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Description
As I was going back to Miner's Ravine Trail from the bank of Dry Creek, this damselfly decided to land on a branch that I was passing by. I took this as well as two other pictures while looking at it. This is the first damselfly that didn't keep flying away as I approached with a camera, so this one is actually in focus. I had no luck in identifying this species, so if you want to try, be my guest.
Image size
2048x1536px 371.29 KB
Make
ViviCam
Shutter Speed
1/274 second
Aperture
F/2.8
Focal Length
0 mm
ISO Speed
50
Date Taken
Jan 1, 2010, 12:48:27 AM
© 2014 - 2024 aaron-sprig
Comments16
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I'm going with American Rubyspot (Hetaerina americana). Almost all the factors fit a female of this species, all save the pale eyes. To be honest, I'm rather confused about these, as I have yet to see a damselfly native to California in any gallery that seems to have eyes exactly like that, or really any damselfly at all, for that matter, though I will gladly accept enlightenment on this latter point. The long, rather spindly legs, also seem to fit the general Rubyspot family.
For example, in your 'scrap 1', aaron-sprig.deviantart.com/art… , you can clearly see the large pale stripe (and the smaller one too, if you look closer) on the thorax, and the larger broad stripe near the bottom of the thorax. The red wing tinge is also suggestive of the American Rubyspot, and few other species, really, as is the red tint seen on the abdomen of 'scrap 1'.
Again, I am confused and cannot account for the pale eyes, but my guess is that its either a genetic anomaly, an injury, or a strange trick of the light. Neither of these things are really all that rare in nature, and I wouldn't be surprised if your damselfly just so happened to have strange or diseased eyes. Here is a photo of a female Rubyspot with partially pale eyes (trick of the light, maybe?) southwestdragonflies.net/damse…. Ignoring that, however, most of the other field marks seem to fit into place.
Regards,
Cypselurus
For example, in your 'scrap 1', aaron-sprig.deviantart.com/art… , you can clearly see the large pale stripe (and the smaller one too, if you look closer) on the thorax, and the larger broad stripe near the bottom of the thorax. The red wing tinge is also suggestive of the American Rubyspot, and few other species, really, as is the red tint seen on the abdomen of 'scrap 1'.
Again, I am confused and cannot account for the pale eyes, but my guess is that its either a genetic anomaly, an injury, or a strange trick of the light. Neither of these things are really all that rare in nature, and I wouldn't be surprised if your damselfly just so happened to have strange or diseased eyes. Here is a photo of a female Rubyspot with partially pale eyes (trick of the light, maybe?) southwestdragonflies.net/damse…. Ignoring that, however, most of the other field marks seem to fit into place.
Regards,
Cypselurus