While I was at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge on Sunday, I took lifer Flag-tailed Spinyleg dragonfly images while walking a road with my friend Steve Creek. It felt great to walk, stretch my legs, and see insects close up and personal.

Flag-tailed Spinyleg dragonfly on a gravel path, Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, OklahomaFlag-tailed Spinyleg dragonfly on a gravel path – Canon R7, handheld, f8, 1/2500, ISO 800, Canon 100-500mm at 500mm, natural light

It was hot and humid, with a strong wind making it challenging to photograph dragonflies perched higher up.

On the ground the dragonflies were much easier to photograph because they weren’t bouncing around in the wind.

I knew that this dragonfly was a clubtailed species, but I didn’t know which one. I used iNaturalist to research and found out that it is a Flag-tailed Spinyleg dragonfly.

I do not know whether this dragonfly is female or male, so I won’t use “she” or “he” to describe this winged creature.

Flag-tailed Spinyleg dragonfly at Sequoyah NWR, Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, OklahomaFlag-tailed Spinyleg dragonfly at Sequoyah NWR – Canon R7, handheld, f8, 1/3200, ISO 800, Canon 100-500mm at 500mm, natural light

There are plenty of other descriptive adjectives I can use. Colorful, gorgeous, jewel-like, fascinating, and amazing are just a few.

What I learned from my research is that there isn’t a great deal of information available about Flag-tailed Spinyleg dragonflies, certainly not as much as for more well-studied species of odonata.

I’ve been spotting quite a few lifer dragonflies recently, and I have to admit, it makes me happy. I’ve always loved dragonflies and damselflies. Other things with wings—what’s not to love about that?

Besides, these creatures eat other annoying and biting insects. That makes them heroines and heroes in my opinion. I am super grateful for the mosquitoes that don’t bite me because the dragonflies have gobbled them up!

Life is good.

Mia

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