Photos - Places - Animals - Plants - People - Mexico

Front page	Butterflies	Dragonflies	Birds (media)	Flora & Fauna (media)	Observations	ebird taxonomy
Mexican Species	Download Checklists	Links	My 5 Chickens	Other Photos	The Birding Program	About

Flora & Fauna (media)

Stor Blåpil (Orthetrum cancellatum) (dragonfly) 24821

Black-tailed Skimmer (gb) Libélula Azul (es) Större Sjötrollslända (se)

Measurements:

HW:35-40mm L:44-50mm

Flight period:

Identification:

A robust dragonfly with the abdomen laterally flattened, typical for the genus. But not as broad as on the Libellula species. And also lacks the black spots on the hind wing of these species. The leading edge of the forewing is pale.

When young the yellow base color shines through from a distance, and it is easy to identify the species by color and flight. But later it appears remarkably diverse when seen in flight, often leaving the impression, that some other (darker) species is in play.

The mature male is unique in Denmark with the combination of the blue abdomen with a black 'tail' toward the tip, about one fourth of the length of the abdomen. On the Keeled Skimmer (only in Jutland in Denmark) the black tail is much shorter, and the animal in general more narrow.

Distribution:

Most of Europe; absent northern Scandinavian pen.

Habitat:

In Denmark open terrain with lakes or water-bodies with scarce vegetation. Accepts brackish water. Also in mature broad-leaf forests. Very adaptable, but disappears from water bodies with too much vegetation.

Behavior:

Often prefers to sit on the sun-exposed ground, stones or low branches. Forages readily away from water, even in forests. But still with sun-exposed patches where to rest.

The female drops the eggs directly into the water.

In Denmark the larvae take 2-3 years to mature.

Status:

Denmark: Common and widespread. On Vestamager the most common species in the flight period.

Comment:

Very common on Amager. It's the same every year, that they fly in large numbers in the open terrain, but also inside the forest near clearings and on sunlit paths.

Female eye color very variable, bluish, greenish, brownish.

404 (2 photos)
2020-07-09 Kalvebod Fælled, Amager, Danmark

Imago. Han. Rather common in the area around Pinseskoven.

410 (2 photos)
2020-07-11 Kalvebod Fælled, Amager, Danmark

Imago. Han. Pinseskoven.

Immature.

500 (1 photos)
2021-06-08 Kalvebod Fælled, Amager, Danmark

Imago. Hun. Aging because of the bright yellow colors of the abdomen. The mature females becomes darker.

One the most common dragonflies on Amager now.

553 (1 photos)
2021-07-21 Store Hareskov, Sjælland, Danmark

Imago. Hun.

668 (1 photos)
2022-05-22 Kalvebod Fælled, Amager, Danmark

Imago. Hun. Pinseskoven.

Female by the separate appendages. Young individual, by principle, being one of the first I see this year.

1152 (1 photos)
2022-06-29 Kalvebod Fælled, Amager, Danmark

Imago. Hun.

1150 (2 photos)
2022-07-16 Kalvebod Fælled, Amager, Danmark

Imago. Han.

1151 (2 photos)
2022-07-16 Kalvebod Fælled, Amager, Danmark

Imago. Han.

1088 (3 photos)
2022-08-13 Kalvebod Fælled, Amager, Danmark

Imago. Hun. Pinseskoven.

Mature female looking all dark from a distance. I only saw this animal today.