58 Nebraskaland • August-September 2023
THE LAST STOP
I first spotted her while I was lying propped up
on my elbows in about a foot of sludgy water along
the edge of the Niobrara River. She was hovering
right at the surface of the little backwater wetland
and repeatedly tapping her tail on the water. Right
above her, another dragonfly — this one with a
bright white abdomen — was also hovering in the
air. He aggressively charged at any other dragonfly
that dared come near, but never went more than
a couple feet away from his mate. After all, he
needed to make sure she successfully laid the eggs
he had just fertilized.
My son sat nearby and watched bemusedly as
I stealthily army crawled through the mud and
water, keeping my camera just above water. I
wanted to go slowly enough that I didn't spook
the dragonflies, but quickly enough that she didn't
finish laying eggs before I got into decent camera
range. The cricket frogs I'd been photographing
scampered out of the way as I slid past them. I
wondered distractedly how many leeches might
have already attached themselves to my lower
body.
I eventually got close enough that my 105mm
macro lens could capture the action. I laid there
clicking away as the male chased numerous
competitors and the female doggedly deposited
egg after egg in the water. Eventually, she finished
her job, and the two dragonflies drifted away in
opposite directions, their brief relationship over.
The eggs were on their own to develop into new
common whitetail dragonflies, assuming they
didn't get eaten by something first. I hope at least
one of them makes it.
Speaking of one, that's how many leeches there
were, in case you were wondering.
By Chris Helzer
DRAGONFLY ENCOUNTER
