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Daily Bucket - Blue Dragonfly identification [1]
['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']
Date: 2025-06-16
The title image (my thanks to the United Kingdom’s Odonata Society and John Curd specifically for the excellent illustration) is a crucial part of Dragonfly identification. Some minor details of any structure can clarify or confuse a proper species label.
My first example includes two points of focus to a proper id. The pterostigma (color and size) and membrane color and texture are critical in the Double-ringed Pennant male.
Double-ringed Pennant male — Celithemis verna
A more common species in my area is the Slaty Skimmer. Here are the subtle differences that separate it from the Double-ringed Pennant.
Slaty Skimmer male — Libellula incesta
The obvious color of the pterostigma correctly id’s the Spangled Skimmer (as opposed to the Slaty).
Spangled Skimmer male — Libellula cyanea
The head structure of a dragonfly is simple. Many field id’s can be determined by the eye color (even if the thorax and body look similar).
Eastern Pondhawk male — Erythemis simplicicollis
Great Blue Skimmer male — Libellula vibrans
Dragonfly structure is easy. Here is an expanded illustration.
Examples for blue species seen around my area must include coloration differences in the thorax and tail segments. The Blue Dasher male below shows stripes easily separating it from all the species shown above.
Blue Dasher male — Pachydiplax longipennis
The Blue Dasher also has green eyes, white frons, black cercus, small black pterostigma and amber shaded anal triangle membrane.
The next two species are interesting because of the varied markers each possess. The fact that their names specify a blue species includes them in this diary.
Little Blue Dragonet male — Erythrodiplax minuscula
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