Zenithoptera fasciata (Amazon Sapphirewing)

This must be the most spectacular looking dragonfly that I photographed in Costa Rica, 2026. Also sometimes called a Rainforest Bluewing, in the right light these wings look quite stunning. It sometimes has quite a marked light streak from front to back stemming from the wing node, somewhat visible in my 5^th picture.

This species also gives the lie to the fact that dragonflies cannot close their wings after they open them – these guys do sometimes sit with their wings closed, according to Dennis Paulson:

After flight almost always lands with wings closed over the thorax, unique among New World dragonflies and presumably to hide blue color from potential predators or rival males.