| Actual Image
The Beauty of Youth (36)
Argus
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2707 W: 139 N: 7809]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif) (24333) | I just realised that though I have taken a number of dragon and damselfly shots this year, I haven't posted a single one of them yet.
This is a young female Small Bluetail (Ischnura pumilio), being slightly smaller than the closely related Common Bluetail. The markings on the back of her head and the neck part, the pronotum deciding the ID.
Here she has not become sexually mature but when she matures this beautiful orange colour gives way to a greyish blue and the dark brown turns black. The total length is less than 3cm.
She becomes similar to the male that is mostly blue and black as shown in the WORKSHOP.
Though widespread and sometimes common in most of Europe the Small Bluetail is rare in Sweden, occuring in a few habitats in the South. This was taken is a local gravel pit.
This is another example of the closest I can get in the macro potential of my 420mm equipment, the image being taken at a distance of abot 1.8 meters with the camera hand-held. After moderate cropping and size reduction the image was selectively sharpened. |
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