This Green-Striped Darner stopped for a short rest, giving me an opportunity to get a few shots before he headed off on his way. See his cute puppy face? After spending four to five years as a nymph in an aquatic environment, the beautifully-colored winged adults emerge in spring to feed, mate and like Monarch butterflies, are thought to migrate south in the fall, although little tagged research has been done.
Male Green-striped Darner (Aeshna verticalis)
Acrobatic in flight, these jeweled insects are predatory, catching and eating prey on the fly. Having compound eyes consisting of 30,000 individual eyes and the ability to see 360 degrees above and below, front and back, they are formidable predators that can devour their weight in prey within hours.
Dragonflies symbolize change and transformation, urging us to evolve to our highest potential. This one is definitely signaling a change in the seasons on this Autumnal Equinox. Happy Autumn, everyone!
Eliza Waters 
Fantastic shots, Eliza. I was out & about this weekend, and had many dragonflies dancing & teasing me to catch them. I shot, but they all outwitted me!
Thanks! They are hard to capture, so when I saw this one at rest, I ran for my camera – it was an opportunity I dared not miss!
Happy equinox Eliza! Love that puppy face LOL! (Though it’s creepy about their eyes and eating habits!)
Law of the Jungle! 😉
Beautiful header, amazing colors. Happy Autumn!
Thank you!
What a colorful character he is! And I could use him to help get rid of the “stink bugs” we are plagued with this time of year. Beautiful post Eliza, and beautiful bug.
Thank you, Dor 🙂
Adorable:) So beautiful. Great color.
Wonderful photos, Eliza! I hope this Equinox has been a peaceful and beautiful day for you. I never realized dragonflies spend so many years in a juvenile stage. Makes each adult who survives even more wonderful! Best wishes, WG
Indeed. They eat a lot down under as well!
Well, I had no idea that dragonflies were such efficient predators or, as WG observes, remained in a juvenile state for so long. Wonderful photos, Eliza, and I see the cute puppy face!
Thanks, Barbara!
Dragonflies are as varied & beautiful as butterflies. I love looking at their many colors & patterns, & there seems to be an abundance of them this time of year.
I read that they ride ahead of cold fronts – probably why I saw that little guy the other day. I think they are fascinating – love that they eat mosquitoes! 🙂
Wonderful close-up shots!
Thanks, Fi, I was lucky to have such a cooperative subject!
Eliza, you are so blessed! He just posed and those are stunning:-) That is one of my dreams to find a dragon fly that would stay in one place and let me take some pictures..they are pure art in a flying form:-) Look at the markings as if someone dropped paint right on his body and it dried there for us all to see! He does have a puppy face and it looks like he could open his mouth and say something-God truly is the greatest artist of all..that is amazing! great shots:-)
Thanks so much, Robbie! You’re right, I so appreciate “the greatest artist of all!” 🙂
Incredible shots, Eliza. The detail is amazing.
Is your camera always within arm’s reach? That’s a great habit to have. 🙂
Not always near by. Just today I went to visit a friend and wished I had brought my camera, esp. this time of year! So many great shots missed! Oh well, live and learn!
Thanks for your kind words, Michael!
What a beautiful face!
Thanks for pointing out the puppy face! I see it! So adorable. ^_^ And majestic.
Wow – great shots!
Thanks, Sharon. Quite a lucky break to find him resting on my car. I dashed back inside for my camera, so glad for the opportunity.