Chalk-fronted Corporal – Ladona julia

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The presence and abundance of dragonflies and damselflies may be taken as an indicator of ecosystem quality. Local populations can be strongly affected by any change in water flow, turbidity, or in aquatic or waterside vegetation. The greatest numbers of species are found at sites which offer a wide variety of microhabitats, prey, and clean water. Odonate nymphs are aquatic, and as such need unpolluted water.

I found these charming dragonflies at a boat launch in the Allegheny National forest. They were rather uncooperative and I’m glad I got some decent shots. It takes patience and stealth to sneak up on one of these guys. Dragonflies have excellent eyesight. Their compound eyes have up to 30,000 facets, each of which is a separate light-sensing organ or ommatidium, arranged to give nearly a 360° field of vision.

Order Odonata / Suborder Anisoptera / Family Libellulidae — common skimmers, corporals
Insects | Dragonflies | Damselflies | Spiders
Live adult male dragonflies photographed at Allegheny National Forest, Pennsylvania, USA