This Morning Outside

by Diane Porter

July 18, 2010
In short grass at Birdwatching Dot Com
Fairfield, Iowa

Today I found a dragonfly new to me, though it is reputedly quite common. It's the second tiniest dragonfly in North America, the Eastern Amberwing. It's 9/10 of an inch long, the size of a wasp.

Photos copyright 2010 Michael and Diane Porter

Its scienitific name is Perithemis tenera. Perithemis refers to Themis, the Greek goddess of peace and justice. To me, peace is personified in dragonflies. Peace is a place where dragonflies roam, where vegetation is lush, where people have left a bit of wild for the wild.

That's an important part of justice, too.

—Diane Porter

See more pictures
from This Morning Outside