Dragons at Bassett Creek

Dragonflies are ancient.  Scientists say they predate dinosaurs!  The above photo almost looks like a fossil or maybe a cave painting, but it is just shadow and motion blur that give the effect.  

I spent the morning capturing dragonflies at Bassett Creek Park in Crystal Minnesota.  Lots of Ebony Jewelwings were out.  They seem to have an uncanny ability to know when you are looking at them and turn to face you to hide their wings.

There were plenty of other more common dragonflies there too:  Like Twelve-spotted Skimmers.  

Enjoy!

~ Robin

Close to shore . . .

Exploring closer the shoreline today I made some unusual finds.  A dragonfly lives most of its life underwater as a nymph.  They have exoskeletons, so in order to grow, they molt off their old 'skin'.  This looks like the final molt left-over for an adult dragonfly.



Not long afterward, I came across a Great Black Wasp enjoying a swamp milkweed.







And lastly, the skeletonizing Japanese Beetles are back.  This one is enjoying lunch under the spotty shade of his own handiwork. 

Enjoy!

~ Robin

Late Summer Bugs

 Although the temperatures this week have started to cool, there were several damselflies and dragonflies out today.   Many of the grasshoppers have grown their wings.  And I found a milkweed beetle along the creek path.

Enjoy!

~ Robin

More More Summer

Spotted Touch Me Not

Wasp on Swamp Milkweed

As promised.

Enjoy!

~ Robin

Monarch on Swamp Milkweed

Mourning Cloak on Common Milkweed

Dragonfly

Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)

Iridescent Beetle - Chrysochus auratus

Dew Dotted Wings

Dew has temporarily delayed flight for this dragonfly.

Enjoy!

~ Robin

Dragonfly Shell

Like many insects, dragonflies molt.  This is likely the last molted skin of a dragonfly.  The shell left behind by one of the dragonflies now patrolling the pond.  

Enjoy!

~ Robin 

Edge of Autumn

An Autumn Meadowhawk on a dried ragweed stem. 

Enjoy!

~ Robin

Lance-Tipped Darner

Found this Lance-tipped Darner among the cattails along the creek.  The tail is intriguing to me. The nick in the wing tells of an escape.

Enjoy!

~ Robin

Barn-swallow Babies First Dinner

The Barn-swallows in the pavilion have hatched.  They are very tiny still and their eyes have not opened yet.   

An exuberant parent arrives with a big dragonfly.  It is almost as big as a baby is!  

No worries ... it is STUFF-ABLE.  ;-)

Enjoy!

~ Robin

Blazing Stars and Banded Wings

The Prairie Blazing Stars are starting to open.  Some say this native wildflower resembles a fairy wand.   
I think this Eastern Band-winged Meadowhawk just finds it a nice place to perch.


Enjoy!


~ Robin


Photos taken July 14, 2012

The Widow

I found some things hiding among leaves on Friday.  I believe this one is a female Widow Skimmer.  She is the only dragonfly whose mate abandons her when she lays her eggs.

Enjoy!

~ Robin  

Lakeside Dragonflies

In the overcast part of the afternoon, a couple of dragonflies took opportunity to rest near the lake.  The dragonfly in the photo at the top is a Twelve-spotted Skimmer.  At the side is a Dot-tailed Whiteface.  The yellow spot on its tail along with the white face make this one of the more easily identifiable dragonflies.

Enjoy!

~ Robin