Variegated Meadowhawk – Sympetrum corruptum

Variegated Meadowhawk – Sympetrum corruptum

Variegated Meadowhawk - Sympetrum corruptumLive adult dragonfly photographed in the wild near the confluence of the Green and Colorado Rivers, Canyonlands National Park, Utah, USA. ~~ Canyonlands Map Here (.pdf)

The presence and abundance of dragonflies and damselflies may be taken as an indicator of ecosystem quality. Local populations can be strongly affected by any change in water flow, turbidity, or in aquatic or waterside vegetation. The greatest numbers of species are found at sites which offer a wide variety of microhabitats, prey, and clean water. Odonate nymphs are aquatic, and as such need unpolluted water.The presence and abundance of dragonflies and damselflies may be taken as an indicator of ecosystem quality. Local populations can be strongly affected by any change in water flow, turbidity, or in aquatic or waterside vegetation. The greatest numbers of species are found at sites which offer a wide variety of microhabitats, prey, and clean water. Odonate nymphs are aquatic, and as such need unpolluted water. Dragonfly mating logistics seem to me one of the more ridiculous contrivances in the animal kingdom. I followed these two green darners around for more than an hour; its quite comical to see them fly in tandem hooked together thus. They are quite good at it, however.Dragonflies have excellent eyesight. Their compound eyes have up to 30,000 facets, each of which is a separate light-sensing organ or ommatidium, arranged to give nearly a 360° field of vision.

References:
1. Bruce Marlin, Bugguide.net, ‘Variegated Meadowhawk’

Order Odonata: dragonflies and damselflies date back 300 million years, to the Carboniferous Period of the Paleozoic Era. These colorful, enchanting insects are revered second only to the butterflies in the popular psyche. Explore detailed close-up photographs of live, adult dragonflies and damselflies photographed in the wild.

Odonata Index | Dragonflies | Damselflies | Bugs Index | Spiders

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