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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Dragonflies and Damselflies (Odonata) » Dragonflies (Anisoptera) » Skimmers (Libellulidae) » Libellula » Slaty Skimmer (Libellula incesta)
Photo#208056
Dragonfly - Libellula incesta
Copyright © 2008 jim urbach

Dragonfly - Libellula incesta
Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, USA
July 30, 2008
This one had not warmed up yet so I could get real close

Images of this individual: tag all
Dragonfly - Libellula incesta Dragonfly - Libellula incesta
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Contributed by jim urbach on 30 July, 2008 - 4:55pm
Last updated 11 July, 2013 - 6:55pm

Moved
Moved from Libellula. Checked with others and there seems to be consensus on Slaty
… john and jane balaban, 11 July, 2013 - 6:55pm login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from Bar-winged Skimmer.
… Nick Block, 10 July, 2013 - 10:41am login or register to post comments

Moved
to guide
… Jason Forbes, 12 August, 2008 - 9:09pm login or register to post comments

Hmmm
look at Libellula cyanea. I think it might be a Spangled Skimmer female, but wait for one of the experts!
… Will Chatfield-Taylor, 30 July, 2008 - 7:58pm login or register to post comments

 
no spangles
The long bars along the front edge and the thoracic pattern say Bar-winged Skimmer (L. axilena).
… Jason Forbes, 4 August, 2008 - 4:48pm login or register to post comments

 
Perhaps not
I'm no expert, but despite the dark leading edge on the wing, the thoracic markings and white face suggest L. incesta to me. L. axilena should have an all dark face. Also, I've seen many incesta with a dark leading edge to the wing, and it's always fuzzy like this, and not sharp like for axilena. I'd leave this one as Libellula sp., as the two species can sometimes only be ID'd with certainty after capture and examination of appendages by an expert.
… CircusCyaneus, 19 July, 2011 - 11:53am login or register to post comments

 
My thoughts, too
I had the same thoughts as CircusCyaneus before I even read them. The thoracic pattern is a better fit for Slaty Skimmer, as well as the face pattern. Slaty Skimmers can show leading edge wing bars like this.
… Nick Block, 10 July, 2013 - 10:40am login or register to post comments

 
Interesting ID. Thanks. Look
Interesting ID. Thanks. Looks like this is the female and so few good images are available on a quick look at the internet
… jim urbach, 4 August, 2008 - 9:45pm login or register to post comments

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