What have I caught here?

[DavidHammond]

Went over to Dunham Massey on Saturday, and enjoyed playing with the camera again.

Stumbled upon this photo opportunity:

Firstly what on earth are they? I presumed Dragon Flies.
Secondly what on earth are they doing? I assumed mating with each other?

Photo's a little out of focus I think maybe using a narrower aperture would help keep their entire bodies in focus.

[Reinardina]

My first thought was also mating dragon flies, but on closer inspection, I'm not so sure.

Expert opinion required.

[DigiDiva]

Yes, dragonflies, but what they are doing...well....there's a french name for it!

[Reinardina]

Honi soit qui mal y pense?

[jinky]

I`m no expert but this is pretty much one of the standard poses of mating dragonflies who bite scratch and generally muscle their way throughout , often in flight. All to do with differing positions of their sexual organs. My biology teacher would be proud of me - told me it wasn`t worth me doing O level ( I did and got a grade 3 just to prove him wrong! )

[Beryl]

Common Darters ............Which yes are dragonflies
Nice capture well done