Malachite Darner

We spent the morning of 6 July strolling along a dirt road through forests and fields owned by the University of Georgia/Costa Rica. We parked the bus and walked about a quarter-mile to a rushing mountain stream surrounded by forest.

Our first stop was at a pond in a small, forest-edged pasture—perfect habitat for the Malachite Darner that greeted us. This dragonfly ranges from southeastern Arizona to Argentina. This individual behaved typically for the species. It flew back and forth about six feet above the water. It flew between the pond plants and occasionally hovered. Getting a photo required patience and waiting as the ode repeatedly passed. The Malachite Darner gets its name from its green sides that resemble the color of the mineral, malachite.