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Species Libellula incesta - Slaty Skimmer

Dragonfly - Libellula incesta Dragonfly - Libellula incesta - female Libellula incesta - Slaty Skimmer - Libellula incesta - male Slaty Skimmer - Libellula incesta - male Dragon Fly - Libellula incesta Unrecognized Dragonfly - Libellula incesta - female Bar-Winged Skimmer - Libellula incesta Male swift setwing? - Libellula incesta - 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 incesta (Slaty Skimmer)
Size
Length 4.5-5.6 cm
Identification
Mature adult male has slaty blue – sometimes almost black – body, with dark face and dark brown/blackish eyes.
Adult female differs from Great Blue Skimmer in having femora that are all black; see print references for other details.
Range
Eastern North America
Habitat
Ponds or slow-moving streams with muddy bottoms, often near woodlands
Season
Most of warm months in Florida, summer only farther north.
Food
Predatory; takes flying insects. Feeds from perches along edge of woodlands.
Life Cycle
Males defend territories along shores of ponds; most active in morning. Females oviposit alone, using abdomen to throw eggs to shore or into open water. They are usually guarded by male from above.
Remarks
A common species, tolerant of moderately polluted suburban ponds and the like.
See Also
Libellula vibrans (Great Blue Skimmer) doesn't occur as far north as Canada (yet), and adult male has white face and blue eyes (as opposed to dark face and dark brown/blackish eyes of male Slaty Skimmer)
Print References
Dunkle, pp. 183-184, plate 33 (1)
Nikula (2)
Works Cited
1.Dragonflies Through Binoculars: A Field Guide to Dragonflies of North America
Sidney W. Dunkle. 2000. Oxford Press.
2.Stokes Beginner's Guide to Dragonflies
Donald and Lillian Stokes. 2002. Little, Brown and Company.