Dragonflies and Damselflies

[koenkooi]

While I was writing my previous post here, I noticed a dragonfly sitting on the bamboo sticks I planted for that purpose:


I started with the R7+RF100-400

https://flic.kr/p/2q91rSa

Switched to the RF100L, for a straight-on side shot

https://flic.kr/p/2q92skp

And finally switched to the MP-E65mm at 2.0x

https://flic.kr/p/2q91ZQ4

https://flic.kr/p/2q92su2

Those common darters are very tolerant of having a lens shoved in their faces!

 

[Maximilian]

Those common darters are very tolerant of having a lens shoved in their faces!

It's a female. Do I have to say more
No, just kidding! Really!
It's wonderful, that you have found the right way to approach them so that they don't fly away.
Great detail in your shots. Love them!

 

[MSH411]

Twelve-spotted Skimmer.... maybe

 

[koenkooi]

I need of both of your collective knowledge! A few weeks ago we dug a small (150 liter, 40 US gallons) pond and added plants to it. The plants turned out to have a bunch of eggs in them like snails, water beetles and damselflies.

Two days ago I noticed this, an exuvium from a damselfly:


Inspecting the water a bit closer, there are at least a dozen of these shrimp looking things! These look a lot like damselfly larvae (or nimphs), except for the fronds on its sides. This one is less than a centimeter in length from its eyes to the tips of its breathing tails. Can anyone confirm this is a damselfly?

 

[Maximilian]

Twelve-spotted Skimmer.... maybe

Beautiful dragonfly. Well done MSH411.

But no twelve-spotted, but a female common whitetail or long-tailed skimmer (plathemis lydia).
Haven't heard or seen this before (being from Europe) but a beautiful species.

 

[MSH411]

Beautiful dragonfly. Well done MSH411.

But no twelve-spotted, but a female common whitetail or long-tailed skimmer (plathemis lydia).
Haven't heard or seen this before (being from Europe) but a beautiful species.

Appreciated Max, I always try to look them up and this was the closest I could find on the web.

 

[Maximilian]

Appreciated Max, I always try to look them up and this was the closest I could find on the web.

You're welcome. I am just trying to help. iOS AI is helping me a lot here lately.
Dragonflies are just my habit.

 

[Maximilian]

... at least a dozen of these shrimp looking things! These look a lot like damselfly larvae (or nimphs), except for the fronds on its sides. This one is less than a centimeter in length from its eyes to the tips of its breathing tails. Can anyone confirm this is a damselfly?

I was looking for this, too. And my first idea would have been the same as yours: damselfly larvae (or nimphs)
This time iOS AI didn't work. Didn't even come close.
So I took my "old-fashioned" identification book, but no damselfly larvae had these "fronds" at the abdomen.
So I'm clueless, but I'll ask a friend of mine...

 

[koenkooi]

I was looking for this, too. And my first idea would have been the same as yours: damselfly larvae (or nimphs)
This time iOS AI didn't work. Didn't even come close.
So I took my "old-fashioned" identification book, but no damselfly larvae had these "fronds" at the abdomen.
So I'm clueless, but I'll ask a friend of mine...

The book I have shows the same:


Fun fact: All the pictures in this book were taken with the EF100 non-L, EF100L and the MP-E65

 

[Maximilian]

Aaaaand *drum roll* - also from yesterday - , my #17 dragonfly species, ...
A green snaketail (ophiogomphus cecilia), an endangered species in Bavaria

Some more from that "shooting"

R6m2, 100-500+ext. @700mm
f/22, 1/500, ISO3200

 

[Maximilian]

Inspecting the water a bit closer, there are at least a dozen of these shrimp looking things! These look a lot like damselfly larvae (or nimphs), except for the fronds on its sides. This one is less than a centimeter in length from its eyes to the tips of its breathing tails. Can anyone confirm this is a damselfly?

My friend answered me that he is quite sure that this is a larva of a ephemeropteran species, aka. mayfly, Ger. Eintagsfliege, NL eendagsvlieg.
But he couln't determine the exact species. But now the direction seems clear

 

[koenkooi]

My friend answered me that he is quite sure that this is a larva of a ephemeropteran species, aka. mayfly, Ger. Eintagsfliege, NL eendagsvlieg.
But he couln't determine the exact species. But now the direction seems clear

Thanks! Google image search also said it was a mayfly a few minutes ago, so double confirmation! Thanks for asking your friend, I'll keep an eye out for actual damselfly nymphs!

 

[AlanF]

Ruddy Darter (R5+RF100-500mm)

 

[bendilts]

@AlanF crazy, I just came here to say I got a photo of one I'd never seen before This was with the 200-800, but honestly the whole hike I was thinking I wished I'd brought the 100-500 instead (minimum focus distance, magnification, and I ended up wanting the 100-200 range a lot). I might sell the longer lens.

 

[AlanF]

View attachment 218933
@AlanF crazy, I just came here to say I got a photo of one I'd never seen before This was with the 200-800, but honestly the whole hike I was thinking I wished I'd brought the 100-500 instead (minimum focus distance, magnification, and I ended up wanting the 100-200 range a lot). I might sell the longer lens.

The RF 100-500mm is my lens of choice (or the RF 100-400mm) this time of year when I am shooting dragonflies or butterflies.

 

[Nemorino]

R5 + RF 100-500L
@200mm, 1/4000s, f/7.1, iso 4000

 

[Nemorino]

R5 + RF 100L 2.8 macro
@ 1/4000s, f/7.1, iso 4000
the first and third cropped to 6539x3678, the second to 3840x2160. All exported in 3840x2160 as usual

Challenging conditions with the dragonfly in the shadow and bright BG.
Without editing the last looks like this

 

[AlanF]

Emperor Dragonfly (R5/100-500mm).

 

[Click]

Beautiful series, Alan.

 

[Maximilian]

Emperor Dragonfly (R5/100-500mm).

Fully agree with @Click.
Well done, Alan.
How much cropping did you do with those?