It's time for today's edition of #BenInNature presented by our friends at Carter Bank & Trust!

It's time for today's edition of #BenInNature presented by our friends at Carter Bank & Trust!

It's time for today's edition of #BenInNature presented by our friends at Carter Bank & Trust!

Here's another cool critter from my recent trip to Phinizy Swamp Nature Park in Augusta, Georgia (I'll be switching back to stuff from Virginia soon, I swear). This is the dragonfly Libellula vibrans, better known as the great blue skimmer!

You're probably thinking, "The great blue skimmer doesn't look particularly blue to me." This is because female great blue skimmers and juveniles are more brown in color, while the adult males are pale blue. The two pictured skimmers are most likely juveniles.

These dragonflies can be found throughout most of the eastern U.S., including in Virginia. They're most abundant in July and August, and unlike many skimmers, they tend to avoid open ponds and prefer living near swamps, pools, and even puddles in shadowy, forested areas.

ABOUT #BenInNature
Social distancing can be difficult, but it presents a great opportunity to become reacquainted with nature. In this series of posts, Administrator of Science Ben Williams ventures outdoors to record a snapshot of the unique sights that can be found in the natural world. New updates are posted Monday - Friday, with previous posts highlighted on the weekends. This series of posts is made possible thanks to the support of VMNH Corporate Partner Carter Bank & Trust (www.cbtcares.com).

NATURE PHOTO IDENTIFICATIONS
If you discover something in nature that you would like help identifying, be sure to message us right here on Facebook with a picture (please include location and date of picture) and we'll have our experts help you identify it!

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