In spite of recent temperatures near 90 for the past week or so, fall is in the air - color-wise and biologically. Hummingbirds are mostly south of Montana now and shorebird migration is past its peak. A visit to a local abandoned and flooded gravel pit yesterday added one more sign - large numbers of Variegated
Meadowhawks!
This dragonfly species, a migrant from farther south, was the first to show up in the Helena Valley this spring. And now the "fruits" of its early arrival are showing themselves in large numbers. I'm note sure how long they will remain here before they begin their long
journey south, but hopefully my first full season of following these intriguing insects will provide that answer for me. Only a few dragonfly species in Montana are migratory, and one of the others - Common Green Darner - was also present in numbers at the
gravel pit. Here is one that just emerged from its aquatic
nymph stage.
Note that the wings are not yet fully engorged and extended with body fluids. The other species that was very abundant at the gravel pit was the band-winged
Meadowhawk. Many of these were together in a tandem mating formation.
These images are male and female.
Speaking of fall, on a visit to Virginia last week, I had a few hours to look for
dragonflies and among others, found a Halloween Pennant. Wing colors on this species suggest that pumpkin time is not too far away!
This dragonfly species, a migrant from farther south, was the first to show up in the Helena Valley this spring. And now the "fruits" of its early arrival are showing themselves in large numbers. I'm note sure how long they will remain here before they begin their long journey south, but hopefully my first full season of following these intriguing insects will provide that answer for me. Only a few dragonfly species in Montana are migratory, and one of the others - Common Green Darner - was also present in numbers at the gravel pit. Here is one that just emerged from its aquatic nymph stage. 
Note that the wings are not yet fully engorged and extended with body fluids. The other species that was very abundant at the gravel pit was the band-winged Meadowhawk. Many of these were together in a tandem mating formation. 
These images are male and female.
Speaking of fall, on a visit to Virginia last week, I had a few hours to look for dragonflies and among others, found a Halloween Pennant. Wing colors on this species suggest that pumpkin time is not too far away!
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