Try for Free
tab list
Picture Insect
English
arrow
English
繁體中文
日本語
Español
Français
Deutsch
Pусский
Português
Italiano
한국어
Nederlands
العربية
Home Application Download FAQ
English
English
繁體中文
日本語
Español
Français
Deutsch
Pусский
Português
Italiano
한국어
Nederlands
العربية
Icon about
About
Icon about
General Info
Icon about
Search Tips
Icon about
Harmful or Not
Icon about
Beneficial Effects
Icon about
Common FAQs
Icon about
Similar Insects
Icon about
Popular Insects
Southern skimmer

Southern skimmer

Orthetrum brunneum

A species of Skimmers

The adults grow up to 4 - 4.5 cm long. The thorax and the abdomen are pale blue in males, yellowish-brown or greyish-brown in females. Young males are brownish. The abdomen is relatively flattened and shows a thin middorsal black line and distinct points on each segment. The wings are hyaline, with yellow or pale brown pterostigma. The wingspan reaches 7 - 7 cm.

General Info About Southern skimmer
Instantly identify insects with a snap
Snap a photo for instant insect ID and risk assessment, gaining quick insights on bite assessment, toxicity, pest control, behavior, habitat, and safe interaction tips, etc.
Download the App for Free
Rectangle
Attributes of Southern skimmer
Colors
Brown
White
Cyan
Habitat
small stream; canal; ditch
Adult Food Sources
Flying insects such as mosquitoes, flies, small moths, mayflies, other small flying arthropods
Larva Food Source
Aquatic larvae and tadpoles, small fish, various aquatic insects, daphnia (water fleas), mosquito larvae
Biting/stinging
Not reported
Allergy-causing
Not reported
Defensive attack
Not reported
Venomous
Not reported
Non-poisonous
The Southern skimmer is non-toxic and generally doesn't pose a risk to human health. No need for excessive worry.
Borer
Not reported
Pollinator
Not reported
Pest-Eating Predatory
Not reported
Phytophagous
Not reported
qrcode
Img download isoImg download android
Rectangle
Species Status of Southern skimmer
It is present in most of Europe and the range extends to Mongolia and North Africa.
Rectangle
Distribution Area of Southern skimmer
Central and north-western Europe
Rectangle
Predators of Southern skimmer Larvae
Aquatic insects (like dytiscid beetles), fish, salamanders, tadpoles, wading birds
Rectangle
Predators of Adult Southern skimmer
Birds, spiders, frogs, lizards, insectivorous mammals
Rectangle
Interesting Facts About Southern skimmer
Southern skimmer can fly backward with surprising agility, a feat accomplished by rapidly inverting their wing pitch.
Rectangle
Scientific Classification of Southern skimmer
Class
Bugs
Icon allow
Order
Odes
Icon allow
Family
Skimmers
Icon allow
Tips for Finding Southern skimmer
Your ultimate guide to understanding insects
Unlock the secrets of insect life cycles, habitats, behaviors and observation tips!!
Download the App for Free
Rectangle
Youth Habitat of Southern skimmer
Freshwater Habitats
Rectangle
Adult Habitat of Southern skimmer
Forests and Woodlands, Grasslands and Prairies, Freshwater Habitats, Agricultural and Cultivated Areas, Mangroves and Coastal Wetlands
Rectangle
When is the Best Time to Observe Southern skimmer
The best time to find adult southern skimmer is usually on warm, sunny days when they are most active, typically from late morning to early afternoon.
Rectangle
What is the Best Weather to Observe Southern skimmer
Adult southern skimmer prefer warm, sunny, and calm weather as it is optimal for their flight and hunting activities. They are less active during cold, overcast, or windy conditions.
Rectangle
How and Where Can You Find Southern skimmer at Different Life Stages
Egg Southern skimmer eggs are laid in or near water bodies. To find them, search around the edges of ponds, lakes, or slow-moving streams, looking for tiny, oblong eggs attached to submerged vegetation or floating debris.
Naiad Southern skimmer naiads reside underwater. Locate them by gently sifting through the substrate at the bottom of clean, still or slow-moving freshwater bodies, using a fine mesh net or by carefully examining aquatic plants.
Adult As southern skimmer transition from naiads to adults, they undergo emergence, climbing onto vegetation near water to molt for the last time. Spot them by looking for exuviae (cast-off skins) on plants or other structures close to the water's edge during early morning hours.
Adult southern skimmer are most visible when perched or patrolling their territory. Find them near bodies of water, resting on vegetation, rocks, or ground. They can be observed flying in search of mates or prey during the warmest parts of the day.
Are Southern skimmer harmful?
Your Complete Pest Control Guide
Discover effective tips for preventing and eliminating pest infestations to keep bugs away from your home.
Download the App for Free
Beneficial Effects of Southern skimmer
Discover the hidden benefits of insects
Explore how insects help as pollinators, pest predators, and biocontrol agents. From seed dispersal to decomposition, they play vital roles in our ecosystem.
Download the App for Free
Predators of Pests
Predators of Pests
Purpose
Feed Itself
Diets
Mosquitoes, Flies, Insects
Southern skimmer, as both a naiad and an adult, is an efficient predator. It primarily feeds on various small insects, with a noticeable preference for mosquitoes and flies. In its aquatic naiad stage, southern skimmer predaciously hunts for mosquito larvae, thereby contributing to the control of mosquito populations. The adult southern skimmer captures prey mid-flight, using swift and agile maneuvers. This hunting strategy, combined with exceptional eyesight, places southern skimmer among the skilled predators that help maintain the insect ecosystem balance.
Common Questions People Also Ask
Get Quick Insect Answers with a Snap
Snap a photo for instant insect ID and answers on bites, toxicity, pest control, behavior, habitat, and safety tips!
Download the App for Free
Other Popular Insects
Western honey bee
Western honey bee

Western honey bee(Apis mellifera) is the most common species of honeybee in the world. Among the first domesticated insects, its cultural and economic impact on humanity has been vast and far-reaching, providing honey, wax and its services as a pollinator. Western honey bee faces challenges worldwide, such as colony collapse disorder, and populations are thought to be decreasing.

Read More
Arrow
Monarch butterfly
Monarch butterfly

The monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is the most recognizable butterfly in North America. It is best known for its appearance, but should be better known for the fact that it has a 3000-mile migration that takes the butterfly 4 generations to complete. Their diet is also a natural deterrent for predators, as they eat milkweed, a poison that induces vomiting.

Read More
Arrow
Japanese rhinoceros beetle
Japanese rhinoceros beetle

The japanese rhinoceros beetle (Trypoxylus dichotomus) is a massive beetle about the size of the palm of a hand. It's distinguished by its long Y-shaped horn, which it uses to fight other males with. It's a nocturnal bug that feeds on sap and sweet fruits. This species is sometimes kept as a pet due to its unique appearance and simple care requirements.

Read More
Arrow
Silkworm
Silkworm

The silken threads produced by silkworm during its larval stage have been highly coveted for millennia, manifesting as a luxurious fabric in human society. Remarkably, this creature has a singular diet, feeding exclusively on the leaves of its primary host plant from which it extracts the necessary nutrients to facilitate its transition into a non-feeding, winged adult.

Read More
Arrow
Menelaus blue morpho
Menelaus blue morpho

Menelaus blue morpho (Morpho menelaus) is a gorgeous butterfly with large, royal blue wings. Linnaeus named the genus Morpho the Aphrodite-Ancient Greek goddess of love and beauty for its extreme beauty. It is native to tropical rainforests. Though many butterfly gardens now cultivate them in captivity, there are still many people who never get a chance to see them.

Read More
Arrow
Atlas moth
Atlas moth

While the atlas moth (Attacus atlas) can't tell you where to find your country on the map, it does earn its name through other means. It is one of the largest moths in the world, with a wingspan that is far larger than its body, creating an abnormal comparison. In India, their silk is gathered in a non-commercial capacity and is considered to be more durable than the domestic silkworm.

Read More
Arrow
Flying peacock spider
Flying peacock spider

Both sexes reach about 5 mm in body length. Females and immatures of both sexes are brown but have color patterns by which they can be distinguished from related species. Also, the males dance to attract females.

Read More
Arrow
Multicolored asian ladybeetle
Multicolored asian ladybeetle

Often confused for the ladybug, multicolored asian ladybeetle (Harmonia axyridis) is a separate species that, unlike the ladybug, is a household pest. It is considered particularly annoying for its habit of returning to places from which it is removed. One of the most variable species in the world, there are many different colors and patterns multicolored asian ladybeetle may display, making identification potentially difficult.

Read More
Arrow