Flame Skimmer (Libellula saturata) lives in freshwater wetlands across Western North America. It feeds on insects and spiders. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Fascinating facts about the Flame Skimmer
- Male flame skimmers blaze in a uniform red to dark orange, with eyes, legs and even the veins in their wings sharing the same fiery hue. This vivid colouring makes them instantly recognisable among other dragonflies. They belong to the family Libellulidae and are a common species native to western North America. Their preferred warm ponds, streams and hot-spring habitats keep them mainly in the southwestern United States.
- Aquatic nymphs of the flame skimmer are unusually stout, with a rounded abdomen giving them a chubby appearance that sets them apart from most dragonfly larvae. They are covered with fine hair yet lack the tiny hooks or spines that many other species use for grip.
- Flame-skimmer naiads are smooth, covered only in fine hair and completely lacking the tiny hooks or spines that other species use for grip, giving them a distinctive sleek look. Their rounded, chubby abdomen makes them rather large compared with many other dragonfly larvae. In the mud of warm streams and ponds they lie in wait, feeding on a varied diet that includes mosquito larvae, aquatic fly larvae, mayfly larvae, freshwater shrimp, small fish and tadpoles.
- After mating, the female flies alone, hovers just above a small stream or pond, and dips the tip of her abdomen into the water to release her eggs. She often deposits her eggs in many different places to prevent the newly hatched naiads from preying on each other.
- Male flame skimmers are active from May through September, the period when they breed. Males compete with other males for prime breeding locations and females.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeWestern North America
HabitatFreshwater wetlands
DietInsects and spiders
About the Flame Skimmer
As the sun casts its golden glow upon the tranquil waters, the Flame Skimmer emerges, its iridescent body ablaze with a fierce, fiery intensity, like a fleck of molten lava dancing upon the air. With wings a blur of motion, this dragonfly darts and weaves through the vegetation, its agile form slicing effortlessly through the warm, shimmering haze that rises from the surface. In its graceful, whirling flight, the Flame Skimmer embodies the very essence of summer's vitality, its presence a vibrant testament to the enduring beauty of the natural world.
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