The problem is "...at fast glance..." you can't separate many similar species. You need the insect in your hands... Even experts have a hard time telling what is what just by photos (especially from different parts of the world!!!) - or just refuse to answer because they don't want to look foolish. By the same reasons I can't risk to tell the species on my photos (for birds I can take some risk but definitely not for dragons!). Any way - Anax strenuus you can see at much higher elevations (my photos are from nearly see level!) and it's bigger! I have seen it several times but no photo - they are relentless, strong flyers and with me getting older than younger with every year I'm not sure I will ever get a photo of that one).Hi ISv!
The emperor dragonfly (anax imperator) is a cosmopolite and quite common in a lot of regions in the world, especially Europe and Asia.
They also live at my ponds here in Germany.
I just saw it and said, "emperor, cool!".
Now, as you are asking me and making me rethink .
Of course, it could also be another subspecies from the genus anax and I just don't recognize the differences.
Please correct me if I am mistaken.
Here I have posted a female ovipositing at my local ponds.
And here is one of my best of a male (?) resting.
Edit:
I was curious:
Giant Hawaiian darner (anax strenuus) is a Hawaiian endemit. But looking at pics on the web it has a much more backish abdomen than yours.
It is particularly common at higher elevations.
I suppose, yours is a common green darner (anax junius) as this is the common subspecies in northern America and Hawaii, too.
But at a fast glance I couldn't tell the difference from anax imperator.
Wonderful how many different species of odonata are spread around the world. Great pics again, @ISv....
Also - the last weekend I notice there a few Tramea lacerata - Black Saddlebags Skimmer and wanted to get them again (my first photo of this one - few years old and made with the 200-500 zoom - is attached).
...
Lovely to see those two species together in one post.Red-eyed Damselflies, top; Small Red-eyed Damselflies, below.
I nearly asked you to confirm that they were the two species but I convinced myself that the lower couple were the Small. They were on neighbouring water lily leaves at the end of our bumpy cycle ride this afternoon. They were too far away to identify with the naked eye. You learn so much from photography.Lovely to see those two species together in one post.
Thank you for your confidenceI nearly asked you to confirm that they were the two species ...
Great shot. Nice transition to the OOF areas.the beauty
R5 + RF100
@ f/14, 1/125, Iso 4000