Dragonflies and damselflies are insects of the order Odonata. They are fierce predators of small insects. Some species fly back and forth over water or fields hunting small insects, while other species hunt from a perch waiting for their prey to fly into range. Like little helicopters these insects fly in six directions: upward, downward, forward, back, and side to side. They are widespread in the Southwest, but are usually found near water such as our Rio Grande Bosque or nearby fields.

They have large, multifaceted eyes that provide wide angle vision; two pairs of strong transparent wings & six legs attached to a muscular Thorax; and a long slender Abdomen. Males are generally more colorful than the females.

Dragonflies and damselflies breed in ponds, marshes and slow ditches. The females lay their eggs into water or in some species actually insert the eggs into plants. Eggs hatch into tiny larva called nymphs. These nymphs live underwater, catching tiny insects such as mosquito larva for food. As they grow they will molt up to a dozen times because their skin does not stretch. They live in the water often for several months before climbing out of the water to spread their wings and fly. Most dragonflies only live for a few months and damselflies for even shorter lengths of time.

When perched dragonflies hold their wings open and outstretched, while the smaller damselflies typically hold their wings folded back along their body. I've added a few links to Odonata web sites below the gallery index photos.

I took my first dragonfly photo on July 17, 2010 and have been hooked ever since. I love the progression of the seasons in New Mexico, but will miss these amazing fliers once the warmth of summer is truly past.

Return Visitor? View the 12 most recently uploaded images.

My 2012 Gallery of Dragonflies and Damselflies on Google+

Click on the species gallery you wish to view.

Dragonflies

Family Double-striped Bluet 1 images

Clubtail Family Brimstone Clubtail 5 images Eastern Ringtail 2 images Pale Snaketail 2 images Plains Clubtail 5 images Russet-tipped Clubtail 1 images Sulphur-tipped Clubtail 2 images White-belted Ringtail 2 images

Darner Family Blue-eyed Darner 3 images Common Green Darner 2 images

Skimmer Family Band-winged Meadowhawk 8 images Black Meadowhawk 2 images Black Saddlebags 2 images Bleached Skimmer 1 images Blue Dasher 6 images Checkered Setwing 4 images Common Whitetail 6 images Desert Whitetail 1 images Dot-tailed Whiteface 2 images Eastern Amberwing 4 images Eastern Pondhawk 1 images Eight-spotted Skimmer 2 images Flame Skimmer 7 images Four-spotted Skimmer 2 images Red Saddlebags 2 images Roseate Skimmer 4 images Seaside Dragonlet 5 images Striped Meadowhawk 3 images Twelve-spotted Skimmer 4 images Variegated Meadowhawk 10 images Wandering Glider 3 images Western Pondhawk 5 images Widow Skimmer 4 images

Currently there are 113 dragonfly images in the photo database.

Damselflies

Broad-winged Damsel Family American Rubyspot 6 images

Pond Damsel Family Arroyo Bluet 6 images Aztec Dancer 8 images Black-fronted Forktail 3 images Blue-fronted Dancer 6 images Blue-ringed Dancer 3 images Citrine Forktail 2 images Desert Forktail 2 images Familiar Bluet 4 images Mexican Forktail 1 images Painted Damsel 4 images Plains Forktail 2 images Powdered Dancer 5 images Sooty Dancer 2 images Springwater Dancer 1 images Tule Bluet 5 images Variable Dancer 2 images

Spreadwing Family Great Spreadwing 6 images Plateau Spreadwing 1 images Spotted Spreadwing 6 images

Currently there are 75 damselfly images in the photo database.

Currently there are 188 Odonata images in the photo database.