Year: 2013 (Page 23 of 59)

Bug of the Week: Amberwing Dragonfly Posing

Two years ago I caught a Mexican Amberwing dragonfly hovering over the water. I have wanted to get a photograph of one sitting still ever since.

amberwing-dragonfly-two

I finally had a chance. It was perching at the top of a red bird of paradise.

It is a pretty small dragonfly, although there isn’t much here to give it scale.

Dragonflies are interesting because they vary a lot in color. Some amberwings have completely brown-gold wings whereas others have patches in clear wings like this one. Makes dragonfly identification quite tricky at times.

Arizona Dragonflies has a lovely series of photographs of Mexican amberwing dragonflies that show the variation in wing color.

It always amazes me to see dragonflies flying miles from water in the desert. It just goes to show how strong fliers they are.

This one was perching and then catching flying insects as they flew by.

Have you spotted any dragonflies this week?

Seed of the Week: Desert Marigold

Lynne recognized our mystery seeds from last week as desert marigolds, Baileya multiradiata.

desert-marigold

As you can see, despite their common name desert marigolds do not look much like marigolds and in fact are not closely related to true marigolds.

desert-marigold-plant

They are short-lived perennial wildflowers with gray-green foliage. They form clumps or mounds and reseed readily in the western U.S. and Mexico where they are native.

desert-marigold-plant-2

They can go somewhat dormant without water, but with water desert marigolds will bloom for long periods.

desert-marigod-flower-fly

Desert marigolds are a good source of nectar for pollinators like this flower fly.

checkered-white-in-desert-marigold

They would be good additions to any butterfly or moth garden.

Do desert marigolds grow where you live?

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