I found this Halloween Pennant at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma. The small dragonfly rested beside one of the refuge service roads.
Finding a Halloween Pennant at Sequoyah
The Halloween Pennant (Celithemis eponina) has orange wings crossed by dark bands. Those colors explain its common name and help separate it from many other dragonflies.
Pennants often perch near the tips of grasses, stems, and other plants. Their wings can move with the breeze while they hold their position. This habit gives the pennant group its fitting name.
I saw this one while exploring a service road at the refuge. Sequoyah has ponds, marshes, and other wet areas that support many dragonfly species. Open fields and roadside plants also give adult dragonflies places to hunt and perch.
The name might suggest an insect that appears around Halloween. However, these dragonflies fly during the warmer months. The orange and dark wing pattern inspired the name.
Photographing the Dragonfly Beside a Service Road
I approached with my camera and watched the dragonfly on its perch. Its small size made it easy to miss among the roadside plants.
Moving at a slow pace gave me time to frame the insect without forcing it to leave. I wanted the photograph to show the patterned wings and delicate body. The image also records the type of small subject I often find along refuge roads.
I have photographed this species during other visits to Oklahoma. One later image included a snail shell below the perch. You can see it in Halloween Pennant Dragonfly: A Colorful Encounter in Oklahoma.
Another encounter happened near the road to Moody Boat Ramp. I photographed that individual from my pickup. I shared the story in Halloween Pennant Dragonfly at Sequoyah NWR.
I also photographed a dragonfly perched on a stem at Fort Chaffee in Arkansas during June 2008. That older image shows how long this species has caught my attention.
Why I Remember This Halloween Pennant
Large animals can draw attention from a long distance. A dragonfly asks me to search the grass and nearby stems.
This Halloween Pennant rewarded that closer look. Its bold wings stood out once I found it, yet the insect occupied only a small part of the roadside habitat.
Encounters like this keep me watching the edges of service roads at Sequoyah. A short stop can reveal wildlife that I might pass without noticing.