Gallery: Dragonflies: Masters of Air and Water

  • Image may contain Animal Invertebrate Anisoptera Dragonfly and Insect
    Pieter van Dokkum.
    01

    DokkumFig3-10

    Even when damselflies are cold and covered in dew, they move away from whatever is approaching them, hiding behind the plant they are clinging to. A curious eye may be the only part of the damselfly that is visible.
  • Image may contain Animal Invertebrate Insect Anisoptera and Dragonfly
    Pieter van Dokkum.
    02

    dragonfly

    Variable Darner, eating a butterfly. This shot really shows the lovely watercolor-like qualities of van Dokkum's photography.
  • Image may contain Animal Dragonfly Invertebrate Anisoptera Insect Bee and Honey Bee
    Pieter van Dokkum.
    03

    Dokkum

    Dragonflies control their body temperature by angling their bodies to regulate the area exposed to the sun. When temperatures are high, perching dragonflies such as this Halloween Pennant may point their abdomen straight up, to absorb as little heat as possible (“obelisking”)
  • Image may contain Animal Dragonfly Invertebrate Anisoptera and Insect
    Pieter van Dokkum
    04

    DokkumFig2-12

    Stained glass on the wing. The colors of this immature Black Meadowhawk are caused by sunlight reflecting off the wings.
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