Widow skimmer [SOOC]

“Some days,” right? Competing for today’s post,
» Zebra swallowtail, “Eurytides marcellus”
» Silver-spotted skipper, “Epargyreus clarus”
» a flowering succulent, “Pleiospilos nelii” http://phytoimages.siu.edu/imgs/paraman1/r/Aizoaceae_Pleiospilos_nelii_74843.html
but Clare said “Use that” about this shot, which highlights the transparency of the wingtips. Saw this hunter on an ornamental shrub in front of our house when I arrived home from campus and checked the front door for delivered packages.

S/he was still there after I fetched the mail, unloaded my book bag and gym bag from my car and dug my camera out of my book bag. I had the mail under my arm while shooting. This is SOOC except for a width-crop to change the ratio from 3x2 to 4x3.

Confirmed at BugGuide as Libellula luctuosa, or “Widow Skimmer,” with the following comment: “Interesting, it is a young male, but those dark wingtips usually signify a female!”; see http://bugguide.net/node/view/806068

One year ago (“NOT a Pipevine Swallowtail!”: an ID correction now that I know a little bit more about butterflies…): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2012-07-16
Two years ago (“Au Revoir”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2011-07-16

[Wendy]

Great shot and details Thom!

[Carl Dry]

This is beautiful.

[Danette Thompson]

Very interesting. I like the composition, too.

[Rick Schies]

A beautiful capture Thom. I spotted three dragonflies tonight and each time they flew away before I was close enough.