Pretty Tiny Dragonfly
by Phyllis Kaltenbach
Title
Pretty Tiny Dragonfly
Artist
Phyllis Kaltenbach
Medium
Photograph - Photo A Bit Of Hdr
Description
A beautiful , tiny Damselfly lights on a flower stem as kitty and i were walking in the garden. I had to go inside to find my camera and totally expected him to be gone when I returned but he was still there. I managed to get several images and he was still there. His concentration on whatever, was constant! Maybe he was just posing for me. Smiles! The FAA watermark well not appear on any of the beautifully finished finished products of ART.*
Damselflies are insects of suborder Zygoptera in the order Odonata. They are similar to dragonflies, which constitute the other odonatan suborder, Anisoptera, but are smaller, have slimmer bodies, and most species fold the wings along the body when at rest. An ancient group, damselflies have existed since at least the Lower Permian, and are found on every continent except Antarctica.
All damselflies are predatory; both nymphs and adults eat other insects. The nymphs are aquatic, with different species living in a variety of freshwater habitats including acid bogs, ponds, lakes and rivers. The nymphs moult repeatedly, at the last moult climbing out of the water to undergo metamorphosis. The skin splits down the back, they emerge and inflate their wings and abdomen to gain their adult form. Their presence on a body of water indicates that it is relatively unpolluted, but their dependence on freshwater makes them vulnerable to damage to their wetland habitats.
Some species of damselfly have elaborate courtship behaviours. Many species are sexually dimorphic, the males often being more brightly coloured than the females. Like dragonflies, they reproduce using indirect insemination and delayed fertilisation. A mating pair form a shape known as a "heart" or "wheel", the male clasping the female at the back of the head, the female curling her abdomen down to pick up sperm from secondary genitalia at the base of the male's abdomen. The pair often remain together with the male still clasping the female while she lays eggs within the tissue of plants in or near water using a robust ovipositor.
Fishing flies that mimic damselfly nymphs are sometimes used in wet-fly fishing. Damselflies sometimes provide the subject for personal jewellery such as brooches.
Uploaded
August 19th, 2015
Statistics
Viewed 358 Times - Last Visitor from New York, NY on 03/26/2024 at 11:37 PM
Embed
Share
Sales Sheet
Comments (24)
Michael May
Beautiful, love the colors and composition
Phyllis Kaltenbach replied:
Thank you very much Michael! Thank you for visiting my portfolio! smiles.
Aleksandra Savova
Amazing image! l/f
Phyllis Kaltenbach replied:
Thank you very much, Aleksandra, very much! It seemed so delicate to me!
Steve Taylor
A superb photo Phyllis. Fave
Phyllis Kaltenbach replied:
Thank you, so very much, Steve! I had never seen one before - and THERE it was!
Elaine Mikkelstrup
I think these are called Damselflies, very nice composition l/f
Phyllis Kaltenbach replied:
Thank you, very much, Elaine. This image came to me like magic and somehow I didn't think my title was right but I didn't know why. I had never heard of this name. Since I seem to loose the image when I change a title, I think I will put it in the description. Is it related to the dragonfly?
Pravine Chester
Nice image Phyllis. f/l
Phyllis Kaltenbach replied:
Good Morning, Pravine. Or late good evening to you if you are in India! Thank you for yor lovely comment on my tiny dragonfly. Most appreciated!
Miroslava Jurcik
Great how the sun shines on her !! l/f
Phyllis Kaltenbach replied:
Thank you, Miroslava! That must be why I noticed her. Such a pretty little thing.