is so well camouflaged is known as a "Two-striped Skimmer" (Orthetrum caffrum"!
Here he is again, sitting on an aloe plant!
This one below is NOT a dragonfly, but rather a "Damselfly" of the "Zygoptera" families!
I have seen quite a few pictures of Damselflies labeled as Dragonflies!
This particular Damselfly is a "Slate Sprite" (Pseudagrion salisburyense)!
And finally a question for you!
How many dragonflies are flying here below?
If you say 6, then you need to see an optometrist 🤣
There are only 3 dragonflies in flight in the picture above, as the rest are their reflections in the water, as can be seen below!
And That's All Friends!
"The term "dragonflies" is commonly used to refer to the Order of insects known as the Ordonata, which comprises two suborders-Antisoptera (true dragonflies and Zygoptera (damselflies).
Six damselfly families comprising 66 species and six dragonfly families comprising 98 species are known to occur over here in South Africa"
Source: "A Guide to the Dragonflies and Damselflies of South Africa.
Authors: Warwick and Michele Tarboton.
Head spinning stuff to identify certain species, as many look so similar, but the context helps a lot to identify some of them.
Most notably where the dragonfly was found at the time of the photo. Near water, or on land can help a lot with identification.
Note: All photos are my own and taken this week with a Canon Powershot SX60HS camera.
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