Orthetrum caledonicum

Blue Skimmer at Bruce, ACT

Orthetrum caledonicum at Bruce, ACT - 23 Dec 2016
Orthetrum caledonicum at Bruce, ACT - 23 Dec 2016
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Identification history

Orthetrum caledonicum 23 Dec 2016 HarveyPerkins
Orthetrum caledonicum 23 Dec 2016 HarveyPerkins
Anax papuensis 23 Dec 2016 ibaird

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User's notes

Photographed at rest. Also seen flying over nearby dam.

3 comments

HarveyPerkins wrote:
   24 Dec 2016
Hi Ian, this is actually a female Blue Skimmer. Incongruous, huh!
ibaird wrote:
   24 Dec 2016
OK. I wondered whether it might be because there were many blue (skimmer) males flying and I saw them mating with yellow dragonflies. I stand corrected.
HarveyPerkins wrote:
   24 Dec 2016
Immature (newly emerged) males are also yellow, but they have longer and slightly differently shaped anal appendages. The characteristic blue pruinescence comes with maturation. And females can also develop the blue pruinescence - just to confuse things!

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Nearby sightings

Page 1 of 2 - image sightings only

Araneinae (subfamily) (Orb weaver) at Black Mountain - 30 Mar 2024 by Harrisi
Agrilus hypoleucus (Hypoleucus jewel beetle) at Bruce, ACT - 30 Mar 2024 by Harrisi
Stenarella victoriae (An ichneumon parasitic wasp) at Black Mountain - 28 Feb 2024 by Harrisi
Austroagrion watsoni (Eastern Billabongfly) at FBM400: Black Mtn Belconnen Way - 28 Feb 2024 by Harrisi
Orthetrum caledonicum (Blue Skimmer) at Black Mountain - 28 Feb 2024 by Harrisi
Austrolestes leda (Wandering Ringtail) at Black Mountain - 28 Feb 2024 by Harrisi
Plebs eburnus (Eastern bush orb-weaver) at Point 80 - 28 Feb 2024 by ConBoekel
Dissomorphia australiaria (Dissomorphia australiaria) at Black Mountain - 28 Feb 2024 by ConBoekel
Helicoverpa armigera (Cotton bollworm, Corn earworm) at Point 80 - 28 Feb 2024 by ConBoekel
Calomela curtisi (Acacia leaf beetle) at Black Mountain - 28 Feb 2024 by ConBoekel
Austrolestes leda (Wandering Ringtail) at Black Mountain - 28 Feb 2024 by ConBoekel
Melaleuca parvistaminea (Small-flowered Honey-myrtle) at Black Mountain - 28 Feb 2024 by ConBoekel
Rubus anglocandicans (Blackberry) at Black Mountain - 28 Feb 2024 by ConBoekel
Austrolestes leda (Wandering Ringtail) at Black Mountain - 28 Feb 2024 by ConBoekel
Orthetrum caledonicum (Blue Skimmer) at FBM400: Black Mtn Belconnen Way - 28 Feb 2024 by ConBoekel
Orthetrum caledonicum (Blue Skimmer) at FBM400: Black Mtn Belconnen Way - 28 Feb 2024 by ConBoekel
Chrysodeixis eriosoma (Green Looper) at Black Mountain - 27 Feb 2024 by ConBoekel
Verbena incompta (Purpletop) at Black Mountain - 27 Feb 2024 by ConBoekel
Limnodynastes tasmaniensis (Spotted Grass Frog) at FBM400: Black Mtn Belconnen Way - 21 Oct 2023 by aronde
Uperoleia laevigata (Smooth Toadlet) at FBM400: Black Mtn Belconnen Way - 21 Oct 2023 by aronde
Crinia parinsignifera (Plains Froglet) at FBM400: Black Mtn Belconnen Way - 21 Oct 2023 by aronde
Litoria peronii (Peron's Tree Frog, Emerald Spotted Tree Frog) at FBM400: Black Mtn Belconnen Way - 21 Oct 2023 by aronde
Limnodynastes tasmaniensis (Spotted Grass Frog) at O'Connor, ACT - 14 Jul 2023 by trevorpreston
Crinia parinsignifera (Plains Froglet) at O'Connor, ACT - 14 Jul 2023 by trevorpreston
Lepidogryllus sp. (genus) (A cricket) at O'Connor, ACT - 14 Jul 2023 by trevorpreston
Homethes (genus) (Carab beetle) at O'Connor, ACT - 14 Jul 2023 by trevorpreston
Dolomedes sp. (genus) (Fishing spider) at O'Connor, ACT - 14 Jul 2023 by trevorpreston
Peirates sp. (genus) (Yellow-spot Assassin Bug) at O'Connor, ACT - 14 Jul 2023 by trevorpreston
Crinia sp. (genus) (A froglet) at O'Connor, ACT - 14 Jul 2023 by trevorpreston
Leucopogon attenuatus (Small-leaved Beard Heath) at O'Connor, ACT - 14 Jul 2023 by trevorpreston
Nidula sp. (A bird's nest fungus) at Bruce, ACT - 14 Jul 2023 by trevorpreston
Glyptophysa novaehollandica at Bruce, ACT - 14 Jul 2023 by trevorpreston
Aleurina ferruginea (Fleshy Cup Fungus) at Bruce, ACT - 14 Jul 2023 by trevorpreston
Crinia parinsignifera (Plains Froglet) at Bruce, ACT - 14 Jul 2023 by trevorpreston
Juliformia sp. (superorder) (A Juliform millipede) at Bruce, ACT - 13 Jul 2023 by trevorpreston
Fletchamia quinquelineata (Five-striped flatworm) at Bruce, ACT - 13 Jul 2023 by trevorpreston
Agrilus hypoleucus (Hypoleucus jewel beetle) at Bruce, ACT - 12 Feb 2023 by Harrisi
Garrha leucerythra (A concealer moth) at O'Connor, ACT - 5 Feb 2023 by Harrisi
Morethia boulengeri (Boulenger's Skink) at Bruce, ACT - 5 Feb 2023 by Harrisi
Hylaeus (Xenohylaeus) leptospermi (A masked bee) at Bruce, ACT - 24 Nov 2022 by Roger
Leioproctus sp. (genus) (Plaster bee) at Bruce, ACT - 14 Nov 2022 by Roger
Cirphula pyrrhocnemis (Variable Cirphula) at Bruce, ACT - 14 Nov 2022 by Roger
Lipotriches (Austronomia) ferricauda (Halictid bee) at Bruce, ACT - 11 Nov 2022 by Roger
Tenodera australasiae (Purple-winged mantid) at Bruce, ACT - 12 Mar 2022 by Harrisi
Thysanotus tuberosus subsp. tuberosus (Common Fringe-lily) at Bruce, ACT - 28 Dec 2021 by RWPurdie
Zizina otis (Common Grass-Blue) at O'Connor, ACT - 16 Dec 2021 by tpreston
Heteronympha merope (Common Brown Butterfly) at O'Connor, ACT - 16 Dec 2021 by tpreston
Neolucia agricola (Fringed Heath-blue) at Bruce, ACT - 16 Dec 2021 by tpreston
Sidymella sp. (genus) (A crab spider) at Bruce, ACT - 16 Dec 2021 by trevorpreston
Thysanotus tuberosus subsp. tuberosus (Common Fringe-lily) at Bruce, ACT - 16 Dec 2021 by tpreston
Laccotrephes tristis (Water Scorpion or Toe-biter) at O'Connor, ACT - 29 Oct 2021 by LD12
Gastrophora henricaria (Fallen-bark Looper, Beautiful Leaf Moth) at O'Connor, ACT - 29 Oct 2021 by LD12
Calomela parilis (Leaf beetle) at O'Connor, ACT - 16 Oct 2021 by Ned_Johnston
Melobasis propinqua (Propinqua jewel beetle) at O'Connor, ACT - 16 Oct 2021 by Ned_Johnston
Calomela curtisi (Acacia leaf beetle) at O'Connor, ACT - 4 Oct 2021 by Ned_Johnston
Caedicia sp. (genus) (Katydid) at O'Connor, ACT - 4 Oct 2021 by Ned_Johnston
Lepidoscia (genus) ADULT (A Case moth) at Bruce, ACT - 22 Sep 2021 by Ned_Johnston
Acacia dawsonii (Dawson's Wattle) at Bruce, ACT - 9 Sep 2021 by Ned_Johnston
Coccinella transversalis (Transverse Ladybird) at Bruce, ACT - 9 Sep 2021 by Ned_Johnston
Dianella revoluta var. revoluta (Black-Anther Flax Lily) at Bruce, ACT - 9 Sep 2021 by Ned_Johnston
Coryphistes ruricola (Bark-mimicking Grasshopper) at Bruce, ACT - 4 May 2021 by tpreston
Cormocephalus aurantiipes (Orange-legged Centipede) at Bruce, ACT - 4 May 2021 by Ned_Johnston
Haloragis heterophylla (Variable Raspwort) at Bruce, ACT - 4 May 2021 by Ned_Johnston
Mallada sp. (genus) (Green lacewing) at Bruce, ACT - 29 Mar 2021 by MattFox
Dolophones sp. (genus) (Wrap-around spider) at Bruce, ACT - 29 Mar 2021 by MattFox
Deroceras laeve (Marsh Slug) at Bruce, ACT - 8 Mar 2021 by tpreston
Platyzosteria similis (Red-legged litter runner) at Bruce, ACT - 8 Mar 2021 by tpreston
Nerthra sp. (genus) (Toad Bug) at Bruce, ACT - 8 Mar 2021 by MattFox
Conocephalomima barameda (False Meadow Katydid, Barameda) at Bruce, ACT - 8 Mar 2021 by MattFox
Acrida conica (Giant green slantface) at Bruce, ACT - 27 Feb 2021 by Harrisi
Asura lydia (Lydia Lichen Moth) at Bruce, ACT - 25 Feb 2021 by tpreston
Physa acuta (European physa, Left-handed pondsnail) at Bruce, ACT - 11 Dec 2020 by tpreston
Isotoma fluviatilis subsp. australis (Swamp Isotome) at Bruce, ACT - 11 Dec 2020 by tpreston
Microseris walteri (Yam Daisy, Murnong) at Bruce, ACT - 13 Oct 2020 by RWPurdie
Chrysocephalum apiculatum (Common Everlasting) at Bruce, ACT - 29 Jul 2020 by tpreston
Lythrum hyssopifolia (Small Loosestrife) at Bruce, ACT - 29 Jul 2020 by tpreston
Anonychomyrma sp. (genus) (Black Cocktail Ant) at Bruce, ACT - 29 Jul 2020 by tpreston
Drosera gunniana (Pale Sundew) at Bruce, ACT - 29 Jul 2020 by tpreston
Nerthra sp. (genus) (Toad Bug) at Bruce, ACT - 29 Jul 2020 by tpreston
Polyphrades paganus (A weevil) at Bruce, ACT - 18 Jul 2020 by HarveyPerkins
Hortophora sp. (genus) (Garden orb weaver) at Bruce, ACT - 4 Apr 2020 by tpreston
Chrysolina quadrigemina (Greater St Johns Wort beetle) at Bruce, ACT - 31 Jan 2020 by Harrisi
Agrilus hypoleucus (Hypoleucus jewel beetle) at Bruce, ACT - 7 Jan 2020 by Harrisi
Limnodynastes tasmaniensis (Spotted Grass Frog) at Bruce, ACT - 22 Oct 2019 by LD12
Litoria peronii (Peron's Tree Frog, Emerald Spotted Tree Frog) at Bruce, ACT - 22 Oct 2019 by LD12
Litoria peronii (Peron's Tree Frog, Emerald Spotted Tree Frog) at Bruce, ACT - 22 Oct 2019 by LD12
Leucopogon virgatus (Common Beard-heath) at Bruce, ACT - 1 Oct 2019 by RWPurdie
Melobasis sp. (genus) (Unidentified Melobasis jewel Beetle) at Bruce, ACT - 16 Feb 2019 by Harrisi
Kunzea parvifolia (Violet Kunzea) at Bruce, ACT - 15 Nov 2018 by RWPurdie
Riccia duplex var. megaspora at Bruce, ACT - 2 Jan 2017 by RWPurdie
Haloragis heterophylla (Variable Raspwort) at Bruce, ACT - 2 Jan 2017 by RWPurdie
Austrolestes leda (Wandering Ringtail) at Bruce, ACT - 23 Dec 2016 by ibaird
Austrolestes leda (Wandering Ringtail) at Bruce, ACT - 23 Dec 2016 by ibaird
Austrolestes leda (Wandering Ringtail) at Bruce, ACT - 23 Dec 2016 by ibaird
Orthetrum caledonicum (Blue Skimmer) at Bruce, ACT - 23 Dec 2016 by ibaird
Austracantha minax (Christmas Spider, Jewel Spider) at Bruce, ACT - 23 Dec 2016 by ibaird
Goniaea australasiae (Gumleaf grasshopper) at Bruce, ACT - 23 Dec 2016 by ibaird
Tricoryne elatior (Yellow Rush Lily) at Bruce, ACT - 4 Dec 2016 by RWPurdie
Aphrophorinae (subfamily) (Unidentified spittlebug) at Bruce, ACT - 4 Dec 2016 by RWPurdie
Lythrum hyssopifolia (Small Loosestrife) at Bruce, ACT - 4 Dec 2016 by RWPurdie

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Location information

Sighting information

  • 1 Abundance
  • 23 Dec 2016 03:10 PM Recorded on
  • ibaird Recorded by

Additional information

  • 25mm to 50mm Animal size

Species information

Record quality

  • Overall Fit for scientific/research use
  • Images or audio
  • More than one media file
  • Confirmed by an expert moderator
  • Nearby sighting(s) of same species
  • GPS evidence of location
  • Description
  • Additional attributes
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