Orthetrum caledonicum
| Blue skimmer | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Male | |
 | |
| Female | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Odonata |
| Infraorder: | Anisoptera |
| Family: | Libellulidae |
| Genus: | Orthetrum |
| Species: | O. caledonicum |
| Binomial name | |
| Orthetrum caledonicum (Brauer, 1865)[1] | |
Orthetrum caledonicum, the blue skimmer, is a common Australian dragonfly in the family Libellulidae.[2][3]
Males have a powder blue thorax and abdomen pruinescent blue when mature. The females are brownish grey in colour while the teneral are yellow with black markings. They are medium in size, with a body length of 4.5 cm (2 in) and a wingspan of 7 cm (3 in).
The species is widespread throughout mainland Australia and extending to Tasmania. It is also found in New Guinea, New Caledonia, Loyalty Islands and Lesser Sunda Islands. It inhabits a range of still and flowing water habitats including temporary waters.[4]
Gallery
Adult in Margaret River, Western Australia
Male with hind wing damage viewed from the side.jpg)
Female with some pale pruinescence on her tail.jpg)
Face of male.jpg)
Covered in dew.jpg)
Mating pair, male is upright.jpg)
Male showing colouration near wingtips.jpg)
Young male before his tail turns blue.jpg)
Young male showing his true colours.jpg)
Female.jpg)
Photo of female wings
Illustration of wings of male
References
- ↑ Brauer, Friedrich (1865). "Dritter Bericht über die auf der Weltfahrt der kais. Fregatte Novara gesammelten Libellulinen". Verhandlungen der Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien (in German). 15: 501-512 [505] – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
- ↑ "Species Orthetrum caledonicum (Brauer, 1865)". Australian Faunal Directory. Australian Biological Resources Study. 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
- ↑ Schorr, Martin; Paulson, Dennis. "World Odonata List". Slater Museum of Natural History. University of Puget Sound. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
- ↑ Theischinger, Gunther; Hawking, John (2006). The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Collingwood Vic.: CSIRO. p. 266. ISBN 0643090738.
External links
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