Keeled skimmer

Keeled skimmer
Male
Female
both at Crockford Stream, Hampshire
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Suborder: Anisoptera
Family: Libellulidae
Genus: Orthetrum
Species: O. coerulescens
Binomial name
Orthetrum coerulescens
(Fabricius, 1798)

The keeled skimmer, Orthetrum coerulescens, is a species of European dragonfly. This species resembles the black-tailed skimmer but is slimmer and the male has no black tip. Females and immature males lack the black abdominal pattern. The pterostigma is orange and the thorax usually bears pale stripes. It breeds mainly in peat bogs and flies (in the UK) from June to September.

Behaviour

This dragonfly is common in central and southern Europe.[1] It is locally common in western Britain and Ireland.[2] Its typical habitat is acidic heath land, where it is often seen alongside golden-ringed dragonflies. Its flight is quite skittish, with frequent hovering, and it lands often. It can fly quite a distance from water, despite its seemingly weak flight. When it perches, the wings are held forward.

References

  1. ↑ Clausnitzer, V. (2007). "Orthetrum coerulescens". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.3. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  2. ↑ "Keeled Skimmer". British Dragonfly Society. Retrieved 28 September 2011.

See also


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