These dragonflies and several other species are common within Palo Verde.  As I walk to the wetland, there are several patches along the road that will have 20 or so dragonflies hovering about, searching for prey.  Many times, they will follow me a short distance, likely because I tend to stir up prey items for them.  I’ve observed several successful predation attempts, but only on moths.  In one instance, a moth, sipping water from a small puddle in the road, began to fly and was immediately hit twice by a dragonfly.  The dragonfly was unsuccessful in both attempts to effectively capture the moth, and the moth appeared to respond by limply dropping to the ground, where it sat frozen for a short time.  The dragonfly seemed to loose sight of the moth at this point and flew off.  The second the moth began to move to fly away, the dragonfly sped back and nailed the moth, capturing the absent-minded prey with its legs and flying off for consumption.  I wonder if they consume on the fly?

I wish I had photographed that event… I guess this will do.

Leptodactylid frogs are not easy to identify without previous experience in the area.  Thus far, I’ve been unable to identify the frog below confidently, but I am keeping at it.  Birds present a similar problem.

I think they are eating my Neptunia!  The caterpillars can be found with every step in the dried lagoon.  I wonder when and where they pupate.  Do they pupate before the lagoon floods, and, if so, do they do so in the lagoon?  Are they able to survive the flooded lagoon either as pupa or larva?  How can I answer these questions?