Slender skimmer facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Orthetrum sabina
Male, Burdwan, West Bengal, India.
Female, Nepal
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Synonyms
Lepthemis divisa Selys, 1878 Libellua leptura Burmeister, 1839 Libellula ampullacea Schneider, 1845 Libellula gibba Fabricius, 1798 Libellula sabina Drury, 1770 Orthetrum nigrescens Bartenev, 1929 Orthetrum viduatum Lieftinck, 1942

The slender skimmer or green marsh hawk (scientific name: Orthetrum sabina) is a type of dragonfly. It belongs to the family called Libellulidae, which includes many common dragonflies. You can find this amazing insect in many places around the world. Its home stretches from southeastern Europe and North Africa all the way to Japan. It also lives south in Australia and Micronesia.

Meet the Green Marsh Hawk Dragonfly

This dragonfly is known by a few names, like the slender skimmer. It's a medium-sized insect. Its wings can spread out about 60 to 85 millimeters wide. That's about the length of a credit card!

What Does It Look Like?

Adult green marsh hawks have cool colors. They are usually grayish or greenish-yellow. They also have black and light markings on their bodies. Their eyes are a bright green color. The main part of their body, called the abdomen, is greenish-yellow with black patterns.

This dragonfly looks a lot like another species, the Orthetrum serapia. Both types of dragonflies live in northern Australia. One way to tell them apart is by looking at the fourth part of their abdomen. On the Orthetrum sabina, the pale markings there don't go all the way to the back when you look from above.

Males and Females

Male and female green marsh hawks look very similar. They have the same shape, colors, and size. The only real differences are their special body parts for reproduction.

Where Does It Live and What Does It Do?

The green marsh hawk likes to sit still for a long time. You might see it resting on bushes or dry twigs. It's a very good hunter! This dragonfly loves to eat smaller insects. It especially enjoys catching and eating smaller butterflies and other dragonflies.

Images for kids

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  Female green marsh hawk

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  Male green marsh hawk

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  Male viewed from the front

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  Side view of a male

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  Close-up of the face

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  Colors can change as the dragonfly gets older

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  An older male with darker colors

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  Orthetrum sabina eating a Neurothemis fulvia

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  Orthetrum sabina eating a Tetrathemis platyptera

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  Orthetrum sabina eating a Udaspes folus

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  Two green marsh hawks mating

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  A green marsh hawk flying

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  Figure 4 from an old book by Dru Drury, 1770

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  Wings of a female

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  Wings of a male

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  Female green marsh hawk in Kerala, India