This is a male to go with yesterdays female Blue Dasher. It is also the last of this short series showing males and females of several different Dragonfly species. This male is infested with quite a few parasitic mites. I don't understand all the details but these aquatic parasites apparently attach to the larva form of some Dragonflies (and other aquatic critters) and manage to remain attached even when the Dragonfly larva emerge from the water and molt into an adult Dragonfly. It is my understanding that what we see are actually small sacs attached to the Dragonfly. There is a parasite in each sac. At some point the parasite emerges from the sac and drops back into the water to finish its life cycle. I have seen these parasites before but this year they seem very numerous, and only on Blue Dashers as far as I have noticed. I have images of a number of different Blue Dashers showing these mites and I have found several Blue Dashers floating in the pond. When I retrieved them, they were heavily infested. I assume the mites weaken the Dragonfly and in worst case situations, the Dragonfly becomes too weak to fly. Thanks to those who take the time to comment. Tomorrow will be something new. Lee