Welcome to Catnapin's

Insect Gallery

Dragonfly

order Odonata

When resting, dragonflies hold their wings spread wide.

Dragonflies start as nymphs in the water.  They can molt many times before their last adult molting, this is when they leave the water and through metamorphosis become a flying creature.  They are insectivores as nymphs and adults.

Dragonfly nymphs are stocky and have internal gills.  They have "jet propulsion" and can move fast.  A few dragonflies live as nymphs for 3 years.

family Libellulidae (Common Skimmer)

Yellow-legged Meadowhawk Sympetrum vicinum

Male.

Photo taken in Taylor County, October 2008

family Libellulidae (Common Skimmer)

Variegated Meadowhawk Sympetrum corruptum

Male red banded, female brown banded.

Photo taken in Taylor County, September 2005

family Libellulidae (Common Skimmer)

Common Whitetail Libellula lydia

Male

Photo taken in Taylor County, August 2005

family Libellulidae (Common Skimmer)

Common Whitetail Libellula lydia

Immature male

Photo taken in Taylor County, May 2006

family Libellulidae (Common Skimmer)

Halloween Pennant Celithemis eponina

Female

Amber head, body, and tail.  Amber wings with dark bands.

Photo taken in Taylor County, July 2008

family Libellulidae (Common Skimmer)

Widow Skimmer Libellula luctuosa

Female

Photo taken in Taylor County, July 2008

family Libellulidae (Common Skimmer)

Eastern Amberwing Perithemis tenera

Male

Photo taken in Taylor County, September 2008

? - ? Family

Common Name ** zp 1 ** Scientific name

Dragonfly nymph (~ 1" long) turning into adult, not sure what species.  It was found drowned in a stock tank.

Photos taken in Taylor County, September 2009

Other Central Texas Dragonflies

family Aeshnidae (Darner)

Common Green Darner Anax junius

Male has green body, brown head with yellow stripe at back,  reddish brown tail.  Female has brown head, green body, brown tail.  Tail very thin.  Clear wings, front vein is green.

family Aeshnidae (Darner)

Comet Darner Anax longipes

Male has green head, green or brown body, red tail, red legs.  Clear wings with green front vein.

family Libellulidae (Common Skimmer)

Roseate Skimmer Orthemis ferruginea

Male has black head, pink body and tail.  Female has orange tail, dark body with central white line and white on sides.  Clear wings forward.

family Libellulidae (Common Skimmer)

Eastern Pondhawk Erythemis simplicicollis

Male dusty blue all over, green head.  Female is bright green with black tail bands, white tip tail.  Clear wings forward.

family Libellulidae (Common Skimmer)

Red-tailed Pennant Brachymesia furcata

Male red all over.  Large body with short narrow tail.  Female tail orange or brown, head brown or gray.  Clear wings forward, front vein is black.

family Libellulidae (Common Skimmer)

Flame Skimmer Libellula saturata

Male has re-orange head, body, and tail.  Inner wings red-orange, outer wings clear, second front vein is yellow.

Female has brown head, tan-amber body with white center stripe, tan-amber tail.  Clear wings have amber front edge.

family Gomphidae (Clubtail)

Eastern Ringtail Erpetogomphus designatus

Club tail.  Lots of banding on body and tail.  Male and female similar.

Body is banded in yellow-green and brown , head has some yellow-green, eyes white, tail has dark bands, orange on top light below, tip is orange.  Clear wings, front vein is green.