Libellula croceipennis - Neon Skimmer? - Libellula croceipennis -  River Haven Drive at 2100 feet in the Sierra foothills, Mariposa County, California, USA July 24, 2023
At a small man-made pond in a residential flower garden a male neon skimmer was seen perched on Equisetum stems. A female arrived and was flying close to the water above the pond. The male flew after her and they formed a wheel. The male soon landed on a stem above the water. They stayed in that position for a short time (maybe 30 seconds) and then flew and quickly separated. The female then spent several minutes ovipositing by flying back and forth about 1 foot just at the water surface. Each time she flew forward she flipped her abdomen forward under her, scooping up water with the wide apical segments and throwing it forward in front of her. She did this an estimated 100+ times amid vegetation in various areas of the pond.
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Contributed by Daniel K. Horner on 24 July, 2023 - 3:43pm Last updated 25 July, 2023 - 9:41am |