Skimmers facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Skimmers
Female Orthetrum chrysostigma
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Odonata
Infraorder:	Anisoptera
Family:	Libellulidae
Genus:	Orthetrum Newman, 1833

Orthetrum is a large group of dragonflies often called skimmers. They belong to the Libellulidae family. You can find them all over the world!

About Skimmers

Skimmers are a type of dragonfly. They are known for their quick and graceful flight. These insects are important parts of many ecosystems. They help control insect populations.

What Skimmers Look Like

Skimmers come in different sizes. Some are small, while others are quite large. In Africa, their back wings can be from 22 to 50 millimeters long. That's about the length of a few paperclips!

When they are young, both male and female skimmers are usually yellow or brown. They have black marks on their bodies. These marks can help scientists tell different species apart.

But as male skimmers get older, they change color! Most of their bodies turn a cool blue-grey. This makes it harder to tell them apart just by looking. Scientists often need to catch them to identify the exact species.

Where Skimmers Live

Skimmers live in many different places around the world. You can find them near water, like ponds, lakes, and slow-moving rivers. They need water to lay their eggs and for their young to grow.

Different Kinds of Skimmers

The Orthetrum group has many different species. Each one has its own special features. Here are just a few examples of the many skimmer species:

• Orthetrum abbotti is known as Abbott's skimmer.
• Orthetrum albistylum is called the White-Tailed Skimmer.
• Orthetrum brunneum is the Southern Skimmer.
• Orthetrum caledonicum is a well-known Blue Skimmer.
• Orthetrum cancellatum is often called the Black-Tailed Skimmer.
• Orthetrum coerulescens is the Keeled Skimmer.
• Orthetrum sabina is known as the Slender Skimmer.
• Orthetrum serapia is the Green Skimmer.

Each species has its own unique home range. Some live only in Africa, while others are found across Europe and Asia.

Images for kids

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  Male Abbott's Skimmer (Orthetrum abbotti)

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  Female Abbott's Skimmer (Orthetrum abbotti)

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  Male White-Tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum albistylum)

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  Young female White-Tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum albistylum)

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  Male Orthetrum azureum

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  Female Orthetrum azureum

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  Distribution map of Orthetrum balteatum

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  Distribution map of Orthetrum boumiera

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  Male Tough Skimmer (Orthetrum brachiale)

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  Male Southern Skimmer (Orthetrum brunneum)

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  Female Southern Skimmer (Orthetrum brunneum)

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  Male Two-striped Skimmer (Orthetrum caffrum)

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  Distribution map of Orthetrum caledonicum

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  Male Blue Skimmer (Orthetrum caledonicum)

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  Female Blue Skimmer (Orthetrum caledonicum)

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  Male Black-Tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum)

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  Mature female Black-Tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum)

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  Male Orthetrum chrysis

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  Female Orthetrum chrysis

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  Male Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma)

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  Female Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma)

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  Male Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens)

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  Female Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens)

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  Male Blue Marsh Hawk (Orthetrum glaucum)

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  Female Blue Marsh Hawk (Orthetrum glaucum)

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  Male Spectacled Skimmer (Orthetrum icteromelas)

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  Female Spectacled Skimmer (Orthetrum icteromelas)

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  Male Orthetrum japonicum

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  Female Orthetrum japonicum

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  Male Julia Skimmer (Orthetrum julia)

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  Female Julia Skimmer (Orthetrum julia)

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  Male Orthetrum luzonicum

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  Female Orthetrum luzonicum

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  Male Machado's Skimmer (Orthetrum machadoi)

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  Female Orthetrum malgassicum

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  Distribution map of Rosy Skimmer (Orthetrum migratum)

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  Male Rosy Skimmer (Orthetrum migratum)

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  Male Orthetrum monardi

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  Male Crimson-tailed Marsh Hawk (Orthetrum pruinosum)

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  Female Crimson-tailed Marsh Hawk (Orthetrum pruinosum)

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  Distribution map of Slender Skimmer (Orthetrum sabina)

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  Male Slender Skimmer (Orthetrum sabina)

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  Female Slender Skimmer (Orthetrum sabina)

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  Distribution map of Green Skimmer (Orthetrum serapia)

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  Male Green Skimmer (Orthetrum serapia)

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  Female Green Skimmer (Orthetrum serapia)

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  Male Stemmale Skimmer (Orthetrum stemmale)

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  Female Stemmale Skimmer (Orthetrum stemmale)

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  Male Small Skimmer (Orthetrum taeniolatum)

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  Male Scarlet Skimmer (Orthetrum testaceum)

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  Male Blue-tailed Forest Hawk (Orthetrum triangulare)

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  Female Blue-tailed Forest Hawk (Orthetrum triangulare)

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  Mature male Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria)

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  Female Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria)

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  Distribution map of Fiery Skimmer (Orthetrum villosovittatum)

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  Male Fiery Skimmer (Orthetrum villosovittatum)

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  Female Fiery Skimmer (Orthetrum villosovittatum)

See also

In Spanish: Orthetrum para niños