Never saw one like this before. Search indicates their habitat to be Europe, the Middle East, Mongolia, and Sri Lanka. Says nothing about North America.

Oh well, if it's an invasive species, they're here. No way am I going to kill this one. Sucker was pretty tame. I kept getting closer and closer shots. This one inches away.

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1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

Is it what we call a dragon fly? I have heard them called mosquito hawks also.

Isn't it just a regular dragonfly? Maybe an unusual color? Tons of them around here.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

They are cool looking ....not sure if I've seen an orange one.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Well yeah, it's a dragon fly. The ONLY ones I've ever seen before are blue. This one is also about as big as I recall seeing. He kept coming back to the same perch on that chair. My theory is that we had a mind meld going. He knew he could trust me.

I've always dug these critters. And yes, I do gather that they eat mosquitoes. Godspeed dear critter, Godspeed.

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1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

He was probably deciding how best to eat you.

Found more than I ever thought I'd know about dragonflies here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragonfly#Coloration

I read some time ago that at one time the earth saw dragonflies with an approx. 30" wingspan. The wiki entry mentions that - 325 million years ago.

It's some heavy duty evolution that led to these critters.

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1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

As stated before, dragon fly which I see regularly around my tomato plants. I see them as beneficial insects as they may help with germination there.

Who knows. Word I read is that them suckers are eating machines. The wiki piece says that they live for 4 or 5 years in the water:

They went on to say that the smaller species are nymphs for several months. The nymphs reportedly sometimes eat tadpoles and small fish.

Several years to prepare for a few weeks of glory as a dragonfly. Life can be hard ...

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1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

Yes, I knew it was a dragonfly. What, you think I fell off the turnip truck yesterday?

I nominate them as THE coolest insect in all creation. I too see them as beneficial.

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1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

If you knew what it was, then why did you ask what it is in the original post? Or is that what people that just fell off a turnip truck do?

Read the post again. I said I'd never seen one like it. ALL of the ones I'd seen before were blue. In fact, I think this was the first one period that I've seen in the Bay Area.

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1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

That's because you had only seen them in their pre-mating stage. If YOU had to hang around for three years waiting to mate you'd probably have blue parts also.

"The lifespan of a dragonfly is found to consist of two-stages. After breeding the female dragonfly will lay her eggs on or near water or in a place that will fill with water. Once the eggs have hatched the first stage in their lifestyle can begin. At this stage, it is an aquatic larvae, also called 'nymph'. This stage will generally last between one and three years, - See more at: http://www.dragonfly-site.com/how-long-dragonflies-live.html"

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“Whatever story you're telling, it will be more interesting if, at the end you add, "and then everything burst into flames.”
― Brian P. Cleary, You Oughta Know By Now

You talking about these, El?

Fig-Eater Beetle in the Sonoran Desert



We refer to them as "disco-bugs".

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“Whatever story you're telling, it will be more interesting if, at the end you add, "and then everything burst into flames.”
― Brian P. Cleary, You Oughta Know By Now

Personally, i just jumped off the turnip truck.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.