Red dragonfly and golden spider, beneficial garden predators
Here be dragons! I see a lot of dragonflies in my garden each summer thanks to the stock-tank pond. Last week I watched this beautiful red dragonfly guarding his mate as she laid her eggs in the pond, dipping her tail repeatedly in the water.
He flitted from one plant to another as I edged around the pond, staying just beyond my reach, perching in jewel-like splendor amid the waterlilies.
Less lovely to my eyes, but no less beneficial for its voracious appetite for insects, an argiope spider has made a large web in the front garden. I had a hard time getting a focused photo of her until I framed her against the windshield of a car — creating the illusion that she’s nearly big enough to carry off the driver!
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Both are very cool! Especially love the dragonfly. It’s a beauty.
Dragonflies are my favorite pond creatures to watch. —Pam
What a bright dragonfly. I bet it is fascinating to watch them. The spider is a beauty too. Their webs are so beautiful.
I have yet to find a spider beautiful — my natural arachnophobia, I’m afraid — but I do find them fascinating and valuable creatures in the garden. I admire you and others who can appreciate their beauty too! —Pam
LOVE the photos!
It’s all so much easier to blog these days with the advent of good cell phone cameras, right? They’re always in our pockets. —Pam
That red dragonfly is stunning. We only have the blue/green/gray kind in our garden. After some quick google research it appears that they are native to Central Texas, I’ll have to find out more and see if they are also found in Northern Texas.
I didn’t know that, Rebecca. Thanks for researching and sharing. The blue ones are beautiful too, but yes, the red ones are particularly showy. —Pam
I’ve never seen a red dragonfly (lovely), and was interested in Rebecca’s comment about how they’re endemic to Central Texas, apparently.
Loved seeing your photos and reading your post.
I had no idea they weren’t commonplace, Lisa. I’ll be more appreciative from now on! —Pam
I’m glad you clarified about the size of that spider! I’ve never seen a red dragonfly before, it’s stunning!
Everyone’s comments about the red dragonfly are making me more appreciative of them. And I was pretty appreciative before! —Pam