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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Dragonflies and Damselflies (Odonata) » Dragonflies (Anisoptera) » Skimmers (Libellulidae) » Libellula » Painted Skimmer (Libellula semifasciata)
Photo#413282
Is this a Female Twelve-Spotted Skimmer? - Libellula semifasciata
Copyright © 2010 guikrazy

Is this a Female Twelve-Spotted Skimmer? - Libellula semifasciata
Manhattan, New York, New York County, New York, USA
June 15, 2010
I saw this dragonfly at about 9:30 in the morning sitting a top a flower on a Manhattan street corner that is about four blocks away from the Hudson River. I have seen Male Twelve-Spotted Skimmers many times in Central Park, but not a female. Is it me, or does it look like it has some sort of covering over half of its abdominal segments?

Thanks in advance for any and all help!

Images of this individual: tag all
Is this a Female Twelve-Spotted Skimmer? - Libellula semifasciata Is this a Female Twelve-Spotted Skimmer? - Libellula semifasciata
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Contributed by guikrazy on 18 June, 2010 - 10:38pm
Last updated 23 June, 2010 - 4:32pm

Moved
Moved from Dragonflies.
… john and jane balaban, 23 June, 2010 - 4:32pm login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from ID Request.
… john and jane balaban, 23 June, 2010 - 4:08pm login or register to post comments

I agree with Eric
Libellula semifasciata. From all of the photos I've seen of this species (and I'll admit that I haven't ever seen one in person), I believe that clear spot you're mentioning is normal. Apparently they don't have much pigment on the top of those first few dorsal segments.
… C. L. Goforth, 19 June, 2010 - 12:26am login or register to post comments

No, better than that
Well, in my opinion this is a prettier species: the "painted skimmer," Libellula semifasciata. Nice images, too!
… Eric R. Eaton, 18 June, 2010 - 10:58pm login or register to post comments

 
Thank you BOTH!!
You two just made my night! :D

I have never seen a Painted Skimmer before and based on my Central Park list it is rare for our area. The funny thing is that it was just sitting there "relaxing" as people were hurrying by. No one else noticed this beautiful creature besides me and it just stayed there while I took a bunch of pictures.

Thanks Eric for the complement about the pictures. :)
… guikrazy, 19 June, 2010 - 1:53am login or register to post comments

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