Red-veined Dropwing (Trithemis arteriosa)

The Red-veined dropwing (Trithemis arteriosa), is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae.

Trithemis arteriosa is widespread and common in most of its range which includes most of Africa and extends to western Asia and southern Europe.

This dragonfly is found in and near a wide variety of slow-flowing and still-water habitats.

This was the most common dragonfly I encountered in Israel.

Juvenile Male

References:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trithemis_arteriosa
• Records on iNaturalist here

Great Blue Skimmer (Libellula vibrans)

The great blue skimmer (Libellula vibrans) is a dragonfly of the skimmer family (Libellulidae) . With a total length of up to 63 mm, it is one of the largest skimmers. The immature forms of the skimmer are brown in color and mature forms are blue hued.

Encountered near lakes, ponds, and slow streams in the eastern United States and rarely in southern Ontario, Canada. Larvae live on mud bottom among detritus.

References:

• iNaturalist record
• Great blue skimmer (wikipedia)
• IUCN profile

The green darner (Anax junius)

The green darner (Anax junius), is a species of dragonfly in the family Aeshnidae. It is named darner, due to its resemblance to a darning-needle. One of the most common and abundant species throughout North America. It is well known for its migration distance from the northern United States south into Texas and Mexico. It also occurs in the Caribbean, Tahiti, and Asia from Japan to mainland China.

Though I have seen several magnificent males flying circling ponds, but they rarely settle to be photographed. I got lucky with this female green darner as it settled on a low lying branch of a tree in hot afternoon sun. 

The males have bright blue tails where as females have brownish tails.

The darners lay eggs inside water and the nymphs are aquatic carnivores feeding on insects, tadpoles and small fishes. The adults feed mainly on flying insects. 

• Green darner (Wikipedia)
• https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/3116783
• Florida Carpenter Ant (Camponotus floridanus) feeding on Common Green Darner (Anax junius)
• http://animaldiversity.org/site/accounts/information/Anax_junius.html
• http://cirrusimage.com/wp/dragonfly-green-darner/

Florida Carpenter Ant (Camponotus floridanus) feeding on Common Green Darner (Anax junius)

Florida Carpenter Ant (Camponotus floridanus) are native to Florida and adjoining states in south eastern United states. 

The green darner (Anax junius), is a species of dragonfly in the family Aeshnidae. It is named darner, due to its resemblance to a darning-needle. One of the most common and abundant species throughout North America. It is well known for its migration distance from the northern United States south into Texas and Mexico. It also occurs in the Caribbean, Tahiti, and Asia from Japan to mainland China.

It is the official insect for the state of Washington in the United States.

It is one of the largest dragonflies with up to 75mm length and up to 80mm wingspan.

A dead Green darner was being eaten by Florida Carpenter Ants.

• Camponotus floridanus (Wikipedia)
• Camponotus floridanus (AntCat)
• Green darner (Wikipedia)
• https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/2008550
• https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/2008556