Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis)

Blue Dasher
Pachydiplax longipennis

The Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) is a common and widespread dragonfly over most of the U.S. except the Rocky Mountain area. The first two images on this page were shot in June, 2002, in Kenedy Co., Texas. Refer to captions below for the latter images. The male at right is obelisking which is a way to cool off by pointing the abdomen toward the sun thus exposing less of its body to the sun's heat.
The male on the right was photographed with a Canon EOS 1V and EF500 mm F4 L IS lens with a 2X and a 1.4X extender for 1400 mm on Fuji Velvia. It is remarkably sharp photo considering all the glass and magnification involved.
The photo on the right is of an immature male Blue Dasher and was a digital capture in the Angelina National Forest, Angelina Co., Texas in May, 2003. The camera was a Canon EOS 10D with an EF 300 mm F4 L IS lens and 1.4 X extender and 550 EX flash.
The photo here is of a female Blue Dasher at same time and place as the previous immature male.
The image here shows a female Blue Dasher ovipositing. Shot with same equipment as the previous shots in May, 2003, in Austin, Travis Co., Texas. It is quite a challenge to get photos of dragons in flight, but fun when you can do it.
The Blue Dasher shown here, apparently a pruinose female, was at Balmorhea Reservoir, Reeves Co., Texas, in September, 2006. This image was taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark II and EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender and 580 flash.
The male Blue Dasher shown here was at Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in August, 2007. This image was taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender and 580 flash.
The male Blue Dasher shown here was at Rockwall, Rockwall Co., Texas, in August, 2007. This image was taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender and 580 flash.
The female Blue Dasher shown here was at Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in August, 2007. This image was taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender and 580 flash.
The male Blue Dasher shown here was at Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in August, 2007. This image was taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender and 580 flash.
The female Blue Dasher shown here was in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in June, 2008. This image was taken with the same gear as the previous shots.
The male Blue Dasher shown here was in Austin, Travis Co, Texas in March, 2008. This image was taken with the same photo gear previously described .
The male Blue Dasher shown here was at Lake Marvin, Hemphill Co., Texas, in July, 2009. The same gear as previous was used for this image.
The female Blue Dasher shown here was in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in August, 2009. This image was taken with a Canon EOS 50D and an EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 1.4X extender and 580 flash.
The male Blue Dasher shown here was at the edge of a pond in the Angelina National Forest, Jasper Co., Texas, in April, 2010. This shot was taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and an EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender and 580 flash.
The male Blue Dasher shown here was photographed in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in July, 2010.
The male Blue Dasher on the right was in Lampasas, Lampasas Co., Texas, in September, 2011. This shot was taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and a Sigma 50-500mm lens and Canon 580 flash.
The male Blue Dasher in the next two shots was in the Kisatchie National Forest, Vernon Parish, Louisiana, in March, 2012. These images were taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and a Sigma 50-500mm lens and Canon 580 flash.

The male Blue Dasher on the right was at Lake Walter E. Long, Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in July, 2012. This shot was taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and an EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 1.4X extender.
The male Blue Dasher on the right was at the Lance Rosier Unit, Big Thicket National Preserve, Hardin Co., Texas, in May 2013.
The female Blue Dasher on the right was in Dripping Springs, Texas, in July, 2013.
The male Blue Dasher shown here was at Parker Canyon Lake, Cochise Co., Arizona, in August, 2013. As this shot as well as the next image illustrate, many individuals in the western U.S. do not show distinctive striping on the sides of the thorax when compared to individuals encountered farther east.
The male Blue Dasher on the right was in Imperial Co., California, in October, 2013.