Wandering Glider First off, let me reassure everyone that no dragonfly was harmed in the course of capturing this image. Second, let me apologize for highlighting two dragonfly species in a row. Lastly, let me withdraw the apology because what I have in my hand absolutely warrants being touted above all else, and today, a day when I did my natural history survey of a local land trust preserve, I found plenty worthy of mention. What I'm holding, gingerly and, I have this on good authority, an action that does not put much stress on an odonate, is a female Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens). This robust dragonfly is the champion long-distance flier of the insect universe and is capable, when the spirit moves, of crossing an ocean. The gliders are essentially tropical species with an abiding spirit of adventure and incredible endurance. This one showed up in a late=afternoon feeding swarm of mixed dragonfly species, and I got lucky with my net. When I let it go, it returned to the swarm, apparently none the worse for the experience.