Dragonflies and Damselflies
13 July 2007
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Happy Birthday Dad!
 
Was feeling very lazy (and a little bit sad) So I picked a spot that I could drive to and not have to haul my crap very far.  When I "dragonfly" I bring 2 cameras, various lenses, rubber boots, containers, a tripod, field guides, specimen containers, a net, dog leash and some more crap I apparently can't live with out.

Eastern Forktail
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© 2007 All rights reserved

I find these guys at almost every site.  They are very common and easily identifiable.  They are called Eastern Forktails Ischnura verticalis.  The beautiful green body has a bright blue dot at the end of the tail that has a distinctive pattern.

Terminal appendage
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© 2007 All rights reserved

Here is a closeup of the tail end.  The black and blue pattern is the easiest way to identify this damselfly.  The females are much harder to distinguish.  The immature females are orange but they turn various shades of pale blue as they age.

Fragile Forktail
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© 2007 All rights reserved

The Fragile Forktail Ischnura posita, has a broken stripe on its shoulder (do bugs have shoulders?) that looks like an exclamation point.

Terminal appendage
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© 2007 All rights reserved

The Fragile Forktail's tail end lacks the blue color.

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