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Mexican Scarlet-tail
Planiplax sanguiniventris
The Mexican Scarlet-tail (Planiplax sanguiniventris) is a small dragonfly of ponds and lakes in parts of Mexico and Central America. In June, 2008, a few of these tropical dragons showed up on a resaca at Bentsen Rio Grande State Park, Hidalgo Co., Texas, providing a first record for the U.S. The shot of a male shown here was taken at that location in late June, 2008. I was not as close as I would have liked to this bug, so the image was cropped quite a bit. This is a spectacular dragonfly and many of us hope it will become a regular component of the fauna of south Texas. This shot was taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender and Canon 580 flash.
A number of individuals of this species were found again at Bentsen S.P. in May, 2009. The next 4 images of male Mexican Scarlet-tail were taken at that same location and time with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender and 580 flash.
The next 2 shots were taken at the same location and with the same gear as the above shots, but in October, 2009.