Black-tailed Skimmer
Orthetrum cancellatum
Insecta
COMMON
Stats
- Lifespan
- 1-3 yrs
- Size
- Medium
- Diet
- Insectivore
- Activity
- Diurnal
- Social
- Solitary
- Biome
- Freshwater wetland
- Range
- Europe and Asia
- Movement
- Flight
- Breeding
- Egg-laying
- Defense
- Speed
- Status
- Common
About
The Black-tailed Skimmer is a medium-sized dragonfly of open freshwater across Europe and Central Asia; males develop a striking powder-blue abdomen tipped with a solid black segment, while females remain cryptically yellow-brown with dark markings throughout their lives.
Life cycle
- 1.eggA small egg is laid on or near the larval food source and hatches within days or weeks.
- 2.juvenileAn immature insect feeds and molts, growing through successive instars.
- 3.subadultA near-adult insect has wing buds or near-mature form, one molt away from full size.
- 4.adultFully grown, with full wings and adult coloration.
Learn more
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Odonata
- Family
- Libellulidae
- Genus
- Orthetrum
- Species
- Orthetrum cancellatum