Eastern Pondhawks

On this trip the most frequently seen dragonfly out and about were the Eastern Pondhawks. I showed a female I encountered early, but I got pictures of 7 males later (and probably missed pictures of more of them). I'll show 3 of the handsomest individuals today.

These guys all started life with the green-and-black abdomens of the females, but each of these has the blue pruinose of adult males. Their green faces and lighter coloring usually make it easy to differentiate them from the Slaty Skimmers that are sometimes in the same area. 

All dragonflies are predators; Eastern Pondhawks are considered fiercer than most. And while the females use their fierceness mostly on prey, the males also need to guard a territory near/over water from their male rivals.

July 23, 2021 at the Plainsboro Preserve
Photo 148592324, (c) jpviolette, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

July 23, 2021 at the Plainsboro Preserve
Photo 148592587, (c) jpviolette, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

July 23, 2021 at the Plainsboro Preserve
Photo 148592717, (c) jpviolette, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)


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