Painted Skimmer Dragonfly – 6/21/22

Observer: Josh Simons

Observation Date: 6/21/22

Observation Time: 11:50 a.m.

Observation Location: Moose Hill area

Common Name: Painted Skimmer dragonfly

Scientific Name: Libellula semifasciata

Comments: Painted Skimmers live up to their name, and the wings especially glow with color. A rich brown, the thorax has two whitish to yellow diagonal stripes on each side. The abdomen has yellow edges and a jagged black central stripe on the last few segments. The wings are marked with a brown streak at the base and brown spots at the middle and near the end. The veins along the front of each wing and at the base of the hindwings are largely yellow.

Painted Skimmer dragonflies are considered to be migratory. Some Painted Skimmers appear in spring in the northern states and extreme southern Canada before they would have emerged locally, presumably migrants. They have also been observed in autumn along the northeast coast in apparent directional flight.

More Information: Migratory Dragonfly Partnership