Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada

Species Libellula vibrans - Great Blue Skimmer

Great Blue - Libellula vibrans Thought it was a Tawny Pennant, but looks more like a Great Blue Skimmer - Libellula vibrans Unknown dragonfly - Libellula vibrans Great Blue Skimmer (Libellula vibrans), Male - Libellula vibrans - male  Libellula vibrans? - Libellula vibrans - male Blue Dragonfly - Libellula vibrans - male Libellula vibrans? Female - Libellula vibrans - female ode - Libellula vibrans - male
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Odonata (Dragonflies and Damselflies)
Suborder Anisoptera (Dragonflies)
Family Libellulidae (Skimmers)
Genus Libellula
Species vibrans (Great Blue Skimmer)
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Libellula vibrans Fabricius, 1793
Explanation of Names
From Latin vibra shake, vibrate (1).
Numbers
24 Nearctic species in the genus Libellula
Range
Primarily se US, but a few occasionally migrate as far north as Massachusetts(2)
Life Cycle
migratory
See Also
Libellula incesta - Slaty Skimmer--on full adult male, note dark eyes and face; on females, note entirely black femora
Erythemis simplicicollis - Eastern Pondhawk--full adult male--note green face
Works Cited
1.Dictionary of Word Roots and Combining Forms
Donald J. Borror. 1960. Mayfield Publishing Company.
2.Field Guide to the Dragonflies and Damselflies of Massachusetts
Blair Nikula, Jennifer L. Loose, Matthew R. Burne. 2003. Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife.