Variegated Meadowhawk Dragonflies Courting

Spotted these Variegated Meadowhawk Dragonflies courting in the garden at the City of Milpitas, CA City Hall.

"At the tip of the male's abdomen are its testes; at its base, behind its legs, is a penis and a small swollen pouch for storing sperm. Male dragonflies sport two sets of sex organs, the prerequisite equipment for a mating system that is unique in the insect world. Before he copulates, a male dragonfly must in essence self-inseminate, moving his sperm from the testes to the storage pouch and into the penis. Here comes the tricky part. He must grip a female by the head or thorax and hold her in the tandem position, with claspers at the tip of his abdomen that fit neatly, like a lock and key, with a special plate on her thorax or behind her eyes. (National Geographic)"