Nature red in tooth and claw! This is a Twelve Spotted Skimmer devouring what might be an Eldeberry Borer…a smaller beetle at any rate. The 12 Spots are the most present Odonata species in Southern Maine this year. They have been flying more than 2 months now, they are everywhere there is even a large puddle, they are big enough so you can’t miss them, and they are supper aggressive…chasing and driving off all other dragonflies from their patch (or attempting to). And as perch hunters, they are relatively easy to photograph. They spend at least a third of their time hung up on a branch or reed that gives them, and therefore me, a good view.

This one zipped by me at eyelevel and landed on a bush about 4 feet from me. I have hundreds of photos of 12 Spots from this year alone, but I figured I had better shoot it as it was so cooperative. Only when I got the camera up and focused did I see that it was devouring prey. You could almost hear the mandibles click. While it is a bad moment for the beetle, it was a very good moment for the dragonfly.

Canon SX40HS. Program with iContrast and –1/3EV exposure compensation.  1680mm equivalent (with the 2x digital tel-converter function). f5.8 @ 1/500th  @ISO 200. Processed in Lightroom for intensity, clarity, and sharpness.