Dragonflies

Eastern Pondhawk Male

Dragonflies are among my favorite subjects.  I waited a year for the opportunity to photograph them again.

Widow Skimmer Female

I recently read that the widow skimmer nymphs often walk considerable distances to find a suitable place to transform into adulthood.

Blue Dasher Male

We are beginning to see Blue Dashers

Blue Dasher Female

I believe the above female was teneral, meaning that it had just molted.

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Great Spangled Fritillary

Great Spangled Fritillary Butterfly

Like myself, many people think the Butterfly a beautiful creature.  This was my first good look at one.  

I was trying to dodge a mother and her children as they walked around the pond when I came upon this scene.  The butterfly was exhibiting a "disgusting" behavior.  Wikipedia says, "Mud-puddling, or simply puddling, is behavior most conspicuous in butterflies, but occurs in other animals as well, mainly insects; they seek out certain moist substances such as rotting plant matter, mud and carrion and they suck up the fluid. Where the conditions are suitable conspicuous insects such as butterflies commonly form aggregations on wet soil, dung or carrion."  The butterfly flew away but I know it would return.  I "set up shop" by the excrement.  Mercifully, my nose barely works.  I advised the mother and her child to step carefully when they passed.

Great Spangled Fritillary Butterfly

 I had the opportunity to capture many different poses.

Great Spangled Fritillary Butterfly

The question screams in my ears, "Who would want a picture of a butterfly on dung in their house?!"

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Dufourea novaeangliae Drama

Dufourea novaeagliae Bee

The Pickerel Weed is blooming.  While it is doing so, I sit by the edge of the pond photographing Dragonflies and Damselflies.  The Dragon/Damsel flies come out when the conditions are right and this particular morning they were still in hiding.

I found myself looking for the Dufourea novaeaglie Bees which according to Wikipedia, "There is a species of bee (Dufourea novaeangliae) that exclusively visits Pontederia cordata," aka Pickerel Weed.  They are tiny bees, which I have tried to show in this shot.  Anyway, I saw only one.  I looked all around and could see only this one.

Unknown Spider

At first, I did not notice this unknown spider lurking on the back side of the bloom.  My first glimpse of it said, "ant" to me.  I was incorrect as you can see.

The struggle went on, mostly behind the bloom.  I was able to get a shot periodically when it moved into view.

At one point the two creatures descended on web filament of the spider.  I thought the bee was about to lose.  Then, instantaneously, the bee flew away and landed on the pickerel weed bloom.

Dufourea novaeagliae Bee

I couldn't see where it might have been injured.

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