Backyard and Beyond

Starting out from Brooklyn, an amateur naturalist explores our world.

As John Burroughs said, “The place to observe nature is where you are.”

Lily, Amberwings

amber2Male Eastern Amberwing (Perithemis tenera) on Water Lily (Nymphaeaceae). Perithemis teneraTwisted love: Amberwings making more Amberwings. The female, who lacks the amber wings, immediately started depositing eggs on a drop of water on a water lily leaf after this acrobatic display. This species is just about an inch long, making it one of the smallest dragonflies in North America.

mthew

, ,

One response to “Lily, Amberwings”

  1. Damsels & Dragons | Backyard and Beyond

    […] Notice, though, that almost all the ones flying low over the edges of local waterbodies are male, staking out their territory and defending it. Their territory: good egg-laying sites. The females, […]

    Reply

Leave a reply to Damsels & Dragons | Backyard and Beyond Cancel reply