A Violet Dropwing dragonfly stops by

We’ve gone for a walk around a volcano. Don’t worry, it’s been extinct for so long that its crater has become a massive lake, with lush vegetation all around it. We are at Lago Albano, near Rome.

There are many intensely coloured dragonflies hunting aggressively around us.

Violet Dropwing - Lago di Martignano - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

This one is a male Violet Dropwing, Trithemis annulata. It is found in Africa, the Middle East, the Arabian Peninsula and southern Europe. It’s moving its range as global heating moves suitable territory for it inexorably northwards.

I’m always interested in seeing Dragonflies on volcanos:

I’m delighted to see such a beautiful dragonfly, especially one which is so pink, purple and red with orange-brown wing patches.

Violet Dropwing - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Fabulous.

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