A bright red dragonfly on a grapevine

Click for better clarity, especially in the wing venation, and for larger size.

On July 20th, as I was walking through a tributary of Bull Creek, I found this colorful dragonfly on a dry part of a grapevine. At least that’s where I finally caught up with it; it had moved from place to place several times before I was stealthy enough to get within picture range.

The dragonfly looks like it could be a cardinal meadowhawk, Sympetrum illotum, but I don’t know much about these things, so anyone who can confirm or disconfirm is welcome to speak up.

NOTE: The next post will include a closeup of a large spider. I know that some of you aren’t fond—what a euphemistic understatement—of spiders, so if that’s the case you may want to avert your eyes tomorrow. On the other hand, the photograph will be a good one.

© 2013 Steven Schwartzman