Patsy

What kind of dragonfly is this? It stopped midair as it was flying around me this morning and dropped onto its back. I picked it up and set it on a table next to a bowl of water. It’s alive but barely moving. I don’t see any injuries so hoping the big guy makes it. Thinking maybe it got into a pesticide or lost a fight with a wasp.

#Dragonfly #Gardening #Insects

Jul 5 at 4:04pmWeb
Show threadAngJul 5
@pkmgm dragonflies can't walk, so if something is wrong with their flight, they basically die unfortunately. When having trouble flying, they cant hunt effectively and will quickly run out of energy. I have seen them intentionally crash into the water to get eaten by fish because of this... Your pesticide theory could be true, so maybe just give him time.
Show threadPatsyJul 5
@polloshormones Thanks for the info!
Show threadPatsyJul 6
@polloshormones welp. No signs of the body, but found these scattered on the porch
Show threadAngJul 6
@pkmgm that would be the work of a bird... The cycle of life must go on i guess!
Show threadPedro™Jul 6
@polloshormones @pkmgm holy shit
Show threadFlatbush Gardener 🌈Jul 5
@pkmgm
General location?
Show threadPatsyJul 5
@xris Alabama, USA
Show threadFlatbush Gardener 🌈Jul 6

@pkmgm
It's a beautiful creature! Not like anything I've seen before.

Using iNaturalist, it looks like it could be a River Cruiser, *Macromia* species.

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=19&taxon_id=67729&view=species

#iNaturalist #Odonata #Alabama

Observations

River Cruisers from Alabama, US

iNaturalist
Show threadPatsyJul 6
@xris That’s the closest I’ve seen to what it looked like. The Florida variety most likely since it didn’t have the green eyes. May it rest in peace