Halloween Pennant Dragonfly

"Halloween Pennant dragonfly in Big Cypress National Preserve"

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WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY – BIG CYPRESS WMA, FL

This is a photograph of a Halloween Pennant dragonfly taken at Big Cypress National Preserve using a Nikon D90 and Nikkor 60mm lens.

The Halloween Pennant, Celithemis eponina, is a dragonfly found in North America, in the Pennant genus of dragonflies.

The Halloween Pennant has been described as looking very similar to a butterfly. Its wings are orange-yellow in color, though its markings are dark brown, not black as is commonly believed; the entirely orange-yellow wings with dark brown bands are what has given it its Halloween common name and its typical position of being perched at the tip of a weed stalk, waving in the breeze like a pennant contributes to the remainder of its common name. The young has yellow markings, including a stripe on its back, and adult males develop pale red markings, particularly on the face, though females will occasionally get these red markings too. Halloween Pennants are normally between 38 and 42 mm (approx. 1.5 inches) in size. They feed on other insects, and they are able to fly in rain and strong wind. On hot days, it will often shade its thorax using its wings.

 

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34 Thoughts to “Halloween Pennant Dragonfly”

  1. Charles Henry Eldridge

    Nice capture Alan!

  2. Alan S. Hochman

    Thank you Charles

  3. Alan Hochman

    Thanks Karen, how have you been? Going Upstate much?

  4. Rita.Waller

    Simply Fantastic photo

  5. Gary Sibio

    Excellent photo. Congratulations on the catch.

  6. Alan S. Hochman

    Thanx Gary

  7. Pattie1545

    Simply Fantastic photo

  8. Andy1221

    Amazing!

  9. Really nice shot.wow, congrats

  10. Beatiful shot!

    🙂

  11. Candy

    Beautiful picture! I don’t think I have ever seen a dragonfly this color

  12. RobertoS25

    What camera(s) do you use? btw Great closeup.

  13. Misu-Me

    Oh, I absolutely love it – the colors and the pattern. Splendid!

  14. Raymond F

    Love your wildlife photography.

  15. PhillipS

    That is a real handsome dragonfly Alan. Really crisp pic.

  16. Alan S. Hochman

    LOL I never heard of a handsome dragonfly.. but thank you.

  17. Jean476

    Great dragonfly pic! Beautiful

  18. Lisa Greenwald

    Dragonflies are my favorite insects. They’re so graceful.

  19. Shannon Reiss

    Love this pic. Why is it called a Halloween Pennant?

  20. Deb Smith

    Lovely, vivid photo of my favorite dragonfly. They seem to be everywhere this summer!

  21. Alan S. Hochman

    Deb- It’s one of my favorites also!

  22. Gary Rosen

    really like the dragonfly shots. what size macro lens would you suggest. looking at the canon 100mm 2.8

  23. Alan S. Hochman

    Hi Gary-
    Thank you for the compliment. Although I am a Nikon user, I use a Nikkor 60mm 2.8. The Canon 100mm 2.8 is a good lens for macro work.

  24. ruke safari

    a million words cannot describe the beauty of this awesome creature.. nice shot.. (:

  25. Tom

    Great Photo, composition, color, and unique subject!

  26. Alan S. Hochman

    Thank you kindly Tom

  27. John D

    Fantastic closeup Alan

  28. Alan S. Hochman

    John, much appreciated.

  29. Kimberly C

    Beautiful photos of nature! 🙂

  30. Liberatus Kinyonto

    Mr. Hochman,you should pay a visit in Katavi National Park in Tanzania.I wish you will have much more to discover.Well done for your tiredless activities you are doing which educate the world.

  31. Robert Nacke

    Nice Picture Alan ,you are a very talented photographer ,please take a look at mine on National geographic or on Dream Time

  32. Alan S. Hochman

    Thank you Robert.

  33. Your every lucky to live in an area that has such wonderful wildlife Alan. Fanatasic photo aswell one of the best I’ve seen here so far.

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