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Photo#686819
Bar-winged Skimmer? - male
Copyright © 2012 Loren & Babs Padelford

Bar-winged Skimmer? - Male
Bellingrath Gardens, Mobile County, Alabama, USA
July 29, 2012
We thought this was Great Blue (Libellula vibrans), but it has a couple features (brown eyes and black bar between the nodus and stigma) that suggest Bar-winged Skimmer (Libellula axilena). Any help appreciated.

gathering_2012

Thanks,
Loren and Babs Padelford
Bellevue, NE
Contributed by Loren & Babs Padelford on 8 August, 2012 - 4:39pm
Last updated 11 August, 2012 - 2:14pm

Bar-winged
sounds like the best fit, as I read Beaton and Paulson's references. We can't see entire face color, which could distinguish it, but this seems to have more dark markings than Slaty, AND, if I'm not reading too much into your image, it appears yours has a white area at base of hind wing, which is diagnostic of Bar-winged.

I agree that I think it's not Great Blue due to eye color.

We post on Ode Central for good expert opinion, but sometimes response is slow.

Nice Foto!
… Jon Rapp, 11 August, 2012 - 8:52pm

 
Bar-winged Skimmer
Jon,

Thanks for your comments. We've enjoyed seeing all of your photos!

Loren and Babs Padelford
Bellevue, NE
… Loren & Babs Padelford, 12 August, 2012 - 9:54pm

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