Great Blue Skimmer dragonflies (mating pair)

The preceding photo gallery, shown in reverse chronological order, features a mating pair of Great Blue Skimmer dragonflies spotted along the boardwalk at Huntley Meadows Park. Photo 2 of 4 shows the pair "in wheel"; Photo 1 shows the female resting on the boardwalk after copulation; the male is "hover guarding" the female to protect her from other males. Hover guarding is also known as "non-contact guarding." Photos 3-4 are close-ups of the male and female dragonflies shown in Photo 1: Photo 3 shows the male; Photo 4, the female.