FLAME SKIMMER
Libellula
saturata
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Flame Skimmer may be our most conspicuous
dragonfly – the one most likely to be seen and commented upon by the
general public. It is large, bright orange-red, and males perch
conspicuously over ponds and lakes.
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Flame Skimmer is a bright orange-red over the
body, and there is an extensive orange wash across the basal half of
each wing. Males have a brown stripe on the basal quarter of each wing,
helpful in identification from some other species.
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Photo (very top
& above) 15 July & 5 Aug 2006 Arroyo Seco Lakes
Photo (below) 30 July 2006 just W of Pinnacles NM
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Males defending territory pick
perches along or over the water, but foraging individuals may be found
quite some distance away.
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Female Flame Skimmer is similar but not as
bright, with the orange color paling to warm tan (right) and has a
white stripe atop the thorax. There is much less of an orange wash
across the base of the wings than on the male.
Photo (right) 12 Aug 2006
American River, SAC
Photo (below) 15 July 2006 Arroyo Seco River
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The only species similar in California are
some meadowhawks, which are decidedly smaller and have spots or stripes
on the thorax, and Neon Skimmer L. croceipennis, not recorded
in MTY. The latter is more red, less orange, and lacks the orange
costal stripe of Flame Skimmer (leading edge to wing). On Flame
Skimmer, this leading edge is orange right out to the orange
pterostigma. |
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 The map shows a selection of sites at which
Flame Skimmer has been observed. It is likely common and widespread
throughout the county in the lowlands. It is interesting, however, that
there are not yet records from Carmel River mouth or the Big Sur coast;
perhaps the species is adverse to summer fog?
In MTY flight dates stretch from 29 April to
22 October, with an apparent peak in July-August. Elsewhere, flight
dates span all months in southern California (Manolis 2003).
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Literature cited:
- Manolis, T. 2003. Dragonflies and Damselflies of
California. Univ. of Calif. Press, Berkeley.
Web resources:
Major identification web sites with much information on California
odes include:
For sites with excellent photos to compare for identification or to
simply
enjoy, see:
Many of these sites have links to other useful pages. Kathy Biggs's
site
is particularly useful in her selection of links. |
