Up Close and Personal

Up close and personal, those blue damselflies (suborder Zygoptera, order Odonata) look prehistoric.

Fact is, they were here before the dinosaurs.

These needlelike insects add an iridescent presence as they fly awkwardy over our fish pond, catching prey.  In the early morning, they land in our nectarine tree. They're not there to pick nectarines. They're warming their flight muscles.

Their brilliant colors draw us to them. But their huge compound eyes quickly notice us and off they go.

Awkwardly.