Stats

Lifespan

1-3 yrs

Size

Large

Diet

Insectivore

Activity

Diurnal

Social

Solitary

Biome

Freshwater wetland

Range

North America

Movement

Flight

Breeding

Egg-laying

Defense

Speed

Status

Common

About

One of the largest skimmer dragonflies in eastern North America, reaching up to 63 mm in length, with mature males developing a powdery blue-gray abdomen and thorax. Immatures start out brown before taking on their namesake blue hue as they age, and the species favors shaded ponds and slow woodland streams.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   egg

   A small egg is laid on or near the larval food source and hatches within days or weeks.
2. 2.
   juvenile

   An immature insect feeds and molts, growing through successive instars.
3. 3.
   subadult

   A near-adult insect has wing buds or near-mature form, one molt away from full size.
4. 4.
   adult

   Fully grown, with full wings and adult coloration.

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Taxonomy

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Odonata

Family

Libellulidae

Genus

Libellula

Species

Libellula vibrans