The Harlequin Darner (Gomphaeschna furcillata) is a member of the Aeshnidae family of dragonflies. The species occurs across much of the eastern United States and parts of southeast Canada. The range of the species extends westward to east Texas where it has been found rarely. The two images on the left show a female Harlequin Darner along the Angelina River in Jasper Co., Texas, in March, 2008. These shots were taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender. John Abbott and I saw 4 different individuals, 2 males and 2 females, at this particular location which provided only the 2nd known Texas record. It was fairly breezy and when the darner perched it did not remain long, so these images are not the quality I would have preferred to take if the bug was a little more cooperative. Still, we felt lucky to get any images at all since this dragonfly stays in flight much of the time.