This is a common darter:
I found two in the pond this morning.
It looks like all the broad-bodied chasers have emerged because I couldn't find any larvae today. The photo below was taken in June:
I wonder why they are so muddy compared with the darters. When they emerge from the pond they aren't muddy - maybe it's a method of avoiding predators?
I photographed this larva in August 2008. I suspect it's either an emperor dragonfly or a southern hawker.
2 comments:
A question I am commonly asked is do dragonfly bite? Especially since they were once known as the Devil's Darning Needles. Also do the larvae bite? How about this as the subject of a future article.
Thank you very much for the idea. Must admit I hesitated to pick the larvae up. Will have to find out!
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