Slaty Skimmer - Libellula incesta - BugGuide.Net

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Copyright © 2006 The Longs

Slaty Skimmer - Libellula incesta

The Woodlands, Montgomery County, Texas, USA
June 10, 2006

We've looked for a match in the guide, and thought that the male Great Blue Skimmer, like our specimen, has a dark pterostigma, dark wing tips, and some darkening at the nodus on the wings.

We think we're learning to tell apart the genders, and this looks male. Please correct us if we're off.

Thanks

Images of this individual: tag all

Slaty Skimmer - Libellula incesta

Slaty Skimmer - Libellula incesta

Contributed by The Longs on 10 June, 2006 - 10:00pm
Last updated 22 August, 2006 - 2:34pm

We would have expected lighter blue

and a white face on Libellula vibrans. How about the Slaty Skimmer, Libellula incesta for this one. Very dark. And yes, it is a male! Images in the guide here

… john and jane balaban, 10 June, 2006 - 10:53pm

Yes

Yes, that looks more like it. That's a new species for us- I've not heard of it before. Thanks for the ID.

… The Longs, 10 June, 2006 - 11:25pm

Slaty Skimmer

I agree that this is a male Libellula incesta. Younger males appear this blue but turn almost black with age. The eyes are much darker than those of L. vibrans. And, as mentioned earlier, L.vibrans has a whitish face. In one of my field guides (Dragonflies through Binoculars), it shows the range of L. incesta to reach the eastern portions of Texas so you are apparently at an outer border of its range. That would make it fairly uncommon in your area I'm guessing. Here in RI, Libellula incesta is one of the most common species along pond edges.

Thanks for sharing your photos.

Michelle St.Sauveur

… Michelle Lynn St.Sauveur, 11 June, 2006 - 2:23am

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