Small swarms of these dragonflies have been visible for several days now, but I've mostly seen them zipping around, chasing small insect prey. Today I finally caught up with one perched, so here you go — a nice view of a Spot-winged Glider (Pantala hymenaea). The spots can be subtle, but look for the dark brown patches along the inside edge of each hind wing. [You can click on the image for a larger version.]
Although fewer in number, there have also been some Wandering Gliders (Pantala flavescens) in the mix. I didn't seen one perched, but here's a Wandering Glider in flight (below). Note the more golden coloration (rather than looking reddish brown in flight), and the lack of a dark spot along the inside edge of the hind wing:
Oh, how I love the patterns on the back of the Spot-Winged Glider! Such a beautiful critter.
ReplyDeleteMe, too!
ReplyDeleteWorthwhile to look up close when they're perched!
:) Jackie