These guys liked to land on black surfaces. I don't think it was for the warmth, because it was plenty hot out, so suspect they do it to display their white abdomen to best advantage. (This is the male; the female is here -- completely different wing pattern). I had a choice between an old tire in a ditch or a plastic garbage bag. So instead of a "nice" photo, I have fodder for the Strikingly Different group (hey, when life sends you lemons...)

Actually, I did get a couple of shots later on, on a twig & on a light-colored rock, but this one is much the best photo -- the shot with the twig was too busy, & the dragonfly was too well camoflaged against the rock. Guess that's where it lands when it's trying to hide instead of trying to show off.

Last week 1 of these kept landing on my back! I think part of the time it was landing on my dark purple backpack, & part of the time on my light pink shirt or off-white hat. But it wouldn't land on anything when I set them down on the grass -- maybe it got tired of the game. Anybody know anything about dragonfly behavior? Could it have been trying to chase me away from its territory?

My metering matrix seems to have missed the white abdomen, so it's blown out. Oh well -- I'll just have to go out shutterbugging again & get a better shot. :-)

Have also seen this species classified as Libellula lydia.