The last of the dragonflies.

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I must have walked around the pond 10 times, but I got my reward.
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Two sets of three photos each and an indicator of the season as a line break.

Our temperatures hover around the 20 Celsius mark and for us here in South Africa this is cold. Now those in Europe don't laugh as I know that you swim and tan on the beaches when it's 20C, but here we wear coats :)
But I digress and let me tell you that when it cools down like this, the dragonflies disappear. They will all be back in the next Spring season.
But today I got lucky with this small new born and he was born totally out of season, as he will not make it in winter, which is now creeping in here.

Look at the back of the statue in the water and tell me if you can see the dragonfly?
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No? Well then can you see it in this photo below?
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This is the benefit of a strong zoom and this beauty is an Orange-winged Dropwing Dragonfly (Trithemis kirbyi).
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Just a lovely water plant leaf floating in the pond, to serve as a line break. We love the "fairy-lights" all around it.
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Right, here is the next set, and I am almost sure that you can see the dragonfly on the statue!
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Not? Now in this photo below you just have to see it.
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Okay, if you have still not seen it then have a look at it here.
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Our weather is strange and the fruit trees bloom much earlier than usual. It is strange at this time, so close to Winter, to still see fruits on the trees.
Here below is an example of what I am talking about. I took this photo today.
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I don't think that the old normal will ever exist again. Instead, we have many doom prophets telling us that this is only the beginning of the weather changes. Most of them attribute the new wrecking weather systems to global warming, but whatever it is and whatever the cause it is not going to make life any better for us and for all of those that grow our food.
We are told that the seas will rise and that the coastal homes will be swallowed by the rising sea. Just imagine that?
Other areas, that are normally lush and green, are set to become arid areas. We see it already as some towns at the coast in the Southern Cape are approaching zero day in their water supplies.

This is real scary stuff.

And That's All Friends.

Photos by Zac Smith-All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon Powershot SX70HS Bridge camera.

Thank you kindly for supporting a post on behalf of @papilloncharity

insects dragonflies nature archon palnet proofofbrain vyb creativecoin neoxian amazingnature
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28 comments
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I love dragon flies - there's something about them that I have always loved, I guess it is the look of them and also their association with warmer weather here in Ireland - we only really see these guys on warm days when the mercury goes beyond 20 degrees Celsius, which is a heat wave here in Ireland by the way! We don't get that colour here though, more typical is blue or brown in my experience.

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(Edited)

What! 20C is a heatwave ??? Over here everyone wears coats and gloves in 20C.
I don't suppose you lot ever see 40C ?
Oh sorry, I just saw that said beyond 2oC.

Dragonflies are fascinating creatures, as they live most of their lives under water as Nymphs. Up to 7 years for some underwater and then after metamorphosis as adults they only live for a few months.
Time to breed and then they die.
We are blessed with many of all colors here.

Late edit: I found a blue one in my files.
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!PIZZA

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I've seen 40+ in Vegas, Australia and Spain, but for Ireland 30 degrees would be front page news with roads melting and all sorts!

You know I never knew that about dragon flies, which makes them even more intriguing 🤔

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Wow! You have certainly been around and some countries here in Africa can even go past 50.

There are many other interesting things about dragonflies. They got the name Dragon because their jaws are the same as dragons and they are known as the most violent hunters, as they simply rip their prey apart.

!LOLZ

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Ya, I'm quite lucky to have done a lot of travel, especially in my twenties.

violent hunters, as they simply rip their prey apart.

No way, I had no idea about that side of them, I'm still enthralled with the fact that they live most of their lives under water.

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Lucky you as at 20 I was married and my third child was my 24th birthday present. So I had to work and there was no space for travel. That was in the 70s.

I just had to research them and found many surprising things. Normally one sees a lovely insect and just take a photo, but I spent a year to get all of the information on them and the different species.

We have 6 families of dragonflies here in South Africa.
Aeshnidae, Gomphidae, Synthemistidae, Macomiidae, Corduliidae, Libellulidae. All of them fall under the family called Anisoptera.

!PIZZA

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(Edited)

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I see it in the first image, cause you mentioned or else I surely would have missed lol!

That must be hard, but you did it! @papilloncharity

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Hahaha, that's why I showed it because I knew that many would not see it.

The hard way is always the one with the best rewards. You will also see progress in your work in hive in a few years time. It is a slow process, but it is worth it.

Stay safe.

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Thanks for your inspiring booster words 🙂

Have a great day 😀

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Oh wow, a red dragonfly! Such beautiful photos as always!

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that dragonfly is so gorgeous 😍those creatures always make me wish I'm living in the countryside instead of here in the city. :)

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Thank you and I hope that you will live in the countryside one day 😊

!PIZZA

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Thank you and I hope that you will also live in the countryside one day :)

!PIZZA

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wishing for that too! :) thanks!

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You really have mastered the art of taking a dragonfly picture :)
The lady beside me looking at your last picture said is that natures XXX picture as it looks like elephantitus of male parts!
Have a great day.
!LOLZ

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Thank you and what? Elephantitus? An innocent trio of pears?
You certainly move in erectemanus circles my friend.
Keep it up!

!PIZZA

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Times sure are scary but as long as folks can find beauty is things as small as a water droplet of a distant dragonfly, I'm sure we'll get by together.

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Yes agreed and that's why I continue to post the beauty of nature, in the hope that it will entice others to visit nature more often. It posses free healing properties that can certainly lessen the stresses and other ills of this life.

!PIZZA

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I'm writing a post on anxiety relief today. We need as much info out there as we can get.
!luv

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