Dragonfly Yoga

Blue Dasher, Pachydiplax longipennis, Female.

 

This is the same Blue Dasher pictured in my last photo. I spent about 30 minutes sitting and taking pictures of her. She was very inquisitive and was looking at me and making silly expressions (see last photo) and poses. For a split second she flexed her abdomen and looked at me. This happened really fast, she was not just sitting in this position. I just happened to snap at the right time. No real yoga going on here. I have seen other dragonflies and damselfies do this before. I even have a few other shots of it. I don't know if they are just flexing their abdomen like they do when they mate or what.

 

This is an excerpt on Dragonfly mating.

"If the female do not accept the male, various signals will be made, depends on species. The most common is the downward curving of her abdomen. If the female indicates acceptance, the male will grasp her thorax with his legs, i.e., start the next mating sequence, Grasping and Clasping."

 

Perhaps she was rejecting me as a mate? Good thing;)

 

Done