Green Dragonfly
Green Darner Dragonfly on Hibiscus
This dragonfly was so big that when it flew across the yarn, it's wings sounded like cellophane flapping in the wind.
Green Darner Dragonfly on Hibiscus
Green darners are the biggest darner in North America and also the most widespread. They have a green thorax and a blue (male) or brownish (female) abdomen.
Green Darner Dragonfly
Anax Junius on Sedum
Green Darner Dragonfly on Sedum
with a bumble bee.
This Red Dragonfly
landed on my finger while I was photographing the Green Darner on the Hibiscus, so I shifted the camera to photograph this one too.
Visit From An Old Friend
DragonFly On Mullein
Dragonfly symbolizes change, transformation, adaptability, and self-realization.
There are more than 5,000 known species of dragonflies, all of which (along with damselflies) belong to the order Odonata, which means “toothed one” in Greek and refers to the dragonfly’s serrated teeth.
Dragonflies were some of the first winged insects to evolve, some 300 million years ago. Modern dragonflies have wingspans of only two to five inches, but fossil dragonflies have been found with wingspans of up to two feet.
Dragonflies are expert fliers. They can fly straight up and down, hover like a helicopter and even mate mid-air. Between the speed, distance and flexibility when hunting, dragonflies are one of the most exceptional fliers on the planet.
Nearly all of the dragonfly’s head is eye, so they have incredible vision that encompasses almost every angle except right behind them. They not only have an exceptional field of vision, but they can see the world in colors we can't even imagine.
Dragonflies, which eat insects as adults, are a great control on the mosquito population. A single dragonfly can eat 30 to hundreds of mosquitoes per day. They catch their insect prey by grabbing it with their feet.
Dragonflies can't bite humans. The vast majority of species don't have mandibles strong enough to break the skin. Only a small handful of large species are capable of actually biting, but this only occurs as a defensive strategy.
Mullein is a valued medicinal herb, especially in treating diseases of the lungs. A wash prepared from the leaves, flowers, and roots soothed sprains, reduced inflammations, and heals wounds. The leaves can also be used as a poultice for swollen glands, bruises, insect bites, for treating sprains, swelling, and wounds. It makes a good addition to an herbal salve. The flowers infused in oil were used to cure hemorrhoids and as a specific cure for earache.
Ebony Jewelwing Damselfly
Damselflies are fellow members of Odonata, though they’re distinct from dragonflies, which have thicker bodies and bigger eyes. A handy way to tell them apart is to look at their wings at rest—dragonflies sit with their wings splayed flat, while resting damselflies close their wings back together over their body.
