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Blue Skimmer

Orthetrum caledonicum

Description:

A medium sized dragonfly with pale yellow head and synthorax. The thorax showed pale blue black stripes. The abdomen showed a single thin dark median stripe, broad dark lateral stripes and a dark band along the posterior margin of each segment. Wings were clear and colourless. The pterostigma were cream outlined in black. Eyes were pale on this dragonfly. An exuvia was seen still attached to a sedge near the dragonfly (pic 6). This is probably a teneral (newly ecloded)female

Habitat:

Spotted on sedge bordering a man-made frog pond - nature reserve. Found all over Australia but only below 600mt altitude.

Notes:

Young females are said to hunt away from water, returning to it only when mature. Young males look like females but the wings have a smokey tinge. Males are a dusty blue (pruinescent)
http://www.ecology-solutions.com.au/vic_...
http://www.ecology-solutions.com.au/vic_...
FAMILY LIBELLULIDAE

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2 Comments

Neil Ross
Neil Ross 9 years ago

Absolutely! Gorgeous photos and spotting, Leuba.

Mark Ridgway
Mark Ridgway 9 years ago

You are the dragonfly queen this week :)

Leuba Ridgway
Spotted by
Leuba Ridgway

Victoria, Australia

Spotted on Jan 15, 2015
Submitted on Jan 16, 2015

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