Guide to Skimmers

Beautiful Damselflies

Beautiful Dragonflies

1 4020 Aethriamanta rezia Pygmy Basker P Mch 2024r 3

Aethriamanta rezia, Pygmy Basker
Not often seen. Only visible in the warm costal areas of eastern Southern Africa
Prefers Well vegetated pond

Crenigomphus hartmann, Clubbed Talontail,
Seen perching on rocks in fast flowing rivers
Females often seen some distance away from the water.

Nesciothemis farinosa, Eastern Blacktail
Hunts up and down Ponds and fast flowing streams. Often cohabit and confused with skimmers

Beautiful Dragonflies

Tetrathemis polleni,
Black-splashed Elf
Found on shady streams and pools

103 502 Ceratogomphus triceraticus Cape thorntail 6

Ceratogomphus triceraticus,
Cape Thorntail, Male
Endemic to South Africa
Inhabit flowing rock strewn streams

Diplacodes pumila
Dwarf Percher
Female
Endemic to South Africa

Trithemis hecate,
Silhouette Dropwing,
Male
Not often seen in South africa

Skimmers

Family Libellulidae (Leach, 1815_

Genus Orthetrum (Newman, 1833)

Worldwide

In the Old World over 80 species.
About 50% in Africa

Southern African Region

There is 1 genus (Orthetrum) and 14 species in the southern African region.

Habitat

Common and conspicuous at most freshwater habitats, especially when these are open
Many can be found almost anywhere in tropical Africa, although they tend to prefer (or are dominant in) certain habitats
Refer to African Dragonflies & Damselflies Online for a analysis of species per habitat
The knowledge of preferred habitat wll greatly assist in the identification od a species

General information:

The correct identification of skimmers, are not easy . With maturity male aquire a greyish sheen masking the colours and markings visible immature

All male skimmers are blue/grey (pruinnosity) with age. The Long Skimmer O. Trinacria does not pruinose
Mature males appear very similar on account of their blue-grey pruinosity, obscuring all coloration and markings.
Many species differ by markings, but these get obscured by pruinosity as the males grow older.
Females and young males are similar in colour and markings.Most are yellow to brown with distinctive black markings
Turquoise eyes with whitish face is characteristic. The Long Skimmer O. trinacria has blue eyes with brownish face.
Size range, from small to very large (hindwing 22-50 mm)
In hand it is useful to inspect
Size (length ans wingspan)and compare with given data
Length of pterostigmas (unusually long or short)"
Wing venation and vein colours
With young males or females, compare thorax and abdomen markings
Where possible the shape of secondary genitalia
Distinguishing Orthetrum species is often considered difficult

Identification aid

Assess the size (length and wing span and pterostigmas)
The subcostal sections of Ax can be dorsally dark (like the costal sections) or pale (normally visible on a good image)
The number of doubled cells in the radial planate (count those cells touching Rspl, but not IR3) may differ between species
Check the male’s secondary genitalia to confirm identification. Compare the profile of the anterior lamina, genital lobe, inner and outer hamules with known examples

Synopsis

Only males are shown

Images of the different Skimmer Species

100 1109 Orthetrum brachiale Banded Skimmer Male Ndumu KZN RSA Mch 2017r 2 Banded Skimmer Gebande Skepper)
Orthetrum brachiale 100 2060 Orthetrum stemmale Bold Skimmer Ndumo KZN RSA Mch 2018r 6 Bold Skimmer, (Koenieskepper)
Orthetrum stemmale 100 2090 Orthetrum hintzi Dark shouldered Skimmer Male Ezemvelo GP RSA Sept 2017r 1 Dark_shouldered Skimmer,(Donkerskofskepper)
Orthetrum hintzi Orthetrum rubens Elusive Skimmer. Female Elusive Skimmer, (Mystieke Skepper)
Orthetrum rubens 100 1179 Orthetrum chrysostigna Epaulet Skimmer Male Mystic Monkeys Jan 2017r 7 Epaulet Skimmer (Epouletskepper)
Orthetrum chrysostigna 101 568 Orthetrum guineense Guinea Skimmer Male Tshipise LP RSA Dec 2015 Guinea Skimmer, (Guinese Skepper),
Orthetrum guineense 100 2119 Orthetrum machadoi Highland Skimmer Male1 Haenertsburg LP RSA Dec 2015r 2 Highland Skimmer, (Hooglandskepper)
Orthetrum machadoi 100 2039 Orthetrum julia falsum Julia Skimmer Young Male Welgevonden RSA Dec 2017r 5 Juliaskepper, (Julia-skepper)
Orthetrum julia falsum 108 509 Orthetrum julia capicola Cape Skimmer Male Hermanus Western Cape 06 02 2016 Cape Skimmer, (Kaapse Skepper)Orthetrum julia capicola 100 639 Orthetrum abbotti Little skimmer Male Ezemvelo GP RSA Jan 2016r 1 Little skimmer (Kleinskepper).
Orthetrum abbotti Orthetrum trinacria, Long Skimmer Male Long Skimmer, (Langskepper)
Orthetrum trinacria 100 1246 Orthetrum robustum Robust SkimmerMale Banga Neck KZN Mch 2017r 12 Robust Skimmer. (Forse Skepper)
Orthetrum robustum, 100 1179 Orthetrum chrysostigna Epaulet Skimmer Male Mystic Monkeys Jan 2017r 7 Epaulet Skimmer, (Epouletskeper)
Orthetrum chrysostigna 100 1102 Orthetrum icteromelas Spectacled Skimmer Banga Neck Kosi Bay KZN RSA Mch 2017r 4 Spectacled Skimmer, (Brilskepper)
Orthetrum icteromelas 100 1593 Orthetrum monardi Woodlands Skimmer Male Vaalwater LP RSA Apr 2017r 1 Woodland Skimmer, (Bosskepper)
Orthetrum monardi