This beautiful Blue Dasher, Pachydiplax longipennis, danced and pranced with a partner over the pond, alighting and resting on a sun-crisp tip of a Pickerel Rush leaf. I’m not sure whether the partner was a potential mate or a rival in territory, but it also sported a rich blue/green exoskeleton, though didn’t perch where I might easily observe its beauty.
Wings sparkle in the early autumn sun, head swivels in response to large eyes watching for prey of small flying insects. These dragonflies (in the skimmer family) are not pollinators, but skilled predators in the garden, eating a large variety of insects, including mosquitoes and various flies.
Later in the afternoon, in different light, the skimmer was still around. Its azure and jade buddy was missing; perhaps it had moved on to another watering hole.
Late summer and autumn, until our temperatures turn significantly cooler, these insects will rule the airspace around the pond.
My Gardener Says... 
Always great to share the garden with dragons, some can even become slightly ‘friendly’.
LikeLike
They are really interesting, aren’t they? They seem to be aware of us, though it may be those big, expressive eyes! And, they’re so beautiful and colorful!
LikeLike
Nice going with your closeups. Your comment that “these insects will rule the airspace around the pond” proved true yesterday at a pond I visited in northeast Austin, where dragonflies kept flying around conspicuously.
LikeLike
Thanks, Steve! I like how they land on a branch or leaf, seemingly waiting to get their photo taken! I just love to watch them zooming around the garden, and this time of year, they’re very active.
LikeLike
I love seeing pond and meadow hawks skim and dart about above our lawn in late summer. I’m esp. grateful that they are eating mosquitoes!
LikeLike
I do as well, Eliza! They’re such interesting looking critters and they really own the space around water features, I think.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dashing indeed. How nice to have a pond in your garden to attract this and other attractive dragonflies. Their eyes are really remarkable.
LikeLike
Those eyes! I fancy he was looking at me as I positioned to get some photos, eyes and head swiveling, always alert.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Look into my eyes.” 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fascinating creatures, for sure. Great photographs! I find them so fun to observe. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Beth @ PlantPostings.com
LikeLike
I’m sure you have plenty in your garden, as well, Beth. And yes, they’re fun to watch!
LikeLike
I took a casual shot toward the horizon at San Bernard last weekend, just to check my camera settings. When I looked at the photo on the computer, I was astonished to see the number of dragonflies I’d captured; I counted at least 32! I also heard a terrific racket coming from some bushes, and knew a dragonfly was involved, even though I couldn’t see it well. When I looked at that photo later, I discovered a blue dasher had captured another dragonfly, and the racket no doubt was its attempts to subdue its next meal. A skilled predator, indeed!
LikeLike