Orthetrum caledonicum
| Blue skimmer | |
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| Top view of an adult male in Victoria Park, Sydney. | |
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| Species: | O. caledonicum
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| Binomial name | |
| Orthetrum caledonicum (Brauer, 1865)
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Orthetrum caledonicum, the blue skimmer, is a common Australian dragonfly.
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.[1]
Gallery
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Adult in Margaret River, Western Australia -
Male blue skimmer side aspect, hind wing damage -
Mature female
References
- ^ Theischinger, Gunther; Hawking, John (2006). The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Collingwood Vic.: CSIRO. p. 266. ISBN 0643090738.
External links
Media related to Orthetrum caledonicum at Wikimedia Commons
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