Dragonflies and Damselflies

[Nemorino]

Thanks, Click!

 

[Maximilian]

I just had a look at wikipedia and would say the picture of maximillian is a black-tailed skimmer and the one of Alan is a Scarce Chaser:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-tailed_skimmer
"The wings spread more or less horizontally in repose. They are dissimilar in shape and venation, sessile, unpatterned and clear."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libellula_depressa
"Both fore and hind wings have a dark patch at the base."

Hi @Nemorino!

Thanks for trying to help us out.

When I try to determine a dragonfly/damselfly I choose at least three sources:

• of course I use wikipedia.org in both German and English version, because pictures sometimes differ.
• I really like the page www.libellen.tv (Ger) of Dirk Pape-Lange, a really great source of knowledge.
  Sometimes not 100% up to date (e.g. winter damselfly beeing not as threatened as described)
• And last but not least the really good book "Kosmos Libellenführer".

And if all those three sources don't work, I have a degreed biologist and his human sources to ask.

About my pic of a black-tailed skimmer beeing a scarce chaser I can say that looking at the basal spots - difficult at the side view perspective - the red circle shows the basal spots at the hind wing while the blue circle shows the basal lines at the fore wing.

This is matching the fact that most "blue" dragonfly I spotted out throughout the last days were scarce chasers.
This fits the data that black-tailed skimmers start to appear in late May/early June and scarce chasers already in early May .
Of course climate change can mix this up.



Here the original pic reposted:

 

[Nemorino]

OK, I'll stop to try to identify.

Dragonfly turning left:
R5 + RF 100-400 @ 1/3200, f/10, Iso 1600

 

[AlanF]

OK, I'll stop to try to identify.

Dragonfly turning left:
R5 + RF 100-400 @ 1/3200, f/10, Iso 1600
View attachment 203965

Nice shot with all in focus. You have to have a stab at ID!

 

[Click]

Excellent shot, Nemorino.

 

[Maximilian]

OK, I'll stop to try to identify.

Dragonfly turning left:

Great shot. Even though you need good panning as well, I must say that the R5 AF system makes me jealous

By the way - spoiler alert - this is a male anax imperator.

 

[Maximilian]

Still mulling over this...

Finally my 2022 edition of the "ultimate blue dragonfly" comparison, all shot throughout the last few days.
Enjoy...

blacktailed skimmer, male (orthetrum cancellatum)

• no basal spots on any wings
• mature have green eyes

scarce chaser, male (aka. blue chaser, libellula fulva)

• basal spots only on the hind wings, fine basal lines on the fore wings
• mature have blue eyes

broad-bodied chaser, male (libellula depressa)

• large basal spots on all four wings
• mature have brown eyes

 

[AlanF]

No doubt about these: Large Red Damselflies.

 

[Nemorino]

By the way - spoiler alert - this is a male anax imperator.

R5 + RF100-400 @ 1/3200, f/9, ISO 2500

 

[Click]

WOW! Great shot, Nemorino.

 

[AlanF]

View attachment 204038
R5 + RF100-400 @ 1/3200, f/9, ISO 2500

I can’t wait for these to appear here. Great shot!

 

[Maximilian]

I can’t wait for these to appear here. Great shot!

Seems like the continent / Germany is a little bit ahead here and we lost synchronity.
I spot emperors for about one week. No good pic yet.

 

[Maximilian]

Two more scarce chasers.
And an impression of our local ponds in the morning dew.


1:1 Detail of 1st pic

 

[AlanF]

I don't see many female Banded Demoiselles and by chance one appeared in a laurel tree by my kitchen window. She was 4m away, and I had the R5 at 1000mm at hand.

 

[Click]

Maximilian and Alan,

Very nice pictures, guys. Thanks for posting.

 

[Nemorino]

I can’t wait for these to appear here. Great shot!

Thank you!
The RF100-400 is such a fun to use for DIF! The low weight is a big advantage.


I had a lot of luck today!
R5 + RF100-400 @ 1/3200, f/9, ISO 1600

 

[Nemorino]

R5 + Laowa 15mm macro, uncropped @ 1/800s, ISO 1250, ca f/8-11

 

[AlanF]

Thank you!
The RF100-400 is such a fun to use for DIF! The low weight is a big advantage.


I had a lot of luck today!
R5 + RF100-400 @ 1/3200, f/9, ISO 1600
View attachment 204052

Is your 100-400 sharper at f/9 than f/8?

 

[Nemorino]

Yes, it is. f/8 seems to be much softer but only at closer focus distance.

 

[AlanF]

Yes, it is. f/8 seems to be much softer but only at closer focus distance.

Thanks. I'll check out my ones at close distances. Stopping down is no bad thing at these close distances anyway.