Richard Nickson Fine Art Photography

Black Saddlebag skimmer

Dragonfly at the Ocean

Black Saddlebag Dragonfly

Halloween Pennant

Halloween Pennant Dragonfly

Black Saddlebag

four spotted pennant

spider preying on Halloween Pennant Dragonfly

halloween pennant

four spotted pennant

dead wood

Dragonfly at the Ocean

Dragonflies

The order of insects known as (Odonata ("toothed ones")) includes some of the most ancient and beautiful insects that ever roamed Earth. Commonly known as dragonflies, they are some of the largest flying invertebrates ever to have lived. Odonata consists of three groups: Anisoptera (which includes dragonflies), Zygoptera (which includes damselflies), and Anisozygoptera (a relict group represented by only two living species. The dragonfly, like the butterfly adult is completley dissimmilar from the larva stage. The dragonfly goes from egg to larva in water. Once the dragonfly eggs hatch, the life cycle of a dragonfly larva begins as a nymph. Once the nymph is fully grown, and the weather is right, it will complete the metamorphosis into a dragonfly by crawling out of the water up the stem of a plant.

These photos were all shot in Florida, on the beach and at various inland locations.