Stats

Lifespan: A few weeks
Size: Large
Diet: Insectivore
Activity: Diurnal
Social: Solitary
Biome: Freshwater wetland
Range: North America
Movement: Flight
Breeding: Egg-laying
Defense: Speed
Status: Common

About

The Slaty Skimmer is a large dragonfly of eastern North America whose mature males are cloaked entirely in powdery slate-blue — no wing spots, no markings — making them one of the most uniformly coloured dragonflies on the continent. They perch boldly on exposed sticks above slow, vegetated ponds and lakes, darting out to intercept rivals and prey.

Life cycle

1.
egg
A small egg is laid on or near the larval food source and hatches within days or weeks.
2.
juvenile
An immature insect feeds and molts, growing through successive instars.
3.
subadult
A near-adult insect has wing buds or near-mature form, one molt away from full size.
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 incesta