The Swamp Darner (Epiaeschna heros) is a very large dragonfly which occurs over much of the eastern United States. As the name implies, it may be found in swamps and others areas of quiet water. It hangs from tree branches when resting but is often encountered in flight as it courses back and forth in sunny locations in the forest. The individual shown in the top shot here was hanging on a tree limb about 7 feet above the ground along the Sundew Trail in the Big Thicket National Preserve, Tyler Co., Texas in June, 2003. The photo is a digital capture with a Canon EOS 10D and EF 70-200mm F2.8 L IS lens with a 2X extender and 550 EX flash.

The female Swamp Darner in the next 3 shots is seen ovipositing in the soft mud near the edge of a wooded pond in Jasper Co., Texas, in June, 2008. Another shot of the same individual shows the darner hanging from a perch. These 3 shots were taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender and flash.