Walking Tenerife » insects http://walkingtenerife.co.uk Your guide to the best walking on Tenerife Mon, 06 May 2013 08:16:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 Tenerife Scene of the week the Canarian Dragonfly http://walkingtenerife.co.uk/tenerife-scene-of-the-week-the-canarian-dragonfly.htm http://walkingtenerife.co.uk/tenerife-scene-of-the-week-the-canarian-dragonfly.htm#comments Wed, 18 Aug 2010 14:32:26 +0000 Jack http://walkingtenerife.co.uk/?p=738

We’ve opted for a very different image for scene of the week. Partly because it breaks up all those epic vistas and partly because dragonflies on Tenerife are just so incredibly vibrant.

There are apparently 11 species of dragonflies in the Canary Islands, but not being an expert on the subtle differences between them I’m not going to make an idiot of myself by trying to name this one.

Superstition across much of Europe in the past led to dragonflies being treated with suspicion and being branded as evil. It seems incredible to me that a creature of such beauty has been such a victim of bad PR.

They’re a common sight on Tenerife – wander near reservoirs or any still water and the air is alive with flame red, electric blue and neon green specimens of this exotic creature. Despite seeing them nearly every day, I struggle to take a decent photograph as they zip and dart about furiously like bi-planes involved in a dog fight. But this week this guy lingered long enough for me to capture him.

Wonderful isn’t he?

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