Baby dragonfly

Just emerging from the larval stage, his wings are still crumpled up from being packed in. He's resting in the sun, pumping blood through the veins in the wings to straighten them out, and harden them.

Taken at the Landis Arboretum in Esperance, NY. They not only have a beautiful area to walk and hike, but they also sponsor educational programs. George Steele took us on a herpetology adventure (reptiles and amphibians.) We didn't see any snakes, but we did see several amphibians including two species of salamander and several stages in the frog life cycle.

Oddly enough, insects were wildly popular even though we were looking for amphibians!

Dragonfly

The little guy is fascinated with these insects, and he not only catches them to observe them closely (then releasing them again) he insists that I take some photos.

They are very interesting creatures, that's for sure. I like dragonflies too, because they eat mosquitoes!