Dragonfly – Photos

A dragonfly is an insect belonging to the order Odonata, suborder Anisoptera (from Greek ἄνισος anisos “uneven” and πτερόν pteron, “wing”, because the hindwing is broader than the forewing). Adult dragonflies are characterized by large multifaceted eyes, two pairs of strong transparent wings, sometimes with coloured patches and an elongated body. Dragonflies can be mistaken for the related group, damselflies (Zygoptera), which are similar in structure, though usually lighter in build; however, the wings of most dragonflies are held flat and away from the body, while damselflies hold the wings folded at rest, along or above the abdomen. Dragonflies are agile fliers, while damselflies have a weaker, fluttery flight. Many dragonflies have brilliant iridescent or metallic colours produced by structural coloration, making them conspicuous in flight. An adult dragonfly eye has nearly 24,000 ommatidia.
From Wikipedia

Reading that, I do believe one or two here are  Damselfly!

I have not got a Short Story with a Dragonfly in it!

THE MEXICAN HORSE THIEF

Praying Mantis

Wiki tells me that there are over 2,400 species of  Praying Mantis. That is quite a lot. The thing I think that the Praying Mantis is most well known for is, that the female eats the male while they are mating. Apparently this happens often when they are kept in captivity and much less when out in the wild.
Perhaps there is a lesson here for us?
Anyway, here are a few photographs I have taken of these fascinating little creatures.