Okavango Orthetrum (496)

"Okavango Orthetrum (496)", oil on canvas, 24x24". For sale on Etsy.

Dragonflies flit among the waterlilies in the Okavango Delta. The Okavango Delta is a large wetland area in Botswana, which is in southern central Africa. The delta is one of a few in the world which does not flow into a large body of water. 

The dragonflies in the painting are Julia skimmers, or Orthetrum julia. The one on the left is a yellowish female, and the other one is a blue male. Julia skimmer dragonflies are found in several parts of Africa, including the Okavango Delta.

(I'll admit that even I had a little trouble with the pronunciation of this title. It's oh-kuh-VAHN-go or-THEE-trum.)