Black-shouldered Spiny leg Dragonfly

(picture courtesy of  bugguide.net @ Hitching a ride)

Okay, my mother and I were going to the store and we stopped to rest like we normally do.

all of a sudden this insect randomly landed on my mother's arm.

Her first reaction was to panic and tell me to get it off and ask me it it bites. ( like i'm some entomologist; right?)  Non the less; instead of shooing the insect off her arm; I reached for her wrist and held it up to look at it closer until it flew away. I told her it was a baby dragon fly (even though i didn't know what it was). She thought it was a wasp and the day went until i was able to my computer.

I could have kicked my self though; because i had a feeling i should take my camera with me this morning. but as luck would have it; unfortunately i didn't take it with me.

But anyways; as i got to my computer i was going over the looks and size of this insect. I had never seen a dragon fly or damsel fly to be THAT short. usually they are about four to six inches long, right?

but this one was a tiny version. what on earth could it be? was it really a fly or some sort of  mockery?

I looked through the dragon fly pictures  and came to the one above. thank heavens it was marked and so i was able to learn the name of the species of dragon fly called  Black-Shouldered Spiny Leg Dragonfly. (Dromogomphus spinosus )

This species have long spines on their legs that help in the capture of prey. True to their name their shoulders are black. The dorsal thorax has a light green I-shaped mark with pale ovals on either side. Their flight time is between late May and early September from southern Manitoba to the east coast of the US as far as Florida. Terminal segments form a club with yellow lateral markings. Adults average 2.5 inches (64 mm)

so; why did it land on my mother? who knows? perhaps it needed a rest or  it was attracted to the array of blue and fleshy pink presented.

Lesson Learned today: bring my camera with me always. x3