Orthetrum caledonicumCommon name: Blue Skimmer
Meaning of name: Unknown.
Distribution: Found throughout Australia.
Description: All blue skimmers are yellow with black makings when they first emerge from the nymph. Males turn blue as they mature, females remain yellow and black but can gain a small amount of blue.
Notes: Inhabits a wide range of still and flowing waters.
This species has been seen from December to April.
References: The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Günther Theischinger and John Hawking. 2006
Atlas of Living Australia https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/ba72b1cb-a2f8-431c-b75c-b15494851978#overview
Male Blue Skimmers are blue.
Dragonflies often hold their wings forward when perched.
Female Blue Skimmers are yellow with black markings. Photograph courtesy of Kade Ehlers.
Dragonflies eat other insects. This one has caught, and is eating, a different species of dragonfly.
