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Dragonhunter
Hagenius brevistylus
The Dragonhunter (Hagenius brevistylus) is a large, showy clubtail which occurs across much of the eastern and southern United States. As the name implies, it often feeds on other dragonflies, sometimes nearly as large as itself. The first two shots here were digital captures in Uvalde Co., Texas in May, 2003, and were shot with a Canon EOS 10D and EF 300 mm F/4 L IS lens with a 1.4X extender and 550 EX flash. This particular individual was perched along the edge of a fairly rapidly flowing Texas Hill Country stream as it watched for prey.
The Dragonhunter shown here was in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in June, 2009. This shot was taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 300mm F/4 l IS lens and 2X extender and 580 flash.
The next 3 shots of a female Dragonhunter just after emerging from the exuviae as well as the shot of a mature male were all taken along the Fourche Renault Creek in Washington Co., Missouri, in June, 2009, with the same gear as described previously.
The Dragonhunter shown here was perched on a rock near the flowing water of West Branch Ingalls Brook, Washington Co., Maine, in August, 2009. The image was taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and an EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender and 580 flash.
The male Dragonhunter shown here was hanging over a forest trail near the Saco River, Oxford Co., Maine, in June, 2010. This image 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 next 2 Dragonhunter shots were taken in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in August, 2010, with a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and a Sigma 50-500mm lens and Canon 580 flash. The individual shown here has captured a Needham's Skimmer as prey.
The male Dragonhunter on the right was along Cypress Creek in the DeSoto National Forest, Perry Co., Mississippi, in May, 2011. This shot was taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and a Sigma 50-500mm lens and Canon 580 flash.
The Dragonhunter on the right paused briefly on a rusty steel fence post in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in June, 2011. This shot was taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and a Sigma 50-500mm lens and Canon 580 flash.
The male Dragonhunter on the right was along the Mountain Fork River, McCurtain Co., Oklahoma, in July, 2011. This shot was taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and a Sigma 50-500mm lens and Canon 580 flash.
The male Dragonhunter in the next two shots was along the Vermilion River in Buyck, Saint Louis Co., Minnesota, in July, 2011. These shots were taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and a Sigma 50-500mm lens and Canon 580 flash.
The shot on the right shows a male Dragonhunter, one of the largest North American dragonflies, held next to a male Elfin Skimmer (Nannothemis bella), the smallest North American dragonfly. The image provides an interesting size comparison. These two dragons were netted near Spur Lake, Marinette Co., Wisconsin, in July, 2011.