Wednesday Wings

I have several recent sightings from different locales to share. I swear, I spent more time trying to id everyone than I did editing the photos, lol! I am still not positive on every identification, so if anyone has corrections, please leave a comment. My eyes are going buggy... ;-)

"Hang Tight" - Hunt's Bumble Bee (Bombus huntii), spotted in the Johnson Canyon area of southern Utah.

"Spotted" - I think this is a Checkered White Butterfly (Pontia protodice), the markings seemed closer than the Western White. Also spotted in Johnson Canyon, and I think s/he was a bit weary.

"Like a Rock" - My guess is Western Tailed-Blue (Cupido amyntula) on this little cutie. Spotted in northern Arizona near Jacob Lake, so about 8,000' elevation.

"Woodland Nymph" - Small Wood Nymph (Cercyonis oetus), also seen near Jacob Lake. There were lots of these little ones flitting around, almost impossible to catch, but one finally landed and stayed for a minute - yay!

"Bitty Blues" - Arctic Blue (Plebejus glandon) is my closest guess for this pair. I'm not certain, but I'm basing it on the wing marks. Spotted up in Cedar Breaks National Park, elevation 10,350'!

"Look Out Bee-low!" - I believe this is a Nevada Bumble Bee (Bombus nevadensis), also spotted at Cedar Breaks. Still have to id the flower, which I think is a type of penstemon. However, I'm saving the flowers for another day, so keep an eye out:-)

Dragons and Damsels

Flies, of course! ;-) Yes, I know it's been a long time again. Getting back into the swing of things, though. Edited to remove link/info no longer valid (08/12). Anyways, lots to do, including getting my blog back up to speed! So, here are some recent dragonfly and damselfly photos. I've always thought they were the coolest insects, but it wasn't till I started photographing them that I learned just how fascinating they really are! So many parts, so much intricacy in something so small - I could watch them all day:-)

"A Little Blue", male Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum)

"Smile!", female Variegated Meadowhawk, (Sympetrum corruptum)

"Freeze!", male Desert Firetail (Telebasis salva)

"Dragonfly Diner", female Variegated Meadowhawk chowing down

"Gripping", female(?) Neon Skimmer (Libellula croceipennis)

"Steady", Variegated Meadowhawk

"Ready for Liftoff!", male Flame Skimmer (Libellula saturata)

"The Aviator", female Variegated Meadowhawk

"A Little Privacy, Please", pair of Common Blues last May - this was taken while leaning over a barbed wire fence, and I actually didn't see Mrs. Blue until I processed the photos. I couldn't figure out what Mr. Blue was doing "standing up", lol!

"Copper Collision", the same Meadowhawk as "Steady". This beauty stayed long enough to get different angles and backgrounds:-)

Hope you've enjoyed this little montage! If I've identified any of these incorrectly, please leave a comment and let me know. I've tried to match them up to what I've found online, but dragonfly id is all new to me. Several of these are in our shops, so I've included links in the photos when you click them. I find them irresistible, and thought others might, as well:-)

P.S. A little Dragonfly/Damselfly medicine - They represent transformation. They help us break down illusions and find truth, and provide help with learning what we need to change/breaking bad habits. They represent much more, but these are the things that stand out to me the most.