Two whitetail females engaged in odd behavior (at least to me) - Plathemis lydia

Moved

Moved from Dragonflies.

… john and jane balaban, 12 October, 2009 - 4:38pm

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Moved

Moved from ID Request.

… v belov, 12 October, 2009 - 3:33pm

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Amazing!

I'd love to capture mid flight photographs like that. :D

… Jonas Insinga, 30 September, 2009 - 11:25am

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More information

There were numerous other whitetails in the vicinity, but these two kept returning to this spot. That was how I was able to get the capture. There were numerous "fly-bys" of other dragons but they didn't stay around.
DJ

… DJ ODonnell, 30 September, 2009 - 7:33am

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great capture!

**

… Vespula vulgaris, 29 September, 2009 - 8:52pm

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Wing pattern says these are both females -

that's what is so curious!

… john and jane balaban, 29 September, 2009 - 8:22pm

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Tail in the water = Laying eggs

Some dragonflies do that while still coupled, while other males try to get into the act. (Male dragons can scoop out eggs fertilized by another, then mate. I'd guess that's why they tend to hang around during ovipositing.)

I'm not good with gender and don't know this species, but from the differences in abdomens, I'd guess the thicker one is a male guaranteeing his future offspring.

In the center of this page male green darners look for an opportunity, while a couple deposits eggs:
http://nathistoc.bio.uci.edu/odonata/Anax.htm

… Ron Hemberger, 29 September, 2009 - 8:13pm

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