Large Predator with Prey, Pt. 2 - _TNY_9577

The golden-ringed dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii) is one of the largest insects in Sweden. I spotted this particular specimen together with my son on a trip to the Mjällådalen nature reserve near Härnösand, Sweden, and luckily for us it had caught a bumblebee and landed pretty much right in front of us on a leaf to eat it.

I initially took some gradually closer photos of it (including this one) using the Canon 100 mm L IS Macro lens and to my surprise, it didn't fly away and just continued devouring the poor bumblebee (so much was already devoured that I am unable to tell the exact species).

When I considered myself "done" and having gotten the photos I wanted, Daniel however convinced me to switch to the Canon MP-E65mm lens and try for some real closeups. Since it would require me to be minimum 10.1 cm / 4" away from the dragon, I initially refused as I considered it impossible, but he insisted and it turned out he was correct - it kept eating and I got some real closeups (to be posted later on).

This species is the only one in Sweden belonging to the family Cordulegastridae and has a bit of a different face compared to the other species. Also, while the adult only flies for one summer, it has already spent four or five years as a larvae in the water before emerging.

Part 1 here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/53923749905/

One of the close-ups taken with the MP-E65 here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/53977871828/

Taken in: Sweden / Västernorrland / Stormon (show map)

Taken on: August 10, 2024

Tags:

macro

Canon

CanonEOS5Ds

5Ds

flash

Godox

Thinklite

TT685C

plåtdiffusor v7

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM

BuggyLunch

Bugs on Bugs

Mjällådalen

Mjällådalens naturreservat

eating

insect

insects

dragonfly

trollslända

tonbo

guldsmed

kungstrollslända

Cordulegaster

boltonii

black

yellow

green eyes

compound eyes

leaf

Jällviksbron

Jällviksbodarna

chewing

golden-ringed dragonfly

Zweigstreifte Queljungfer

kongeguldsmed

purokorento

common goldenring

kongelibelle

gewone bronlibel

libel

Cordulegastridae

Anisoptera

Odonata

Epiprocta

predator

prey

catch

snáthaid mhór órfháinneach

lunch

f/9.5

iNaturalisted « less

Sets appears in: • Mjällådalen Nature Reserve • Buggy Lunch more » • Dragonflies « less

Groups appears in: • Gold Star Awards Level 1 (1P/3C) • Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro more » • Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 L IS USM Macro • !Flickr Macro • Gold Star Awards Level 3 (Crimson)(1P/3C) • Gold Star Awards Level 2 (Nominees) (P1/C3) • Gold Star Awards Level 4 (Orchid) (P1/C3) « less

Camera: Canon EOS 5DS, f/9.5, 1/180 sec, 100mm, ISO 200 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon EOS 5DS
Lens:	EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
Aperture:	f/9.5
Exposure Time:	0.006 sec (1/180)
Focal Length:	100mm
ISO:	200
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	On, Fired
Exposure Program:	Manual
Exposure Mode:	Manual
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Photoshop 23.3 (Windows)
Show full info

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