Fiery Skimmer
Scientific name: Orthetrum villosovittatum
Click to enlarge image
Female Fiery Skimmer Dragonfly
Image: Bruce Hulbert
© Bruce Hulbert
© Bruce Hulbert
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Orthetrum
- Species
- villosovittatum
- Family
- Libellulidae
- Super Family
- Libelluloidea
- Suborder
- Epiproctophora
- Order
- Odonata
- Class
- Insecta
- Subphylum
- Uniramia
- Phylum
- Arthopoda
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- 7.5 cm
Introduction
The Fiery Skimmer is a medium-sized dragonfly with a relatively short body and clear wings.
Identification
Fiery Skimmer males have a bright red body while females are green or sometimes grey. The larvae are stout, grey and hairy and often rather dirty looking. They have a pointed body with spines halfway along the back.
Habitat
The Fiery Skimmer lives in urban areas, forests and woodlands, streams, boggy wetlands, heath, lakes and ponds. As the variety of its habitats show, the Fiery Skimmer is an ecologically tolerant species and can often be seen in urban environments.
Distribution
The Fiery Skimmer is found in eastern and northern Australia, as well as in the Moluccas, New Guinea and adjacent islands.
Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia
