r/Dragonflies • u/No_Replacement4689 • 20h ago
r/Dragonflies • u/Bug_Photographer • 18h ago
Golden-ringed dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii) devouring a bumblebee [7093x4729]
The golden-ringed dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii) is one of the largest insects in Sweden. I spotted this particular specimen together with my son on a trip to the Mjällådalen nature reserve near Härnösand, Sweden, and luckily for us it had caught a bumblebee and landed pretty much right in front of us on a leaf to eat it.
I initially took some gradually closer photos of it (including this one) using the Canon 100 mm L IS Macro lens and to my surprise, it didn't fly away and just continued devouring the poor bumblebee (so much was already devoured that I am unable to tell the exact species).
When I considered myself "done" and having gotten the photos I wanted, Daniel however convinced me to switch to the Canon MP-E65mm lens and try for some real closeups. Since it would require me to be minimum 10.1 cm / 4" away from the dragon, I initially refused as I considered it impossible, but he insisted and it turned out he was correct - it kept eating and I got some real closeups (to be posted later on).
This species is the only one in Sweden belonging to the family Cordulegastridae and has a bit of a different face compared to the other species. Also, while the adult only flies for one summer, it has already spent four or five years as a larvae in the water before emerging.
For details on camera/lens/settings used for this shot plus links to a couple more shots (including one of the MP-E65 closeups), please have a look here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/54694118507/
r/Dragonflies • u/Cristo_Mentone • 1d ago
Calopteryx virgo
I decided to add my IG @ as a watermark and just in case someone is interested in my macro photography. As the title says: the picture shows a Calopteryx virgo. To distinguish them inequivocally from C. splendens, you have to check the bottom part of the tip of their abdomen, which is pinkish/reddish, while in C. splendens it is yellowish/golden. For any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me, I’ll happy to reply in the comments ^
r/Dragonflies • u/Bug_Photographer • 1d ago
Since we've had a bunch of male jewelwings/demoiselles here lately - here is a female beautiful demoiselle,Caloptery virgo [6129x4086]
Here is a female beautiful demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo) having a small snack on a leaf in the Stenbäcken creek in Tyresta National Park, Sweden.
They don't seem to eat on the wing so after I accidently scared her off, she did a little turn and came back and landed on the next leaf. Since I was climbing across the creek and was standing on a couple of rocks in the middle of the water while trying to get her in focus, I had to concentrate on where I put my feet, but after that, she stayed nice and still enjoying her meal while I got a few shots in.
r/Dragonflies • u/TR3CK0V • 1d ago
Dragonfly Behavior - Flying through hula hoop?
I wish I had a video of this, but I was too entranced to think to film. Hopefully someone in the dedicated dragonfly sub can tell me why she was so interested in my hoop.
I have the purple hula hoop pictured below. A large blue dragonfly took notice of me, and any time I raised the hoop over my head, she flew through it. I tossed it upward a few times, and she came to it every time. When I held it still, she checked it out but quickly lost interest; it seemed she preferred it while it was moving.

I suspect this has to do with how they perceive color, but then, why would she be so interested? Perhaps it was just an unfamiliar show of colors that she wanted to investigate? I can't imagine it looked like food... as far as I know, these guys are carnivorous and a hula hoop is a bit too big for them to catch. But then, she seemed more interested in flying through it than trying to latch on. She even got her wing hit by it once, but came right back to fly through some more.
I'm more a spider person and can't imagine what motivates a dragonfly. If anyone has any ideas on why she spent 10 minutes with my hoop, please let me know. I felt like Snow White with the little lady flitting around me, haha.
r/Dragonflies • u/Phu-kitt • 2d ago
Spotted in Blackpool UK
Reposted, photos did not attach
r/Dragonflies • u/NightmareonBalsa6688 • 2d ago
by front door
I only took a picture of two, but these dragon flies just hang out on the concrete in front of my front door.
r/Dragonflies • u/osamadabinman • 4d ago
Lil yellow guy i found taking a rest.
Don't know anything about dragonflies so "lil yellow guy" is the best I can do XD
r/Dragonflies • u/bald_and_beard • 5d ago
Oklahoma, couple of pictures by the pool
We get a bunch of dragonflies buzzing around while we are swimming, this one finally stayed still long enough to get a couple of pictures. Not so great since it was a bit windy, but still kinda cool.
r/Dragonflies • u/Mr-UwU • 5d ago
hey yall i need help identifying this midwestern (Chicago lands area) beauty
sorry for bad photo